BELOW: THE GROTTO
HIKE FEATURES:
SEVERAL SWIMMING HOLES, SEVERAL WATERFALLS, A GROTTO (WATERFALL IN ROOM UNDER A ROCK), AND OH, D'OH!, A ROPE SWING... ALL IN NEARBY TOPANGA CANYON WITH NO LONG DRIVE ON REALLY TWISTY ROADS
AND......MINT PLANTS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!! (probably not native, but I don't care.....freakin' smells great!)
EXPECTED WEATHER:
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USCA1151:1:US
DISTANCE: 2 MILES BUT AT A REALLY SLOW PACE
ELEVATION GAIN AND LOSS: A HUNDRED FEET AT THE MOST
PHOTOS:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10207328051706546.1073741889.1443226944&type=1&l=0b3dcf0896
OPTIONS (not required!!):
BRING SWIMMING CLOTHES AND A TOWEL IF YOU WANNA JUMP IN!
BRING SHOES WITH GOOD GRIP THAT YOU CAN GET WET----
and......NO DOGS: 'cause this is a State Park
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DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
FROM JUNE THROUGH END OF SEPTEMBER: PLEASE AVOID THE BEACH TRAFFIC JAMS: TAKE 101 FREEWAY TO TOPANGA CANYON BLVD, GO SOUTH 9 MILES...park along Topanga Canyon Blvd south of Fernwood Market, meet outside Jalan Jalan Imports, an outdoors furniture store on the west side of the road
Jalan Jalan Imports is located at 525 South Topanga Canyon Blvd., which is 3.5 miles north of Pacific Coast Highway.
FREE PARKING IS ALONG EITHER SIDE OF TOPANGA CANYON BLVD. BETWEEN FERNWOOD MARKET AND JALAN JALAN IMPORTS--STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WHITE LINE SO YOU DON'T GET TICKETED OR LOSE YOUR MIRROR
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO NO-PARKING SIGNS!!!
HOW TO FIND THE "TUNNEL":
the address on Google for the trail entrance which leads to the "tube" is 1636 S. Topanga Canyon Road on the west side, AND IS 20 FEET DOWN-ROAD FROM THE "SLIPPERY WHEN WET" ROAD SIGN. At the bottom of the tube, turn right, walk downstream and you will see us soon. THE TOPANGA CREEK HIKE FOLLOWS THE WEST SIDE OF CREEK FOR MOST OF ROUTE AND FEATURES LOTS OF CLIMBING OVER 3 TO 4 FOOT TALL BOULDERS (AND OPTIONALLY, SOME 20 FEET TALL). YOU WILL USE YOUR HANDS AS WELL AS YOUR FEET. THAT'S WHY I CALL MY HIKES "MONKEYING AROUND". CLIMBING OF THE BIGGER BOULDERS IS OPTIONAL.....
The first stop is the play area with the rope swing. Next stop is the deep swimming hole. After that we get to the grotto with the 6 FOOT waterfall inside (which is slowing to a trickle, as of August 15th). After that, more downstream, is another 4 foot deep swimming hole.
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BELOW: THE TUBE (aka THE TIME TUNNEL)
AN AWESOME VIDEO BY WILLIE: https://youtu.be/EJDFBApKbNc
BELOW: THE DEEP SWIMMING HOLE, AND YOUR HIKE LEADER SWIMMING "VOLUNTARILY"
BELOW: POISON OAK
THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR POISON OAK CONTACT, BUT TRAIL ANGELS HAVE CUT IT BACK SO IT IS REALLY EASY TO AVOID!
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WATER QUALITY INFO:
according to the Topanga State park general plan, the lower 3.7 miles of Topanga creek has 56 springs and seeps, which explains why the gorge is full of water in the summer while upstream a mile in the developed area, the creek is dry. SOURCE: page 19 http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/21299/files/02finalgp-ch2.pdf
ALSO: I did some research and found out the locals call the Tube down to the creek the Time Tunnel. Here's some links about it:
http://www.enjoygram.com/location/279629423
http://www.sebastianwschmid.com/blog/2015/4/14/time-tunnel-1
http://www.topangamessenger.com/story_detail.php?SectionID=&ArticleID=1673
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Topanga-Canyon-time-Tunnels/291610550955220
Some of you asked about studies of the springs in lower Topanga canyon. The best one can be downloaded here http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/41229
MAP OF SPRINGS AND SEEPS IN THE CANYON:
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/b/5/7/highres_440891095.jpeg
Thank you, Rex!!!! Used this info for a hike today, 07/14/18, still holds up! Only thing not there was the rope swing. But you made the trek so simple with your tips & map!! We had a great time - thanks again! :)
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