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Sign at the parking area
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The trail proper starts at the edge of the fence around the oil pumps. There is 1.3 miles of pavement from Hwy 150 to get to this spot.
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Looking up from the East Fork Trail in Santa Paula Canyon
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Much of the trail goes through part of the creek bed. There is graffiti everywhere, sadly.
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This section of the trail was washed away several years ago
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While some of the trail goes through the gravel and rock of the creek bed, this long section climbs above the creek and is broad, smooth and firm.
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Climbing up a small side trail, we get a good view of the lower pool and the falls that feed it
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Approaching the lower pool
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The lower pool has a swimmer in it when we arrive. The walls are well decorated with graffiti all the way around.
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Just above the lower pool is this chasm
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The stream drops into the chasm
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Downstream in the chasm, people are swimming and jumping into the deep pool
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Diving into the chasm
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Continuing upstream, we find a very tranquil spot. There are many more like this.
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The trail again climbs above the creek
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We had to climb this barrier to get to the upper pool. It was a bit tricky to climb, but coming down was much much more difficult. Don't climb this rock unless you are comfortable backing down without being able to see where to place your feet and not having good handholds.
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Climbing the barrier rock
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There was no passing here without getting our feet wet
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A slide feeds water into the upper pool
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Looking into the upper pool from the slide
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Enjoying the slide!
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The water in the upper pool is crystal clear
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On the way back down, this is the falls immediately below the barrier rock
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There are lots of people in the lower pool in the middle of the afternoon on a beautifully warm day
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Thomas Aquinas College
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