West Fork and Tangerine Falls

I find that the easier starting point for Cold Spring is at at the Montecito Trails Association Sign on the east side of water crossing, but you can start on the west side. The two starting trails will meet. 

Be careful at the east starting point because there are two trails starting a few feet apart from one another. The steeper trail is not described here, but makes a nice, steep hike that eventually meets Cold Spring Trail again making for a perfect loop (with a choice of a shorter or longer loop) just right for a quick workout.

The Cold Spring Trail immediately climbs steeply into the canyon.

At about 1/4 mile you reach a junction with the West Fork of the Cold Spring Trail. The junction is marked and crosses the creek. Take this trail, which is to the left.

The trail climbs uphill following a water pipe. You can hear the water rushing inside it in some places sometimes.

At just under the one mile mark there is a junction with an unmarked trail heading off to the right, downhill to the creek. You will see a giant boulder to the right and a giant boulder straight ahead. To the right is the trail to Tangerine Falls (described below). To the left is the main West Fork Trail which summits at Gibraltar Road.

The Main West Fork Trail, to Gibraltar Rd.

Taking the left fork, as you continue you will cross the creek here and there on a gentle trail. You will be following a pipe much of the way. 

Next, you will come to the water pipe with a cable attached to it. You have to cross the creek here.

Soon you will see the water tunnel, built in 1905. It was built by drilling straight through the mountain and connects to Gibraltar Lake.

The trail continues past the water tunnel. At this point the trail is relatively newly built. There are numerous switchbacks and then a small descent as the trail traverses a small ridgeline. The descent takes you through a chamise forest, then you find yourself back in the shade, going up again. It switchbacks toward the summit at Gibraltar road, for approximately 1.75 miles.

To return to the trailhead, turn around and go back the same way you came for an approximate 3.5 miles round trip.

Tangerine Falls

At the junction with the two big boulders, take the fork on the right heading down, crossing the creek diagonally downhill, then back uphill and sharply to the left to the other side. Soon after this creek crossing, you may notice another trail that veers off to the left just where you have to step over the pipe. There are social trails in this area making it difficult to follow. One that takes you out of the canyon and steeply up can lead you to the rocks above Tangerine Falls.

The route to the base of Tangerine Falls can be treacherous and difficult to follow. In wetter months creek crossings may be difficult. The trail in some places can be slippery when wet or dry.

If you can manage the boulder hopping, the poison oak and the treacherous conditions (and many people can), once you reach the falls themselves, the rocks are slick from the constant action of the water and it can be difficult to get yourself right up to the falls. But many people can do it, and if you are one of them, you'll be rewarded with an ice cold shower under spectacular falls when water is flowing. The Tangerine name comes from the slight orange tinge to the travertine that has built up under the falls.

The falls are the summit. You can't really go much farther. Some people are able to climb/scramble up above the falls, but it's quite dangerous to do, and I was stung by a swarm of yellow jackets the last time I tried it.

To return home, reverse your route. Total miles round trip is about 3.