Laurel Springs Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3B IV (v3a2 IV) Raps:4, max ↨30ft
Red Tape:Closed to entry Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Mix | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 17 Feb 2018
"The first half mile of the full descent involved substantial bushwhacking, made much easier with a pair of 24" loppers. The poison oak leaves are jus |
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| Best season: | Winter to Spring
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33.7147, -117.5809
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WaterflowIntroduction
Laurel Springs Canyon offers outstanding beauty and bushwhacking! The full route has 4 short rappels (3 B IV), whereas the short route can be done without rope (2 B III). The full route has excessive bushwhacking, whereas the short route has little and easy bushwhacking. NOTE: the time range numbers are for the short vs. full canyon, not expected min / max.
Approach
Park at the Trucker Wildlife Sanctuary parking lot in Modjeska, CA. Hike up the Harding Truck Trail for 3.7 miles (short route) to a clearing on the right side, or 4.7 miles (full route) to a wide flat area in the road from an old land slide.
Short Descent
The short descent bypasses the worst of the bushwhacking, greatly speeding up the overall trip time, while still capturing a significant part of this canyon's beauty. It also has the advantage of not needing any rope or vertical gear, provided that you are comfortable with some easy short (<10 feet) down climbs, one using 3 logs (see video). From the clearing 3.7 miles up the Harding Truck trail, proceed south west through the brush until you can see a prominent ridge with a deep gully west of it. Proceed down the steep dirt and rocky ridge with minimal brush issues. Near the ridge bottom are a few larger oak trees, and a path cut through the sticker bushes which makes reaching the creek bed easy. From the creek bed, proceed downstream through numerous pretty pools and a few short down climbs for 0.9 miles to Santiago Canyon. NOTE: almost all of this canyon's beauty can be accessed by hiking upstream from short descent entry point, reaching the bottom of rap #4 with easy climbing and modest bushwhacking.
Full Descent
From the large clearing in the Harding Truck Trail at 4.7 miles, head down the rocky slope to the south. Near the bottom it is far easier to stay out of the creek bed on the rocks for a few hundred feet as the brush in the creek bed is extremely dense. Eventually you are forced into the creek bed and bushwhacking begins. Watch out for poison oak, as there are many clusters of it, some difficult to work around. About 1/3 mile downstream you reach the first rappel with anchor rigged LDC off 2 small bushes equalized. Further downstream there are 2 more rappels rigged directly (ghosted) around sturdy bushes. A bit further yet is the biggest rappel #4 rigged by tossing the rope directly (ghosted) over a horizontal tree above the drop itself. The nice flat-topped big rock LDC has an awesome view overlooking the drop, but beware it has a giant poison ivy bush directly next to it. After that is a series of easy down climbs and pools, and the brush gets much easier to navigate. Within a 1/3 mile the full descent reaches the short descent marked by 2 rock cairns in the creek bed.
Exit
Once Laurel Springs Canyon joins with Santiago Canyon, continue downstream 1.3 miles until you reach buildings. Although it is easy enough to exit through the first private property driveway you will see DCR and climbing over a 3 foot stone wall on the left side of a large steel gate, it likely wiser to continue further down stream in the creek bed. Once you reach a road bridge across the creek, climb up to that roadway, and it's a short walk back to the parking lot.
Red tape
None: Cleveland National Forest Service property Except as noted the exit crosses private property for a short distance.
As a result of the Airport Fire Closure this area is closed by the Forest Service from Oct 5th, 2024 to Oct 4th, 2025. See Forest order No. 02-24-29. Also closure map.
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
The log climb: https://youtu.be/vBZaW7TgZ_E