Trip Date: 3/17/13
Location: Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
Permit/Pass: Day use ($5), O.C. Parks Annual Pass ($55)
Trails: Map
Directions: (For this shuttle hike you will need two cars or a drop-off at the hike's begin point.) From Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano take the Ortega Hwy (CA 74) exit east. Drive just under eight miles to the park entrance on the left (north) side of the road. After passing through the entrance follow the street past several side roads to a stop sign. Turn right and continue until the road dead ends at the Bell Canyon trailhead parking lot. Drop off your return car here.
Head back out of the park and turn left (east) onto Ortega Hwy. Drive a few miles to reach the San Juan NFS Fire Station next to Hot Springs Canyon Road, situated on a bend where the road turns from north to east. Pull onto the road immediately before the station and, if you're parking, grab the spot carved into the right-side dirt (there’s just enough space here for a car and a motorcycle, so if it’s occupied, you’ll have to look elsewhere). Be sure to hang your placard, then walk down HSC Road a few yards until you reach a locked gate on the left. If you're being dropped, have your ride save you the walk to the gate.
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 / Cold Springs / Oso trail / Cougar Pass / Sunrise / Bell Canyon
Type: Shuttle (Point to point)
Distance: 7.0 miles
Elevation: Min. - 410', Max. - 1626'
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 Cold Springs Canyon is nice change of pace. Riparian areas enhance the first part of the hike as you cross both Hot Springs Creek and Cold Springs Creek. Soon, though, you ascend onto familiar chaparral covered hillsides and ridges. The trail passes the highest point in Caspers just before it reaches the Gazebo. Leaving the ridge brings you down into the familiar meadows and oaks of Bell Canyon.
Cold Springs Canyon to Bell Canyon - Caspers WP
Turn by Turn:
-- (The following directions assume that a car will be waiting your arrival at the Bell Canyon trailhead to end the hike, after which you will return to the car you left at the Hot Springs Fire Station.)
-- 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. Turn right (north) onto Cold Springs trail.
-- Follow the trail across and next to the creek, dry in most parts. Soon the trail leaves the riparian area and ascends along the hillsides on the west side of the canyon.
-- Eventually you work your way onto a rise where you meet Oso trail. Although the left turn appears to go in the direction you want (southwest) this will ultimately head down toward the main road and meet San Juan Creek trail again. Instead, take the right (northeast) Oso turn where you’ll soon find yourself ascending once again while circling back to the north, then west.
-- Stay on Oso as it trends southwest, rises steeply to the high point of Caspers, then descends gradually toward a junction with Badger Pass trail.
-- Turning left onto Badger Pass takes you up a few yards to the Gazebo. Stop here for lunch or a break, or just a bit of shade on warmer days.
-- Pick up Oso trail again as you work your way down into Caspers’ Bell Canyon. After 1-2 sometimes steep miles you’ll descend to a junction with Cougar Pass. Turn left (south).
-- Follow Cougar Pass to the junction with Sunrise trail. Turn right (west) onto Sunrise.
-- After a short distance come to another Y split in the trail. Stay left, and then turn left (south) onto Bell Canyon trail.
-- Follow Bell Canyon all the way to the Bell Canyon trailhead and your car.