Residents of Southern California communities like Rancho Santa Margarita don’t spend a great deal of time thinking about rain. In Rancho Santa Margarita, the annual rainfall average is a mere 13 inches, a good deal of which falls in the months January, February and March.
It does rain though and some years it even rains a lot. Here’s one way that Rancho Santa Margarita and Trabuco Canyon residents take advantage of the rain and turn it into something fun.
Holy Jim Canyon is located along Trabuco Creek, on Trabuco Creek Road, at the base of Trabuco Canyon Road, just down the hill from Robinson Ranch, Trabuco Highlands and Rancho Santa Margarita. The 5 ½ mile dirt road to the Holy Jim trailhead is rutted, rough and problematic for most 2 wheel drive vehicles but it provides a welcome adventure for owners of 4 wheel drive vehicles. It’s a fun drive on an average day – but it’s an amazing mud park after the rain.
Ok…there are a couple of things to take into consideration:
1) Water depth in road depressions is very deceiving and many inexperienced drivers end up with stalled-out cars.
2) Always make sure you’ve got someone who can help pull you out of a tough situation…or be willing to pay a towing company to do so.
3) Bring along some ratty towels. You may need to wipe down.
4) Keep an eye out for mountain bikers and hikers. This is a multi-purpose road.
Speaking of mountain bikers…die-hard mountain bike enthusiasts can also be found enjoying the challenges of riding after the rains. The air is cool, crisp and clean and the truly commited (or commitable?) can be found struggling through the mud, up the slick inclines and around the muddy puddles. Now if you ask me – that’s nuts! But to each their own.
Anyway you slice it though, after a decent downpour, Holy Jim Canyon becomes a mud-mecca. Chances are if you’re driving around town and see a truck absolutely covered in fresh mud, it’s just come back from an adventure in the canyon. Try to resist the temptation to inscribe “Wash Me” on the window. Instead, grab a friend a 4-Wheel Drive and head out to the canyon. Why should they have all the fun?
Addition to original post: I received a call today (Feb. 16, 2009) from a family member of a Trabuco Canyon home owner who was concerned about this post. He indicated that this is a private road that is maintained by the home owners in the Canyon at their cost. While I don’t feel that removal of this post is called for, I do agree that the road should be used responsibly and in accordance with the law. Please keep in mind that while it appears that use of this road is permissible, driving off of the road may constitute trespassing. Be safe, be wise, and be considerate.