• Highlights: Shady stream-side hike, lake, flowers, beautiful meadows, waterfall, views
• Near: Mammoth Lakes, CA
• Distance: 4 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 900 ft
• Hike Time: 3 hours
• Difficulty: 5/10
• Trail Condition: Mostly well maintained trail (gets faint in some locations)
• Trail head: Click here for Google map
• Rating:

Summary:
Most of the trail follows the banks of Coldwater Creek, with some easy stream crossings (except after a downpour). Very peaceful and pretty. There are plenty of flowers and greenery in the early Summer. Bring bug repellent as the creek attracts lots of mosquitoes. After a moderate climb, you will be rewarded with a beautiful meadow set against stunning peaks. This a great family hike.

Trailhead:
From Mammoth Lakes – Old Mammoth Rd. (west) to Lake Mary Rd. (left) to Around Lake Mary Rd. (left) to Cold Water Creek Campground Rd. (left) to parking lot.

Leopard Lily Against Sun

Yellow flowers by stream

Emerald Lake

Sky Meadow

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Photo by fashion photographer Anthony Citrano

It’s depressing. The Angeles Crest Highway will not be open on the La Canada side until this coming November. This eliminates some of the best hikes in the Angeles National Forest like Switzer Falls.

On the bright side, great hikes such as Cooper Canyon Falls are accessible from the east entry point (see map). Of course this will double your mileage, but your will have less summer crowds to fight. You might even get to camp overnight on a weekend. Now wouldn’t that be a dream come true!

From La Canada Valley Sun:

Angeles Crest Highway is likely to remain closed until November as crews continue to repair major road damage caused by heavy winter storms, a Caltrans spokesman said Friday…

The reopening of the 66-mile Angeles Crest Highway has been delayed repeatedly since the Station fire roared through Angeles National Forest in August, burning more than 160,000 acres and searing miles of pavement, guardrails, road signs and markers. The damage was compounded by back-to-back rainstorms and subsequent debris flows that washed out large patches of the highway.

• Highlights: Shady streamside hike, pools, view of upper Ojai valley
• Near: Ojai, CA
• Distance: 5.5 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1150 ft
• Hike Time: 3 hours
• Difficulty: 3/10
• Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
• Trail head: Click here for Google map
• Rating:

Summary:
Most of the trail follows the banks of Sisar creek, with several easy stream crossings (except after a downpour). Very peaceful and pretty. Once the trail leaves the stream, it moves upwards quickly to a nice overlook that offers views of upper Ojai valley. Since this trail is inland, it will get hot in the summer.

Trailhead:
Highway 150 (north) in Santa Paula to Sisar Road (right) to traihead gate. Park on the side of the road. Trailhead starts on dirt road.

Ken at Sisar Canyon

Sycamore Trees Against Sun

Watch out for Poison Oak

Stream Crossing

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