Potrero John Falls

Los Padres National Forest / Sespe Wilderness / Ojai, California, USA

About Potrero John Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Potrero John Falls was a waterfall that had eluded us ever since we were first made aware of it in an old waterfall book from Chris Schaffer back around 2003 or 2004.

After seeing this waterfall make an appearance in one of Ann Marie Brown’s later editions of her California Waterfalls book, we were waiting for the right opportunity to finally experience this falls.

Portrero_John_152_03192017 - Potrero John Falls
Potrero John Falls

However, for one reason or another, that opportunity never came due to other waterfalling priorities followed by a multi-year drought that had plagued us for the last 5-6 years.

It wasn’t until mid-March in 2017 when we finally had enough rain in the Winter season to give us the confidence to overcome the time commitment and difficulty to give Potrero John Falls a try.

As you can see from the photo above, we weren’t disappointed in this multi-tiered waterfall.

It dropped and tumbled over a bright sloping cliff from an estimated cumulative height of 70ft.

Portrero_John_103_03192017 - Most of our hike to Potrero John Falls involved extensive stream scrambling so progress was slow
Most of our hike to Potrero John Falls involved extensive stream scrambling so progress was slow

In order to reach this falls, we had to overcome many obstacles that would deter the most casual visitors.

The first obstacle was the driving distance (pushing the limits of what’s reasonable as a day trip from say Orange County), which we’ll get to in the driving directions below.

The next obstacle was the somewhat rough hike that started off innoently enough on a pretty well-established trail, but then it degenerated into a rough stream scramble.

Indeed, we found that we had to cross Potrero John Creek a seemingly uncountable number of times.

Portrero_John_170_03192017 - Looking directly at the main drop of the Potrero John Falls
Looking directly at the main drop of the Potrero John Falls

Depending on the water level of the creek, one might need water shoes (I used Keens just in case) instead of Gore-tex high-top hiking boots.

There were a handful of head-scratching moments when it came to the best spots to cross the creek or scramble past eroded embankment obstacles.

Indeed, this wasn’t an easy hike, but then again, that might also make this one of the less visited waterfalls throughout Southern California as well.

Potrero John Falls Trail Description – the trail to the Potrero John Campground

For the most part, the first 1.6 miles of the hike was fairly straightforward as it followed along a somewhat fairly established trail.

Portrero_John_023_03192017 - The initial part of the hike to Potrero John Falls was on a fairly well-established trail in the Sespe Wilderness
The initial part of the hike to Potrero John Falls was on a fairly well-established trail in the Sespe Wilderness

In this initial stretch of the Potrero John Trail, we passed through a narrow yet attractive gorge with impressive cliff formations and some cooling shade due to the height of the flanking cliffs.

After passing through the gorge, we then had to hike through a wide open expanse where shade was limited and prickly brush and bare trees were pretty much the tallest things around us.

In the distance, we noticed mountains and Southern Utah-like cliffs perhaps hinting at the harsh climate of this wilderness.

Even though the trail would continue to cross Potrero John Creek several more times in this stretch, the arid climate and heat from the intense sun in this area reminded us that we were wise to bring at least 2 liters of water per person.

Portrero_John_059_03192017 - Mom continuing along Potrero John Creek when the trail pretty soon would coincide with the creek itself. You couldn't tell from this photo, but I believe the primitive Potrero John Camp was immediately on the other side of the creek near here
Mom continuing along Potrero John Creek when the trail pretty soon would coincide with the creek itself. You couldn’t tell from this photo, but I believe the primitive Potrero John Camp was immediately on the other side of the creek near here

Eventually after an hour or so from the start of the hike, the trail would reach the so-called Potrero John Camp.

Even though there was neither signage nor obvious infrastructure indicating its presence, we suspected that we made it to the camp due to some organized clearings across Potrero John Creek.

Potrero John Falls Trail Description – scrambling in Potrero John Creek

Continuing on after the Potrero John Camp, the mountains had closed in and the trail would eventually coincide with Potrero John Creek.

It was here that we had to negotiate the next major obstacle in reaching the Potrero John Falls – the stream scrambling.

Portrero_John_080_03192017 - While stream scrambling within Potrero John Creek, we noticed this striated cliff that kind of reminded me of a poor man's version of The Wave in Paria Canyon
While stream scrambling within Potrero John Creek, we noticed this striated cliff that kind of reminded me of a poor man’s version of The Wave in Paria Canyon

While we were actively looking for trails alongside Potrero John Creek, more often than not, we were better off just doing the awkward scramble.

This meant climbing stepping on or over creek boulders and climbing over fallen trees as well as pushing aside whipping branches.

Aside from an interesting striated cliff that reminded me of a poor man’s version of The Wave in Paria Canyon near the Arizona-Utah border, this 1.2-mile scramble was for the most part featureless.

The slow progress of the scramble also meant that this stretch would take us another hour.

Portrero_John_113_03192017 - Mom bouldering over intermediate waterfall obstacles while scrambling in Potrero John Creek in pursuit of the elusive Potrero John Falls
Mom bouldering over intermediate waterfall obstacles while scrambling in Potrero John Creek in pursuit of the elusive Potrero John Falls

Eventually, the gorge itself and the creek would become one as we’d find ourselves having to climb waterfalls and cascades themselves.

Luckily for us, there were some rock cairns (though they may not necessarily be there all the time) hinting to us where were the easiest spots to make the traverse.

At other times, there were ledges that we were able to get a foothold on.

This was especially the case where the cascades and minor waterfalls had formed notches in the underlying bedrock.

Portrero_John_126_03192017 - Mom carefully clinging to this ledge to scramble past this notch and lower waterfall obstacle to continue to pursue the Potrero John Falls
Mom carefully clinging to this ledge to scramble past this notch and lower waterfall obstacle to continue to pursue the Potrero John Falls

Once we got to the top of the series of waterfalls and cascades, we eventually found ourselves right at the base of the lower drop of Potrero John Falls.

Potrero John Falls Trail Description – ascending above the lower waterfall

When viewed directly, we could see that there was a more impressive upper drop of Potrero John Falls right behind the lower waterfall.

However, in order to get there, we had to make a steep scramble up a steep, slippery, and somewhat overgrown trail-of-use to the left of that lower waterfall.

This steep path eventually got us to the area above the lower drop.

Portrero_John_141_03192017 - Mom making a very steep scramble to get over the Lower Potrero John Falls and access the base of the main Potrero John Falls
Mom making a very steep scramble to get over the Lower Potrero John Falls and access the base of the main Potrero John Falls

From there, we were able to make the final descent to get right up to the base of the main drop of Potrero John Falls.

While it took Mom and I about 2.5 hours to get here, there wasn’t a whole lot of shade around this falls to linger around and really enjoy a picnic here.

Rather, it seemed more like a good spot to cool off on a hot day provided there was water.

Given the amount of trouble it took to get here, we were the only ones at the falls as well as on the trail on the Sunday that we showed up.

Portrero_John_181_03192017 - Looking back at both the upper and lower drop of Potrero John Falls
Looking back at both the upper and lower drop of Potrero John Falls

It was hard to say just how reliable the falls would be flowing year in and year out.

That said, the state you see the falls in on this page pretty much reflected nearly a month without significant rain after the nearly record rains we had been getting between December and February.

When it came time to head back to the trailhead, the scramble back to the Potrero John Campground was tricky as we happened to lose the trail while we were too focused on the stream scrambling.

Fortunately, we regained the main trail and the rest of the hike was once again pretty straightforward, especially compared to the scrambling on Potrero John Creek.

Portrero_John_215_03192017 - Mom well into the long return hike from Potrero John Falls in what turned out to be a pretty long day
Mom well into the long return hike from Potrero John Falls in what turned out to be a pretty long day

When we got back to the trailhead, we wound up spending about 5 hours away from the car to go the roughly 5.6 miles round trip.

The time spent that I’m quoting included our photo stops and the brief half-hour picnic to prepare ourselves for the return scramble and hike.

In addition to leg and foot cramps, our arms and faces received quite a few scratches from having to brush up against overgrowth and tree branches that were in the way.

Indeed, this was definitely not a family friendly hike, and it was a good thing I didn’t bring my young daughter along on this one.

Authorities

Potrero John Falls resides in the Los Padres National Forest near Ojai in Ventura 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.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: sespe, los padres, ojai, ventura county, sespe wilderness



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

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.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.