Well I'd have to say that this was my toughest hike yet, but well worth it. Three Sisters Waterfalls lays tucked away in Boulder Creek within the Cleveland National Forest, south of Pine Hills and north of Descanso. We reached the trail head by driving 13 miles north on Boulder Creek Road from Oak Grove Drive in Descanso. Cedar Creek Road joins from the west at a hairpin turn in the road. A small parking area is located here.
For those interested in this hike as well as many others in the area I suggest picking up a copy of Jerry Schad's Afoot & Afield In San Diego County. Here's a description of the hike-
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2008 ... ers-falls/
Ollie and I arrived at the trail head around 6:30am to find a few vehicles already parked there. Seems they got an even earlier start than we did or were camping down there. While coming in on the road Ollie got some good shots of the extremely thick marine layer covering most of the land. The mountain tops resembled islands out at sea. Making our way down the trail the sound of the falls soon reached us. Upon reaching a saddle on the ridge we descended left on an old mining trail towards Sheep Camp Creek. This is where the poison oak started getting thick. Once we had made our way out from the vegetation and around the hillside the falls came into better view. The surrounding mist and marine layer was burning off the closer we got, revealing more of the awesome natural beauty surrounding and awaiting us.
Just before dropping into Boulder Creek we had to negotiate a 500 foot near-vertical drop on a rough trail. This is the most difficult part of the route, especially when coming back up. Definitely something to keep in mind while making your way down. Every step down means a step up on your way back. That's the section that had me absolutely exhausted. Anyway, when we reached the bottom we noticed a few tents set up a little ways from the trail. There's actually quite a few spots to camp around the area. Something to keep in mind for next time. It took a bit of boulder hopping and rock scrambling in and alongside the creek to reach the base of the falls. Its a spectacular sight to behold with the water roaring down the bedrock into the pools. Although its dangerous and difficult, we managed to climb up to the uppermost fall. In full flood this probably wouldn't be possible as the mist from the falls would have most of the surrounding rocks too wet to get any traction.
After exploring the area for a bit and having lunch at the "middle sister" we packed up and started the difficult climb back out and up to the parking area. On the way out we passed quite a number of folks heading down to the falls. Some not prepared at all for the trail conditions. If you're fit and ready for this adventure I highly recommend it.
Parked at the trail head.
Almost ready to go.
On our way.
Fuzzy plant!
Still have a thick marine layer.
Ollie starting the descent.
First view of the falls.
Sheep Camp Creek.
Getting closer...
Starting to get steeper.
Better view.
Steeper...
Fun stuff!
Boulder Creek.
Don't slip Ollie!
We made it!
See, I was there!
Can you see the toad?
At the top.
Last shot and Ollie's ass gets in the way!
If i see a guy in the back country barefoot, i usually consider him "hardcore". Usually if some hippie is barefoot, its not because he forgot his shoes. 