Holy Jim Canyon Trail is a 2.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Corona, California that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
kid friendly
birding
hiking
mountain biking
nature trips
trail running
walking
forest
views
waterfall
wild flowers
wildlife
rocky
This may be Orange County's most popular family hike despite the washboarded road leading to it. Nature was profaned here by the swear words flooding from the mouth of "Cussin' Jim" Smith or "Holy Jim" as he was renamed by tightlaced government surveyors who mapped the canyon in the early 1900s. Another bit of history marks the place: the last wild California Grizzly -- an old bear named "the honey thief" -- was killed at the mouth of Trabuco Canyon after robbing beehives here in 1907. Heavy winter rains are essential to a pleasant journey. Along the way, you will see many small cascades and cross the stream several times before you reach the split where the main trail ascends to the Main Divide Road to the left and the trail to the waterfall shoots off to the right. Watch for poison oak as you scramble over the last quarter of a mile to the twenty foot falls. This may not sound like much, but Holy Jim Falls is a chapel in the brush.
It was a pretty nice hike I'd say the hardest part was getting to the trail from the road. About 3 miles of unpaved road which is fine, I was just driving a smaller car so I had some trouble. It's a mostly shaded trail, lots and lots of flies and mosquitoes this time of year but getting to the waterfall at the end is beautiful.
Love this trail!
This trail is excellent in the heat. It's largely under cover and ends at a beautiful waterfall, it's got moderate traffic and the most difficult part of it is getting to the trail head. If you are geocaching this trail be sure to save the caches offline ahead of time.
Beautiful...... cloud cover with mist have a great atmosphere. Early up before the crowds, 4x4 to the trail head. My 5 yr enjoyed the hike, as well as my 20 yr. We'll definitely be back
Great family hike. Some challenging bits for the shorties to build some confidence on (the trip back was WAY more efficient than the way out). Falls aren't too impressive, but would be a plesent break pt if it's not too crowded.
We got in between crowds, pretty busy on the way back. Good number of dogs and "young groups". For a family trail, please keep even great dogs on leashes, unleashed dogs freak out children. And leave the bluetooth speaker at home, bring headphones instead, I don't want to listen to your music on my nature visit.
Super fun hike, heavily trafficked so try to be quiet and enjoy the peace because there were a few loud groups that took away from the serenity. Quite a few inclines and rocks you have to get over but definitely a hike I would take on again
Don't bring your good car. 4-5 miles of washboard, potholes, water crossings, dips... you get the idea.
But the trail is fun. Limited parking.
Nice to see water in the waterfall at trail's end.
Lots of dogs today. I'm Ok with that.
One of my favorites to hike. real crowded these days. Watch out for the rattlesnakes.