Hike to Cedar Creek Falls

I decided to put this video up I made about two years ago, because my city has only seen 0.04 inches of rain this January(and no predicted rain for the rest of the month). This, the rainiest month of the year, and yet its so dry here -- we really have not had much rain this year. San Diego is a normally sunny, arid place, averaging about 9.9 inches of rain annually. This year(the season so far: measured from July 1, 2006 to today, January 20, 2007) we've only seen 1.71 inches of total precipitation, very, very dry!

I made this video in Spring of 2005 near the peak of the third rainiest season in San
Diego Californias' history. That year, 22.35 inches of measured rain fell at Lindbergh Field(the main SD airport near downtown) which was the most rain seen here since 1940-1941, when 24.74 inches of rain was measured which is second only to the rain measured during the year, 1883-1884, at 25.97 inches--most rain ever recorded since rain measurements have been kept(1850).

The most rainfall in over sixty years -- the most I've ever seen in San Diego, EVER in my life, so what?

What happens in a once in a lifetime rainfall?

Never seen before HUGE WATERFALLS!

Waterfalls that my eyes, or your eyes, may never EVER see happen like this again!

Cedar Creek Falls are in a remote part of San Diego County. Incredible natural beauty, but so well hidden, most locals don't even know it exists! About 10 miles from the historical gold rush town of Julian, CA, the falls can be found only after taking a long bumpy country back road where you average about 15 - 20 mph due to the poor quality of paved and unpaved roadway. From the parking lot at the end of the road, you have about an hour moderate to strenuous hike to the Cedar Creek Falls. If you ever decide to hike there it is ADVISED to BRING ENOUGH WATER WITH YOU! I usually bring a gallon just for myself. Call the rangers for the latest updated conditions and heed all warnings they give. I have only been there twice, once on March 20, 2005, and then I returned six weeks later, May 15, 2005. It was a comfortably cool time of the year and I had no problems. During the warm and hot dry time of the year people can get dangerously dehydrated, and conditions can be FATAL in some instances. It's that serious. This canyon is like the "Grand Canyon" of San Diego. It is that big and remote. In 2003, sheriff's helicopter crews rescued 30 people and one dog from the canyon. Beware: Cell phones don't work here because of the topography and remoteness.

Cedar Creek Canyon(where the falls are) is the site where the infamous Cedar Creek Fire of 2003 started.

The 2003 Cedar Creek Fire, THE LARGEST FIRE TO EVER BURN IN CALIFORNIA, threatened 25 communities in San Diego County and burned nearly 275,000 acres, taking 14 lives and nearly 2,300 residences. To complicate matters more, two additional fires burned 102,000 acres in the county. If you look at my pictures you will see isolated fire charred blackened trees(from the 2003 fire) scattered about the lush greenery.

I discoverd the falls by chance. After reading about the falls in a local newspaper, I cut out the article and actually video edited/pasted/faded a color photo of the falls (that I shot) over the black and white photo seen in the newspaper article (as seen around 4 minutes and 30 seconds into this video).

The volume of water is the key to the spectacle! I took these photos on March 20, 2005 when the cloudbursts of winter rain had just dumped the most rain on San Diego since 1940-1941! I went back six weeks later on May 15, 2005 and even though there was still many storms since the first visit(3/20/05) the volume was down and the falls had been diminished by a third already!!! The ranger at the parking lot that charged us $5.00 for the day visit said that during the summer and just before the rain season begins the falls are reduced to "just a trickle."

The start of the 'road trip' part of the video animation shows the car near the mouth of the San Diego River at the Pacific Ocean. The Cedar Creek Falls flows into the upper San Diego River drainage.

Mildred Falls can be seen at the start of the hike, as seen in this video. It was bigger than I'll probably ever see it again(on March 20, 2005) and its the tallest, longest waterfall in San Diego County at about 125-150 feet long, but it's volume is significantly smaller than Cedar Creek Falls. It wasn't much more than a trickle already by May 15, 2005 when I returned. The sounds of water from Mildred falls echoed for miles and miles of the Cedar Creek Falls canyons and trails, very enjoyable. The Cedar Creek Falls are tucked away and when you finally come upon them when they are raging in the full glory of the very peak of a historic rainy season it is TRULY a sight to behold.

Lets Go Trippin', california sonshine

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Cedar
• Creek
• Falls
• San
• Diego
• River
• Environment
• Hike
• Giant
• Waterfall
• Historic
• record
• rainfall
• Jurassic
• Epic
• Global
• Warming

[connorj123jones]

Btw, you should try the hike from the other trail head, alittle more difficult but a whole different experience. And if youre going through julian, the road trip is about the same distance ( i live near the trailhead in ramona).

[californiasonshine]

is that the lower elevation starting point, climbing up to the falls vs. eagle peak road parking lot starting from a high point, hiking down to the falls(and of course back up to that trailhead?)

[connorj123jones]

Cool video, I live literally down the street from the trail head. Me and my buds hike it all the time...actually were there the DAY the fire started...luckily we were out of there before it did. You shouldve seen it right after the fires though, was completely filled with sand, was sad. Thank goodness the water washed all the sand out again. Beautiful place.

[californiasonshine]

Wow! Man, if you were there the day the fires started you may not have survived! That canyon is so big its spooky for a city dweller not used to that much natural vastness and steep, isolation! Very nice to live in this piece of pairadise. I agree with you, connor, its a beautiful place, & its cool how mother nature heals herself too. June 2006-June 2007 is now officially one of the driest seasons on record, the falls this past year looked nothing as great as these photos I took in 2005!

[Frumpyfairy]

Have Boston Will Travel, huh? Very beautiful scenery. We used to live in CO and I felt like I lived in a postcard. LOL to car scenes...:O)

[californiasonshine]

Thank you! We are going on a hike tomorrow(with my Boston, of course!--he's so sxcited about it already), maybe back to Cedar Creek Falls--it finally rained some this week, or maybe summit Stonewall Peak if they let dogs up there. :>)

[ladycebu]

your production is perfect, especially the car, it's pretty neat! We enjoyed it a lot and makes us want to go there and see it for ourselves. Cute dog!

[chingtothechong]

such epic music

[novanights]

A land rover as the car would been nice...

Thanks Frank!

P.S. No more poker!

[Deango2]

the trail is to make a designated real trail, it will probably be much easier and with switch backs, meaning that everyone and their brothers, including tourists/ kooks will be going there. Maybe I am saying too much feel free to delete my comment if I have blabbered my mouth. HEHE :)

[Deango2]

All you need to know is that the trail from SD Country Estates is really tough. Of course I always try it the fastest way which in parts is like one of the steepest trails I have ever hiked. It really hurts bro. I've done it 5 times that way and twice from the way you came. If you wanna save time and gas take it from Ramona, but remember your thighs and calves will hurt for days after that! LOL. But the Cleveland National Forset is working with Helix water district who owns the land where..

[pinoygrunt]

exactly how far is the falls from the trailhead because i hiked it today and i went all the way down to the bottom so directions and how far it is would be appreciated. im gonna give it another shot next week. thanks

[samabbott2]

i live in the san diego country estates about 2 miles from the trailhead and im going today so i decided to you tube it to see what clips people have gotten from the falls. or the "devils punchbowl" as its known around here.

[makkdaddydogg]

Nice Work ! Visited CC Falls more than 60

times from 2000 to '07. Love it, especially

on Mondays when b.box crowd is gone. Have hiked all over socal, Cedar Creek is #1,along

with the Three Sisters Falls, of course !

[connorj123jones]

Okay, the trail head in ramona is at 32 59'42.83"N by 116 45'22.50"W on google earth, elevation is 1835'.

[connorj123jones]

Umm, not exactly sure if its higher or lower. Its at the top of a road in ramona called Thornbush. No parking lot, just a dead end road with a water tower at the top. Its techniqually a closed trail head, but still easily accessible. But its about a 30-45 minute hike down into the valley, and on the way back its a hike back up and out of the mountain. But i have never hiked up to the falls, nor have i ever hiked from eagle peak road.