Trip Date: 7/8/12
Location: Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
Permit/Pass: Day use ($5), O.C. Parks Annual Pass ($55)
Trails: OC Parks map
Directions: From Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano take the Ortega Hwy (CA 74) exit east. Drive 12.7 mile to Hot Springs Canyon Rd. A National Forest Service fire station is located at this bend in Hwy 74. Turn left onto Hot Springs Canyon and watch for a small parking space (enough for one car and a motorcycle) on your right. [If this space is taken you'll have to find parking elsewhere, continuing down Hot Springs Canyon Rd will get you to a dirt parking lot at the trailhead for the San Juan trail, but you'll have a bit of a walk back up the road.] After you've parked next to the fire station - be sure to hang your Forest Pass placard - walk down Hot Springs Canyon Rd. about 50 yards to a gate on your left (usually locked). This is where the hike begins.
Be Aware! - The park considers it illegal to hop the gate for this hike. But there are days where an arrangement has been made for groups to enter the park here for nature walks and tours. Try to have your hike coincide with this kind of opportunity. You might also try asking at the main Caspers entrance for permission to access this hike from Hot Springs Canyon Road. The park service is understandably concerned about people skipping out on fees or even presenting them with liability issues.
Trail sequence: San Juan Creek trail / Oso trail / Cold Springs Canyon / San Juan Creek trail
Type: Balloon loop
Distance: 4.7 miles
Elevation: Min. - 646', Max. - 1351'
Profile:
Rating: Moderate to difficult (during summer heat)
Synopsis: Not many people see this part of Caspers Wilderness Park, but hiking past the hot springs and through partly riparian Cold Springs Canyon can be a nice change of pace. Done clockwise, you first work your way along open hillsides next to Ortega Hwy before connecting with Oso trail. Then you ascend through some sparse woodlands up onto ridges before heading back down through the cool and shade of Cold Springs Canyon.
Cold Springs Loop - Caspers Park
Turn by Turn:
-- From the area inside the gate near the picnic tables and bathrooms, begin the hike by walking down the trail (southwest).
-- After just a few yards come to a split in the path. Both ways lead to a crossing of Hot Springs Creek, one through the creek bed and the other over a bridge. If you cross the bridge, follow the path to the left for a few yards, then turn right onto the main trail: San Juan Creek trail.
-- Walking through a partially wooded area brings you to a junction. Although the main path appears to continue straight (southwest), this actually dead ends. So take the right turn (west) that heads up onto an open hillside. On the left as you ascend you’ll see the old San Juan hot springs.
-- Continue across the hillside and then steeply down into the woods of Cold Springs Canyon where you’ll immediately come upon a marked junction. This is Cold Springs Canyon trail. Your loop will return you to this spot. For now, continue straight (southwest).
-- You'll climb out of the riparian area onto a hillside and then back down again to junction with Oso trail. Turn right (north) onto Oso.
-- Follow Oso as it trends generally northeast, then north, then circles around to the east - all the while ascending toward the ridge.
-- Once you gain the ridge you'll notice the trail meets another heading southeast. Turn right here onto Cold Springs Canyon trail.
-- Follow Cold Springs as it first descends along the side of the canyon, then along the creek bed and through forested areas. Eventually Cold Springs meets San Juan Creek trail again. At this junction turn left (northeast) and follow San Juan Creek trail back to the trailhead.
Video: Youtube