West Fork and Tangerine Falls

The hike begins at the main Cold Spring Trail After a gentle uphill for 1/4 of a mile you reach a bench by the creek where you can sit and clear your mind with the gentle sounds of small waterfalls. This bench is at the junction to the West Fork of Cold Spring Trail. Cross the creek at the bench and continue up the hill for about 3 more miles, passing a historical, landmark water tunnel along the way to the summit at Gibraltar Rd.

For a variation, there is a small junction you come to well before the summit at Gibraltar Rd. Follow this primitive trail along the creek to a waterfall known as Tangerine Falls. It's quite an adventurous rock-hopping kind of a trail, and at some places, not a trail for the faint of heart.

Also, not far along after you turn off toward Tangerine falls there is another turnoff to the left as you follow the water pipe. This trail will take you steeply to a nice rock outcrop at the top of the falls. You can't see the falls from this outcrop, but you can enjoy the lofty perch just as well. Continuing along this trail, a little exploration on your part and you might discover something interesting at the end of this trail—a structure some of us call the homestead. Or you may find yourself sweating up a steep hill toward the top of the mountains, if that part of the trail still exists.

The total mileage for the basic West Fork to Gibraltar Rd. trail is 3.5 miles round trip. For Tangerine Falls it is closer to 3 miles round trip.

West Fork of Cold Springs Trail and Tangerine Falls Updates

Update trail conditions

Posted: October 28, 2011, 12:08 pm
by: Jeff

Went up to Split Hand Falls recently (next canyon over from Tangerine) and what has been a usually secluded and pristine area was littered with frickin' lunchable detritus. Here? Seriously? You couldn't bother to pick any of it up?!



Can't wait for the graffiti to start showing up now

Posted: September 23, 2011, 8:08 am
by: stardust

Went hiking up to the fall on August 19th with my king charles spaniel Daisy. A tough hike for a little dog and had to carry her more then a few times climbing rocks and roots to get to the falls which required innovation with some luck to complete. Though I made the judgement of difficult Daisy didn't seem to notice, I hadn't seen her having more fun or so happy since she was a bright eyed puppy. Everything in sight was stunning and shining with some form of beauty&truth. The mountains were Sunny with cool air so there was a comfortable cool under the canopy of trees but you could warm up nicely in the sun. Saw many dragonflies and butterflies up at the falls but can't remember any other animal sightings except a found a adorable pit bull at the 2nd to last creek crossing who's caretaker I met coming down the trail who had lost her and hoped she found her way up the trail. I put Daisy on a leash and grab the pitbull's (who I soon found out was very strong) and ran up trail to ensure her people found her. When I let her go she bolted up and around a bend. I soon heard the happy calls of her companions. I sat in appreciative joy glad to have helped fellow hikers thinking "How beautifully things work out in simple ways" You can really feel and see that on this trail. Encountered many waterfalls along the way to the big one, all literally took my breathe away. The moss dressing them seemed near incredible. Love the rocks, the dirt, and the sense of presence on this trail provided by the life and the awesome force of water which brought it. You can really see how the water shapes the land. Meet a fellow barefoot hiker along the way. The dirt was moist for a better part of the trail and it felt like growing. This hike is currently and will be a very found memory, for the next day I broke my ankle and in the few weeks after Daisy went out for adventure on her own but different from other times she hasn't come back. I haven't been able to return and miss the cold springs trails very deeply. I am enterally grateful for having the possible last joyous memory of my adored first pet there. I would be truly devastated if I could not hold Daisy in my heart and as for the trail, I wish I could be watching it grow but just because I'm not watching doesn't mean it's not still shining with a blinding light,the beauty of persistent truth. Go see it, have fun.

Posted: August 29, 2011, 2:17 am
by: Cross Tie Walker

Hiked to the falls Sunday (8/27/11) afternoon with my two kids and a gaggle of cub scouts and extended posse. Hot, muggy, and a lot of folks out on the trail. Still a fair bit of water in the crossings; the falls are down to a trickle but still enough water for everybody to take a dip and cool off.

Overall the trail's in good shape; dusty at this time of year. The usual PO, but not encroaching the trail as it seems to in the spring. No lilies seen this trip.

Note: Lots of broken windshield glass around the Cold Spring parking area these days; a truck had just been broken into when we arrived. You know the drill; don't leave valuables in the vehicles, etc., etc. ...


Tolerant by umotamba, on Flickr

Posted: February 9, 2011, 5:07 pm
by: CentralCoastJoe

Hiked the Tangerine Falls trail on Saturday (2-5-11). There were tons of hikers out and trailhead was crowded. The creek was flowing well and as was Tangerine Falls. The trail was mostly dry due to the lack of rain in the past several weeks. Some wildflowers are starting to bloom, and burned areas adjacent to the falls area are covered in lush growth.

Posted: October 24, 2010, 5:16 pm
by: CamelHat

The Middlefork trail is in excellent shape. This is one of my favorite hikes so long as I can muster the energy to do the trek all the way up to Camino Cielo. Let me describe how to get there since the directions are not very clear.

Starting out towards Tangerine Falls from the first creek crossing, after about a mile there is a second creek crossing just after the trail turnoff that leads to Gibraltar Road. A bit after the creek there is a second turnoff that leads to the top of Tangerine Falls and continues to the Homestead when you follow the creek up all the way. Halfway between Tangerine Falls and the Homestead is a turnoff to the right that leads to Camino Cielo, this trail is known as Middlefork.

The creek at the top of the falls is one of my favorite places to be. There seems to be water year round, and the pools are very inviting. It is a nice stop on the trek to the top. Be careful not to step on the ladybugs nursery, it is right on the trail, all plants are covered with them. The trail is well protected from the sun, which is great.

Middlefork is a physically demanding trail and generally steep with mostly sandy soil that can be dusty in the summertime. The trail was relatively well protected, I was hiking in the shade half the time. At the end of the trail you can look down on Montecito Peak with a grand vista of the coastline. Today the conditions were very good. The soil was still moist, which makes for good traction. My new $17 boots performed great (especially the unworn profile).

It took me 1:45 hr to get to the road, 3:20 hr round trip. Keep in mind this is a serious hike so plan for extra time if you are not a robust hiker. I used half a liter of water but I recommend bringing 2 liters especially in the summertime.

Posted: August 17, 2010, 1:41 am
by: Cross Tie Walker

Hiked the West Fork to Gibraltar Road on 7/10/2010. No water in the west fork; last water is just below the turnoff to Tangerine Falls (main/middle fork).

Everything still very green until the just before the last crossing (where the tunnel is actually visible); fire scorched everything the rest of the way. Several old routes visible along the drainage now that the undergrowth is gone; USFS carsonite signs aplenty directing hikers along the designated route.



The usual busted bottles and other debris as one approaches Gibraltar Road, but in all a great hike. Bay and bigleaf maples and sycamores all putting out new growth, and those hardy coastal live oaks never say die. Fire-blackened, but stubborn and growing!

Some pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/umotamba/sets/72157624475508018/

Posted: July 28, 2010, 6:55 pm
by: UCSB_Caifan

plenty of water in the creek but the fall is relatively small since it hasn't rained recently. There is rock scrambling involved near the top so you have to be somewhat athletic. overall a tough but fun 3miles roundtrip. and remember that that "fall" is at the canyon wall so don't stop short of it like I did the first time. keep going even if it doesnt seem like there is a trail.

Posted: February 21, 2010, 3:21 pm
by: kevinmauseth

Went up to the falls on Friday. They were flowing pretty good. A pretty tough climb, it was a bit slippery in places, especially at the top. Very cool.

Posted: December 4, 2009, 10:33 pm
by: redhathiker

I just hiked to the Tangerine Falls today. Although there is a lot of water in the creek, the fall itself is completely dry. The trail wasn't too difficult for me as a beginner. It took me 2 hours to get up there (I got lost a few times), but only took 45 minutes to get back to the car. I went through about 500 ml of water.

Posted: June 14, 2009, 5:21 pm
by: Jade

Post-Jesusita Fire update:

There is a sign at the turnoff to West Fork declaring the trail to be closed, but I was told by the Forest Service office that it was open, so I decided to check it out.

The good news: I think Tangerine Falls has emerged completely unscathed. I didn't actually go that way, but I got a pretty good look from above, and although parts of the slope above are burned, the lower part of the canyon near the creek seems to be totally fine.
Whether the trail is officially open or not, I don't recommend West Fork - not far after the turnoff to Tangerine Falls, the trail heads into a really bad area. I'm posting some photos, which were taken with my very low-res camera phone, but turned out pretty decently.

I actually took the middle fork trail - the one that goes off to the left when you're headed to Tangerine Falls, and takes you to the Pinnacle above the falls. It has also suffered some burn damage, but I continued on, since I could see that things looked better further ahead. Mostly the trail is still in OK shape, except for one short section that's very unstable and has already had a couple tiny rockslides across it. I don't think that section will withstand much foot traffic at all, but perhaps if it could be shored up a bit it would survive. Once you get close to the ridge near the top of the falls, the area is scorched, but not truly burned.

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/ingridkoslow/MiddleFork#

Non-fire related update:

I ended up exploring further up the middle fork to the remains of the old Romero homestead, and the trail beyond the Pinnacle is totally pristine. It's actually very beautiful up there, and there's a surprising amount of water in the creek. Making it up that trail in the spring without getting your feet wet is probably very difficult.

I even attempted to follow the steep trail to Camino Cielo (taking the right-hand fork that goes steeply up the hill). It was in good shape, but is *very* steep! I recommend having a walking stick of some kind: you will need it both going up and down! I made it to the same spot described by Ray Ford in his Day Hikes book, but I guess I came to the same conclusion he did - although the trail continues, going down 300 feet and then up another 1000 just wasn't worth it to me! I would love to do it if I could have a car waiting for me at Camino Cielo, but that entails a lot of extra driving.

Anyway, a good hike - and a shame about the fire. I would not recommend the West Fork at all, and the Middle Fork needs some work before it will really be safe. Even with some work, I expect that when the rain starts this fall it will be far too dangerous.