Heart Rock Falls (Seeley Creek Falls)

Crestline / Valley of Enchantment, California, USA

About Heart Rock Falls (Seeley Creek Falls)

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Heart Rock Falls (more formally known as Seeley Creek Falls) was known not so much for its tiny 25-30ft waterfall but its nearly perfect heart-shaped depression right next to it.

It was one of those features that made us marvel at it because of how such a seemingly man-made shape could exist amidst the chaos and randomness of Mother Nature.

Heart_Rock_Falls_045_04042010 - Heart Rock Falls
Heart Rock Falls

For that, this was definitely one of the more unique waterfall experiences we’ve had.

We even felt it was memorable enough for us to include it at one point on our Top 10 Best Southern California Waterfalls List!

I suspected that this heart-shaped depression might have been the result of a pair of whirlpools or vortices that forcefully drilled into the bedrock when fast-moving or turbulent water might have rushed through at some point in its history.

Locals Only Spot?

The first couple of times we’ve visited this waterfall back in late March 2005 and then Easter Sunday 2010, there seemed to be a lack of signage.

Heart_Rock_Falls_055_04042010 - The bottom of Heart Rock Falls when there was hardly anyone around it during our visit in April 2010
The bottom of Heart Rock Falls when there was hardly anyone around it during our visit in April 2010

This made us think that Heart Rock Falls was really more of a locals’ waterfall, or at least it was known to those who stay at the nearby (private) Camp Seeley or the village of the Valley of Enchantment.

This was further corroborated by the observation that there weren’t many people around (at least certainly nowhere near the numbers seen at the more known waterfalls in the Southland like Eaton Canyon Falls).

Even on a more recent visit in May 2017, we showed up to this waterfall right at high noon on a Saturday, and although there were dozens of people, it still didn’t feel like there was a big crush.

Of course, now that I’ve said that, when we made an even more recent visit on Valentines weekend in 2020, we’ve encountered many more people and large groups both on the hike and around the Heart Rock Falls.

Heart_Rock_Falls_052_02162020 - Lots of people around Heart Rock Falls perhaps meaning that this was no longer a locals only spot as time goes on
Lots of people around Heart Rock Falls perhaps meaning that this was no longer a locals only spot as time goes on

We even noticed more signage pointing the way to the trailhead parking, which was probably indicative of how this place was probably no longer a locals only spot.

Changes to the Heart Rock Falls Access

Getting to the Heart Rock Falls will probably require a bit of driving (since I’d imagine most visitors to this website don’t live in or near Crestline or other mountain communities in the San Bernardino Mountains).

We probably spent a little more time driving than the actual time on the trail itself, which we’ll get into in the directions below.

Anyways, there were actually multiple ways to do the hike to the Heart Rock Falls.

Heart_Rock_Falls_001_04042010 - Where we used to start our hike for Heart Rock Falls near this sewer manhole by Camp Seeley (at least back in April 2010), which is now considered an unsanctioned part of the trail
Where we used to start our hike for Heart Rock Falls near this sewer manhole by Camp Seeley (at least back in April 2010), which is now considered an unsanctioned part of the trail

A lot of that was a result of the circumstances behind the trail access at the time of our visits over the years.

For example, the first couple of times that we did this hike way back in 2005 and 2010, we started on a trail that began near a sewage pipe cover in an open lot across the creek from Camp Seeley.

Then, when we did this hike in 2017, we were able to drive to a small clearing blocked by a gate.

From that gate, we hiked on a trail (the same trail that left from the sewage pipe further up the access road) that followed along Seeley Creek to the Heart Rock Falls.

Heart_Rock_Falls_17_003_05202017 - The locked gate at the old parking area by the nearest trailhead to the Heart Rock Falls as seen in May 2017
The locked gate at the old parking area by the nearest trailhead to the Heart Rock Falls as seen in May 2017

However, when we did this hike in early 2020, the gate by the entrance to Camp Seeley was closed.

Therefore, we had to hike further along the access road going past Camp Seeley to get to the waterfall.

So to keep things simple, we’ll describe the trail experience as if we started the hike from the Camp Seeley sign by the turnoff leaving the Hwy 138.

This makes the overall hike about 2 miles round trip.

Heart_Rock_Falls_192_02162020 - The signed turnoff at Camp Seeley, which was where we had to start the hike on our February 2020 visit
The signed turnoff at Camp Seeley, which was where we had to start the hike on our February 2020 visit

In the past, the hike was as little as 1.2 miles round trip when they used to let us park along the narrow access road shortly past Camp Seeley.

Heart Rock Falls Trail Description – hiking the road between Camp Seeley and the Old Parking Area

Starting from the Camp Seeley sign right by the turnoff leaving the Hwy 138, we kept left to follow the paved road towards a ford.

Usually, rocks are organized on the sides of the road so we could keep our feet dry on this ford.

However, with Gore-tex boots, we usually had no trouble walking right through the ford without getting our feet wet.

Heart_Rock_Falls_014_02162020 - The ford over Seeley Creek by Camp Seeley that we had to walk (instead of drive) across when the road was closed
The ford over Seeley Creek by Camp Seeley that we had to walk (instead of drive) across when the road was closed

Just beyond the ford, the road meandered beneath some power poles.

Shortly thereafter, we reached the aforementioned sewer hole cover (where we started hiking along the creek back in 2005 and 2010).

That said, we saw private property signs fronting the creekside trail skirting Camp Seeley so I’d imagine that we aren’t supposed to hike the old trail anymore.

Therefore, we continued along the road as it twisted uphill then mostly downhill towards a clearing backed by another gate (roughly 0.3 miles from the gate by the Camp Seeley entrance).

Heart_Rock_Falls_184_02162020 - Looking at the clearing that once served as the old parking area and trailhead, but here we can choose to continue on the road or leave the road on the right and follow the creek-side trail to the Heart Rock Falls
Looking at the clearing that once served as the old parking area and trailhead, but here we can choose to continue on the road or leave the road on the right and follow the creek-side trail to the Heart Rock Falls

This clearing was the old parking area where there was a trash can as well as a 4W07 sign next to it.

From here, we had a choice of continuing our hike along the road or leaving the road to hike the creek alongside Seeley Creek.

This choice can be extended to the return hike so we could hike the road first, then the creekside trail on the return, or vice versa.

Moreover, we could choose to stick with the road in both directions or stick with the trail in both directions.

Heart_Rock_Falls_179_02162020 - Looking back towards the area where the trail along Seeley Creek was about to hook up with the paved road near the old parking area and trailhead
Looking back towards the area where the trail along Seeley Creek was about to hook up with the paved road near the old parking area and trailhead

The bottom line is that you have choices on how you want to do this hike.

Heart Rock Falls Trail Description – the road beyond the Old Parking Lot to the falls

The road continued generally in a downhill trajectory, which meant that we’d have to hike uphill if we took this road back on the return hike.

Given the paved nature of this road, the hike remained very easy, but we had to pay careful attention to when we had to leave it to descend right to the Heart Rock Falls.

That departure point occurred at about the half-mile point from the old parking area.

Heart_Rock_Falls_027_02162020 - The sign pointing us towards leaving the paved road at about a half-mile beyond the old parking area and trailhead
The sign pointing us towards leaving the paved road at about a half-mile beyond the old parking area and trailhead

Fortunately, we noticed a sign that pointed down a steep dirt path that led down to a more conventional foot trail right by Seeley Creek.

Once we encountered the creekside trail, it turned out that we were already above a rocky bluff with a view towards the Heart Rock Falls and the adjacent heart-shaped depression that gave this waterfall its name.

However, because there wasn’t a sign indicating where the waterfall was, we had to listen carefully for falling water as it was real easy to miss.

Finally, if you’re curious about where the paved road ultimately went, it ultimately continued in a gently downhill direction for another 0.3 miles before reaching the Seeley Creek Waste Treatment Plant.

Heart_Rock_Falls_097_02162020 - The Seeley Creek Waste Treatment Plant at the end of the paved road beyond Camp Seeley
The Seeley Creek Waste Treatment Plant at the end of the paved road beyond Camp Seeley

I don’t have any further info about what this plant does, but I speculate that it treats the sewage that might have come from Camp Seeley and perhaps the Valley of Enchantment area.

Nevertheless, the public is not allowed to trespass into the plant.

So there really isn’t a reason to continue walking the road beyond the sign getting you to leave the road to get to Heart Rock Falls.

Heart Rock Falls Trail Description – the trail along Seeley Creek between the Old Parking Lot and the falls

So leaving the road at the old parking area and trailhead (by the 4W07 sign and trash can), a trail descends towards a foot trail alongside Seeley Creek.

Heart_Rock_Falls_164_02162020 - Facing upstream at the context of the trail alongside Seeley Creek (opposite the direction towards the Heart Rock Falls)
Facing upstream at the context of the trail alongside Seeley Creek (opposite the direction towards the Heart Rock Falls)

Going to our left to head downstream on the pretty well-used trail right at the outer reaches of Camp Seeley’s property, the actual trail began in earnest.

As we meandered about on the creek-side trail, we noticed that tall pine trees towered over us.

We also noticed that we continued to follow Seeley Creek downstream, which meant that we were on an upside down hike.

While the elevation loss was hardly noticeable, we knew that on the return hike, we knew that we would notice the elevation gain a bit more.

Heart_Rock_Falls_17_132_05202017 - Sewer pipelines probably coming from Camp Seeley and the rest of the Valley of Enchantment paralleling Seeley Creek and the Heart Rock Trail
Sewer pipelines probably coming from Camp Seeley and the rest of the Valley of Enchantment paralleling Seeley Creek and the Heart Rock Trail

In addition, we noticed a few stretches where thick sewer lines were also following both the trail and Seeley Creek.

Anyways, the trail would continue to skirt alongside Seeley Creek while narrowing as it hugged the slope of the ravine flanking the watercourse.

This made the hiking a little more challenging compared to hiking the road.

But eventually after about 0.6 miles of pursuing this trail, we’d eventually reach a rocky area within earshot of the falling water coming from Heart Rock Falls.

Heart Rock Falls Trail Description – paying attention to the falls

Heart_Rock_Falls_092_02162020 - Descending to the easy-to-miss hidden ravine containing the Heart Rock Falls
Descending to the easy-to-miss hidden ravine containing the Heart Rock Falls

On our first trip to the falls, we thought it was pretty easy to miss the spur “trail” or scramble to the rocky ledge overlooking both the heart-shaped depression and the Seeley Creek Falls.

This was especially the case if no one else was around to provide a hint as to where to go.

The only other hint that there was something down there was by the loudness of the rushing waters of Seeley Creek itself.

Julie and my Mom once accidentally missed the spur trail and kept going before the trail ended up joining with some road (and missed the falls altogether until they backtracked).

Heart_Rock_Falls_031_04042010 - Precarious overlook affording us the top down view of the heart-shaped depression and adjacent waterfall
Precarious overlook affording us the top down view of the heart-shaped depression and adjacent waterfall

Anyways, at the overlook ledge itself, we definitely had to exercise caution because of how narrow the ledge was as well as high up the dropoffs were.

We could easily envision how someone could take a real nasty (perhaps fatal) spill into the little basin right at the plunge pool of the falls down below us.

It was for this reason that you might notice in some of the photos on this page were composed in such a way that the Heart Rock Falls tended to hug the cliff on the right.

That said, I did find a lower spot where I was able to get a good look at both the Heart Rock Falls and the heart-shaped depression.

Heart_Rock_Falls_17_044_05202017 - Context of Tahia looking precariously towards the heart-shaped depression of Heart Rock Falls. Note the person in blue looking tiny further below, which illustrates how high up she was
Context of Tahia looking precariously towards the heart-shaped depression of Heart Rock Falls. Note the person in blue looking tiny further below, which illustrates how high up she was

Again, I have to reiterate that I had to exercise a lot of caution to avoid a misstep into a potentially fatal fall.

Heart Rock Falls Trail Description – scrambling around the falls

In addition to the ledge view, there was a fairly easy path that continued from the ledge area towards the plunge pool at the base of the Heart Rock Falls itself.

Somehow we didn’t notice this option the very first time we hiked here back in 2005.

Anyways, the last few times we were here, we did find the way to get down to the bottom of the gorge and right in front of the base of Heart Rock Falls, where we could interact with the water.

Heart_Rock_Falls_104_02162020 - On the trail descending towards the bottom of Heart Rock Falls
On the trail descending towards the bottom of Heart Rock Falls

Anyways, this lower view of the Heart Rock Falls provided us with a different perspective as it was nestled between polished granite rock cliffs (hinting at the geology responsible for this waterfall).

We couldn’t see the heart-shaped depression from here, but it was definitely a more relaxing spot (as opposed to the narrow ledge above) to enjoy the falls before making the return to the car.

Finally, we did see some people scramble right up to the heart-shaped depression, but it was definitely with some risk involved.

After all, the granite had been worn smooth so the risk of a slip and fall would be much greater when wet given the pitch of the slopes involved.

Heart_Rock_Falls_109_02162020 - Some daring guys perched at a couple of very precarious spots above the Heart Rock Falls, which underscore the dangers around the vertical cliffs by the waterfall
Some daring guys perched at a couple of very precarious spots above the Heart Rock Falls, which underscore the dangers around the vertical cliffs by the waterfall

As much as I wanted to try to scramble to the heart-shaped depression, I ultimately erred on the side of caution so I’ve never made it there.

That said, you’ll see in the photo above (and in the gallery below) that there were quite a few other people with a greater risk tolerance who did figure it out.

Authorities

Heart Rock Falls resides in the San Bernardino National Forest near Crestline in San Bernardino County, California. It is administered by the USDA Forest Service. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website or Facebook page.

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Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: san bernardino, crestline, southern california, california, waterfall, big bear, running springs, riverside



Visitor Comments:

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Heart Rock Falls – Great Waterfall – Alt. shorter trail June 13, 2011 9:59 pm by hsbn - This waterfall is small. It's not even worth visiting if it's not for the perfect heart shape depression. The direction is pretty clear however you can drive on the paved road until its very end. There is more parking space and it saves you about 1/4-mile if you are lazy to hike. Park where you… ...Read More
I Love This Place – Heart Rock Falls May 28, 2010 1:30 am by D - I lived in VOE for 10 years and I hiked to Heart Rock every chance I got. It's a great place to catch up with yourself and my son loved it as well. I would love to live there again and enjoy Heart Rock Falls. ...Read More

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Heart Rock Falls March 23, 2010 7:29 pm by Amy - I absolutely loved the scenery of this whole hike and destination. It was very confusing to get there and we had to make a few U-Turns, but it was definitely worth the frustration of driving there. The hike was a short one, not more than a mile and a half long, and not strenuous in… ...Read More
The Legend Behind the Heart (Heart Rock Falls) December 8, 2009 1:41 pm by Kelly Moedl - Growing up in Valley of Enchantment, one of the legends you must know about is actually how the heart came to be. It has been said that an Indian princess was told by her father that she could not be with the man she loved because he was not of her tribe. Her tears melted… ...Read More

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Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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