The Santa Paula Canyon is among the most beautiful and popular hikes in Ojai. The trail follows Santa Paula Creek up a shady, forested canyon past a variety of small pools that require plenty rock hopping and scrambling to successfully navigate. The hike ends just past Big Cone Camp in a scenic, narrow gorge with a multi-tiered 25-foot waterfall.  At the base of the falls is the Punch Bowls, a deep pool where cliff divers pounce from 10-, 40-, or even 80-feet!  Only slightly less adventurous is sliding down an 80-foot, super-slick, moss-covered natural rock water slide that rivals anything found at Raging Waters.

We'll rest at this watery oasis for 30 minutes daring each other to jump, slide, swim or otherwise explore the beauty of these natural pools.  The hike itself covers 7.5 miles (round trip) with an elevation gain of 1,000 over 3.5 miles making it only moderately aerobic.  However, because of the distance covered and the abundant rock hopping, Santa Paula Canyon rates as an intermediate level hike.

So if you have watery ambitions this sizzling summer day (or are susceptible to peer pressure), bring your swim trunks or bathing suit and your favorite towel for an pool party in the wild.  Also recommended are hiking shoes, sunglasses, sunblock, lots of water, and lunch or light snack.

We’ll meet at a 9:30AM at an easily accessible location near the junction of the 405 and 101 freeways before carpooling/caravanning to Ojai.  Gasoline will be a shared cost so please bring a little cash.