Hike Holy Jim Falls Trail

3.4 miles - Easy Effort
1:30 Hours (Total)
600 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 2,360 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

Tucked away in a hidden canyon in Cleveland National Forest, the hike to Holy Jim Falls is fun, easy, and great for families. The area recovering from the 2018 Holy Fire is still very lush and offers forest and tree cover not often found in Southern California. You'll hike up a gentle gradient along Holy Jim Creek and then turn off onto the Holy Jim Falls spur trail, which narrows as it approaches the falls.

In this Guide:

Turn by Turn Hike Directions & Video
How to Get to Holy Jim Falls Trailhead
Holy Jim Falls Trail Maps

Quick Links:
Parks Pass - Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Apr 2024 Gear

Getting to the Holy Jim Falls Trail

Getting to the Holy Jim Falls Trail is half the fun. First off, use this as your Google Maps address:
Holy Jim Trailhead, Trabuco Creek Rd, Corona, CA 92883

The last 5 or so miles drive to the trailhead are on a dirt road, and it's best done with a higher-clearance vehicle, but I've seen sedans do it before. Just take it slow and beware of potholes. If a Prius can do it (it can), you can do it too.

trabuco canyon road — The drive to the trailhead address brings you on Trabuco Canyon Road, which is dirt. This is the start of Trabuco Canyon Road, coming from the paved road. The beginning of Trabuco Canyon is okay, but it gets more rutted the farther in you go.

You need a parking pass for the Cleveland National Forest. I use the affordable National Parks Pass, which gets me in every national park, national monument, and national forest. You can also use an (Southern California only) Adventure Pass, or buy a $5 day permit from the Trabuco General Store.

Gear for the Hike

This is a pretty easy hike that you can do in fitness clothes. There can be poison oak along the last section of the hike, so you should either be careful or wear long pants.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

Holy Jim Falls Trail Maps

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Hike Brief

Why is this area called Holy Jim Falls? Well, in the 1870s this area was popular with beekeepers, and there was one called James T. Smith, who evidently was a bit of an unsavory character. He earned the nicknames of "Cussin' Jim", "Lying Jim" and "Greasy Jim." To irritate him, his neighbors started calling him "Salvation Jim" or "Holy Jim." When government surveyors came through and asked who owned the land, Jim's clever friends said "Holy Jim," forever etching this joke into geographical history.

Last Grizzly Holy Jim — Holy Jim Canyon used to be full of grizzly bears. Local hunters, ranchers, and beekeepers actively hunted the grizzly to extinction in the area.

There's also some sad history at Holy Jim Canyon. It was here on January 5, 1908, that the last confirmed grizzly bear kill in California occurred. The California Grizzly adorns the state flag today, but they are extinct (in CA). It wasn't always that way. Grizzlies used to roam all of the lower areas of Cleveland National Forest up to the 1860s.The government put a bounty of $10 a head on the grizzly, and by the 1870s, they were mostly gone.

The hike to Holy Jim Falls is a nice, easy hike. If you want to hike to the top of Saddleback Mountain, it's a serious effort and best left to hikers with experience and fitness. Here's what's involved with the hike to Saddleback Mountain. These two hikes share the trail for a while, so you'll see signs for Saddleback / Santiago peak as well.

Holy Jim Falls Hike Directions

holy jim falls trail parking — Park in any of the spots in the lot. The parking area has basic ports-potties.

Read the Holy Jim Trail sign in the parking lot for any notices.

The start of the dirt road also has this big sign for the Holy Jim Trail.

holy jim trail — The beginning of the hike goes along a dirt road.

cabins on holy jim trail — After a few minutes on the road, you'll go through a section of private cabins. Respect the private property and keep going straight on the dirt road.

peacock on holy jim trail — Some of the folks have free-roaming peacocks as pets. Keep your eyes open, they're a hit with the kids.

holy jim falls trail sign — As you hike through the cabins, the direction to the trail proper is marked by signs.

At about 0.6 miles, you reach the official Holy Jim Trail trailhead. Go straight through.

holy jim trail stream crossing — The trail is well defined and crosses some streams. If it's been raining heavily, you might have to rock hop across the stream.

holy jim falls trail — The trail climbs gradually, and is well defined. You might see some side trails to the right leading down to the creek. Stay on the main trail.

alders and oak on holy jim trail — The most photogenic spot occurs on this part of the hike. The trail goes through a circle of alders and oak.

view of Saddleback Mountain — Look up to the left as you hike for a glimpse of the peak of Saddleback Mountain.

historical marker on holy jim trail — You might come across some historical markers on the trail too, keep your eyes open.

holy jim falls trail split — Right after that last trail drop, the trail splits. Head right to Holy Jim Falls.

Holy Jim Falls Update — You made it! If there hasn't been a heavy rain, the falls can be on the light side or even dry. If the trail dead ends at a cliff and you don't see any water, the Holy Jim Creek is dry.

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.