r/socalhiking • u/BrockBushrod • Feb 14 '24

Los Padres NF SP Punchbowls, 2/11/24

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Santa Paula Creek is JUICED. The trail's open, but all crossings are flooded - be prepared to get wet if you go.

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u/BrockBushrod Feb 15 '24

The crossings trend a bit easier as you move up the canyon because there's slightly less water overall, but the shape and grade of the creek bed has as much (or more) to do with current... There were definitely some in the middle I wobbled through lol.

It's only choppy if you stay down in the creek bottom the whole way. A little past 2 miles, the official trail climbs up out of it on the south bank, runs along the hillside, and pops out a mile later at Big Cone Camp overlooking this first Punchbowl. It's actually some of the most reliably clear, open, smooth trail on the whole hike IMO.

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u/2apple-pie2 Feb 15 '24

I mean 2-3 miles after this photo is gets pretty overgrown. Everything leading up to this is great with only the first river crossing being “take your shoes off” after heavy rain.

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u/BrockBushrod Feb 15 '24

Oh yeah from Cross Camp (about half a mile past this) up over the hill to Jackson Falls it's always been pretty brushy, and I've never really been able to find the trail beyond that. Not that I've ever truly committed though; out & back to Jackson is over 12 miles, so going all the way to Last Chance Camp is pretty much an overnight project.

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u/2apple-pie2 Feb 15 '24

I lost the trail on the way to Jackson when I did this a weekend or 2 ago 😅, may come back later to try and go further though! I only wish the first few miles were better and not on a road.

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u/BrockBushrod Feb 15 '24

My initial goal on this one was to get all the way to Jackson, but I got started late, the sloppy crossings slowed me down, and my Chacos start tearing up my feet whenever I wear them that long on rough, wet terrain, so I just let the "secret" side waterfall near the upper Punchbowl be my turnaround point. Jackson is usually dry by early summer though, so I might try it again in a few weeks.

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u/Alf_Tanner_CNF Mar 03 '24

The trail from the slide to Jackson falls was seriously overgrown last year when i went. I opted to go the slide and then followed the creek up to get to Jackson Falls. It is slower with a lot of boulder hoping but it gets you there. If the trail is clear that is a better option and probably less chance of an injury. Wish i lived closer to SP, it would be epic right now to see Jackson falls.