Bonita Falls

Who'd have thought you could get a lonely, big, almost cinematic scene like this in Southern California? We left early in a light drizzle, three cars meeting up in the valley. I'd figured it would be a nice 68°F kind of walk. Then I opened the car door and a 50°F wind off the mountains hit me in the face. Everyone was hunching up and stamping their feet, pulling spare clothes out of bags. That's how the whole adventure started. There's a small wooden bridge at the entrance with a fast stream running underneath. After that the trail winds through the valley with mountains on both sides, and way off in the distance there's mist. The big rocks along the river are covered in graffiti, every colour, like an outdoor art gallery. The markers in the riverbed disappear now and then. Just follow the sound of the water and keep going. When you get to Bonita Falls it takes your breath away. It's one of the tallest waterfalls in Southern California, and watching all that water come down from the top, I stopped feeling tired. Directions: I typed 814 Lytle Creek Rd into my maps. Difficulty: easy to moderate. Distance: about 1.5 to 2 miles round trip, which is great for what you get. What to wear: the ground is rocky and slippery, so wear waterproof hiking shoes with grip. Take trekking poles too, they save your knees. Parking: you need an Adventure Pass. It's my favourite trail in three years of hiking. I'm coming back.