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Little Falls Trail - Los Padres National Forest
Trail Distance 2.81 Miles

The Little Falls Trail is a senic 2.81 mile trail in the Santa Lucia Wilderness in San Luis Obispo County . The trail head is located off Upper Lopez Canyon Road at 35.24618, -120.48839. The trail follows little falls creek to the junction with Big Falls Trail (14E02).

Trail Details

  • Trail #: 14E03
  • Wilderness Area: Santa Lucia
  • County: San Luis Obispo County
  • Ranger District: Santa Lucia Ranger District
  • Trail-head Latitude: 35.24618
  • Trail-head Longitude: -120.48839
  • Water Sources: Little Falls Spring and Little Falls Creek
  • Trail Condition: Kind of Good - Little to no bushwacking and easily followable
  • Topo Maps:
  • Activities & Features:
    • Backpacking
    • Day Hiking
    • Spring
    • Waterfall
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Wilderness Camping



Trail Stats

  • Total Elevation Gain: + 2168 feet.
  • Total Elevation Loss: - 760 feet.
  • Overall Average Slope Gain: + 17 %.
  • Overall Average Slope Loss: - 15 %.
  • Kilometers: (km)
  • Meters: (m)
  • Miles: (mi)
  • Feet: (ft)
  • Average Slope: (%)
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Survey This Trail

Survey Photos:


  • Anonymous Surveyor - 04-15-2023

  • Anonymous Surveyor - 06-07-2023

Submitted Trail Reports

Little Falls Trail Survey - 06-25-2023 - by Jeff Harker
Link: Little Falls Trail
Date: 06-25-2023
Surveyor Name:Jeff Harker
Trail description:Waterfalls still flowing. Trail needs quite a bit of work but still doable. Water flow damage and remaining debris at about 2miles in makes it easy to lose trail at that spot.
Few newts left. No ticks. Ridiculous amounts of poison oak.
The water crossings you’ll need to make with your vehicle driving to trailhead are still significant. I wouldn’t try it with a car.
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Needs some work
Little Falls Trail Survey - 06-07-2023 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Little Falls Trail
Date: 06-07-2023
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:Water was pretty clear, waterfall had lots of water coming down, very green, not too much debris, lots of newts all over trail and in water, does need to be fixed up a bit.
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Good shape and easy to follow
Images:

Little Falls Trail Survey - 04-15-2023 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Little Falls Trail
Date: 04-15-2023
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:This trail is very hard to follow. The basin of the little falls is filled with tree and run off debris.
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Hard to follow
Images:

Little Falls Trail Survey - 10-17-2016 - by Mike Splain
Link: Little Falls Trail
Date: 10-17-2016
Surveyor Name:Mike Splain
Trail description:This trail is easy enough to follow, but could use some brushing along its entire length. There's also some deadfall, perhaps 3 larger trees warranting a crosscut saw, including 1 very complex live oak.
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Needs some work
Little Falls Trail Survey - 06-13-2016 - by Frank Kehl
Link: Little Falls Trail
Date: 06-13-2016
Surveyor Name:Frank Kehl
Trail description:My son and I hiked the lower portion of the Little Falls Trail today. We had just been here a few months ago, and conditions have noticeably changed since then. Water levels are dropping rapidly. The first crossing of Little Falls Creek just beyond the trailhead is now completely dry. The stream is still flowing, although sluggishly, above this point. Poison oak is encroaching on the trail, and it's hard to avoid it completely. The trail itself is still easy to follow, however. The unmarked side trail up to the base of Little Falls ends at a lovely pool with a very small (6' or so) waterfall about 100 yards short of Little Falls itself. Getting to the base of Little Falls from here would involve wading in the creek itself through very dense underbrush. While it's probably still doable, we didn't bother. My best guess is that Little Falls has either slowed to a trickle or stopped flowing altogether due to the drought.
Mode of transport:Hike
Trail condition:Needs some work


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Last Updated: Wednesday, February 24, 2016



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L.P.N.F. Contacts »

  • Forest Headquarters
    Phone: (805) 968-6640
  • Mt. Pinos District
    Phone: (661) 245-3731
  • Ojai Ranger District
    Phone: (805) 646-4348
  • Santa Barbara District
    Phone: (805) 967-3481
  • Santa Lucia District
    Phone: (805) 925-9538
  • Monterey District
    Phone: (831) 385-5434