FALLING FOR WATERFALLS AUTHOR DOCUMENTS MORE THAN 265 NEARBY.Byline: Bill Becher Special to the Daily News SANTA PAULA Santa Paula (săn`tə pôl`ə), city (1990 pop. 25,062), Ventura co., S Calif., on the Santa Clara River in a fertile valley that yields citrus fruits, avocados, vegetables, flowers, nursery products, and walnuts; laid out 1875, inc. CANYON - A book about waterfalls in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, sounds a bit like a guide to shark diving spots in South Dakota South Dakota (dəkō`tə), state in the N central United States. It is bordered by North Dakota (N), Minnesota and Iowa (E), Nebraska (S), and Wyoming and Montana (W). . But Canoga Park author Chris Shaffer has explored and written about hundreds of waterfalls in Southern and Central California Central California can refer to one of several divisions or regions of the U.S state of California:
On a recent hike to Santa Paula Canyon Falls, also known as Devil's Punchbowl Punchbowl, hill, 500 ft (152 m) high, in the city of Honolulu, SE Oahu island, Hawaii. In the bowllike extinct volcanic crater at the summit (reached by a scenic drive) is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, for those killed in World War II. , Shaffer talked about his passion for waterfalls. He said he spent several years exploring California's canyons, looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. falls. More than two-thirds of the time he came back dry. But he kept at it, and his long absences cost him a girlfriend. ``I'm proud of what I did, but it cost me the person who meant more to me than anyone in the world,'' Shaffer said. Often Shaffer found falls that were not identified on any other guidebooks or maps, which surprised him. His guidebook, ``The Definitive Guide to the Waterfalls of Southern and Central California,'' lists more than 265 waterfalls, with ratings, hike-in distance, best times to view and access information, along with detailed descriptions and color photos. Shaffer said his top-10 list would be dominated by waterfalls in Yosemite and the rest of the Sierra, but Southern California has several spectacular waterfalls, including our destination. The hike we were on was fairly easy, about an 1 hour, 15 minutes to the falls, mostly uphill, and about 45 minutes back. We crossed Santa Paula Creek several times, once on a log bridge. Backpackers can take advantage of a campground about an eighth of a mile below the falls. When we arrived, a group of nurses and medical technicians from a local hospital were enjoying a dip in the pool "Dip in the Pool" is a short story by Roald Dahl that appeared in the 1953 collection Someone Like You. Plot Summary On a cruise ship, there is a betting pool each day where guests try to correctly guess the amount of miles that the ship will travel each day, within ten miles at the bottom of the falls, which fans out in an impressive spray after plunging through a narrow rock chute. ``If you put your foot in the water, you'll know it's spring-fed,'' Shaffer said. Shaffer climbed a rope up to a ledge where you can make a 20-foot jump into the pool. Shaffer leapt into the 55-degree water several times, and yes, it is cold. While he dried off, Shaffer spotted some nice trout in the pool below the falls, though fishing is a no-no here, to protect endangered steelhead trout. Fishing is Shaffer's other passion and he's written a series of guidebooks to fishing spots in California, with more on the way, including guides to Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern fishing and waterfalls. Trips described in Shaffer's Southern and Central California waterfall book range from drive-to falls to a 45-mile round-trip backpacking expedition. All of them start within a five-hour drive of the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. area. Many local waterfalls are still running well, and the falls in the Sierra are just coming into their peak, so take the plunge. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S BEST WATERFALLS --Potrero John Falls: This little-known waterfall is the kind you'd expect to see in Yosemite, not the Los Padres National Forest Los Padres National Forest is a forest located in southern and central California, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland. Elevations range from sea level to 8,831 feet. , author Chris Shaffer says. It drops 80 feet with volume and power. It's a 5.5-mile round-trip walk on the Potrero Grande Trail above Ojai. Best seen January to July. --Trail Canyon Falls: In the Angeles National Forest The Angeles National Forest (ANF) was established by executive order on December 20, 1892 as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. It covers over 2,600 km² (650,000 acres) and is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, just north of the metropolitan area of Los , these falls are a 10-minute drive from Sunland and a 4-mile round-trip hike in Lower Big Tujunga Canyon. Best January to July. --Fox Creek Falls: This is the best waterfall in the Angeles National Forest in winter, according to Shaffer, but it's rarely visited. An adventurous and sometimes wet 7-mile round-trip hike takes you close to the falls hidden behind Big Tujunga Reservoir. Best February to April. --Third Stream Falls: ``A rare gem in the San Bernardino National Forest'' is what Shaffer calls this waterfall on an unnamed creek that is a tributary to the Middle Fork of Lytle Creek. Best December to July, but it can be tough to reach in winter. --Cedar Creek Falls: Located between Ramona and Julian in San Diego County, this 100-foot fall is an easy hike in Cleveland National Forest The Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres (1900 km²) (720 sq. mi.), mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. It is the southernmost National forest of California. . Best January to May. Source: ``The Definitive Guide to the Waterfalls of Southern and Central California,'' by Chris Shaffer. Web site: californiawaterfalls.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- 2) Canoga Park author Chris Shaffer has explored and written about hundreds of waterfalls in his book ``The Definitive Guide to the Waterfalls of Southern and Central California.'' Left, Santa Paula Canyon Falls might be worth the trip for a quick dip, but the water is a chilly 55 degrees. Photos by Bill Becher/Special to the Daily News Box: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S BEST WATERFALLS (see text) |
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