Tenaja Falls Backpacking Trip

[bearthedog]

Finally got out to see Teneja Falls in the Cleveland National Forest in Southern California. The hike was about 15 miles roundtrip and worth it. The hike was through oak forests, desert scrub, and lots of rocky hills to climb. Temperatures were around 90F, but the payoff was a series of cascading pools about 150 feet high in total. Here are the pictures.

-RB

The Hike

Only one pack on

Gear

Camp

MSR Carbon Reflex 2 (her idea)

Must have been a lost hiker, this was a frequent fisiter

Desert Horned Lizard

And the falls!

Top of the falls

Hiking back, this is what happens when someone takes too much weight in their pack, I get to carry it!

Old pick up

Just for fun, a miniature shot of Tenaja Falls!

 

[the rat]

Nice pics Reuben. It seems that the Tenaja falls was a watering hole during the early settling of the west from what I have read and was frequented by the Indians of that area. Looks like a great trip all around, as always I enjoy your poasts and pictures.Travis

 

[raylaconico]

Reuben,
Where's the trailhead located for this spot? Looks like a nice place.

 

[bearthedog]

Nice pics Reuben. It seems that the Tenaja falls was a watering hole during the early settling of the west from what I have read and was frequented by the Indians of that area. Looks like a great trip all around, as always I enjoy your poasts and pictures.Travis

Thank you sir, it is a nice place, hard to take a bad picture there.

Reuben,
Where's the trailhead located for this spot? Looks like a nice place.

Ray,
Since I know where you are located I will tell you in CA terms. It is off the 5 fwy (towards San Diego), exit 74 Ortega Hwy. Go up the mountain and turn right on South Main Divide. The trailhead is called Morgan trail. It is 8 miles to the bottom of the falls, but, you can drive all the way to the bottom off the 15 fwy and hike up to the falls. this way it is only .7 miles from the parking lot and about 1.5 miles round trip. We opted to make a trip out of it.
-RB

 

[TheGame]

Thanks for all of the pics! I like the pic of the Lizard, looks pretty sweet.

 

[Hawkeye5]

Cool pictures. Did you get in the water ? When I was a kid( back in the 1060's ) we use to have a lot of Horn Toads here in East texas. Have not seen one in a long time.

 

[JCavSD]

Nice pics. I really like that area.

Reuben,
Where's the trailhead located for this spot? Looks like a nice place.

Ray - The San Mateo Canyon Wilderness is West of Lake Elsinore. See PDF of trail/vicinity map here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5288669.pdf

 

[mtwarden]

looks like a fun trip

your friend has good taste in tents