Seven Falls

Los Padres National Forest / Santa Barbara, California, USA

About Seven Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Seven Falls were a series of small waterfalls and punchbowl-like pools that definitely had that reputation of being one of the most popular spots in Santa Barbara.

Indeed, it seemed like the perfect place to take a break from the heat as the waterfalls and pools certainly made this place have that potential of being the most fun of the Tunnel Trail sights.

Seven_Falls_SB_17_074_04012017 - Seven Falls - the part of Mission Creek that made me understand how this waterfall got its name
Seven Falls – the part of Mission Creek that made me understand how this waterfall got its name

That said, I’ve been to this waterfall twice, where the first time I was here in February 2015, the falls were pretty much dry.

The second time I was here in April 2017, it followed a period of about 1.5 months without rain following the last of the rains that deluged this area.

These rains seemed to have at least put a dent in the multi-year drought that had affected much of California, especially Santa Barbara county.

In my latter visit, I went as far as the top of the waterfall, which you see pictured above.

Seven_Falls_SB_17_060_04012017 - This was perhaps the tallest of the Seven Falls on Mission Creek
This was perhaps the tallest of the Seven Falls on Mission Creek

It featured a succession of at least four or five tiny waterfalls, and they certainly made me appreciate how the Seven Falls got its name.

Logistics of hiking to the Seven Falls

Overall, in both times I’ve done this hike, it took about 2.5 hours to cover the roughly 3.2-mile round trip distance.

That said, the hike began with the frustrating search for parking space along Tunnel Road (see directions below).

The parking situation here was reminiscent of the trailhead parking at Sturtevant Falls.

Seven_Falls_002_02152015 - The parking situation along Tunnel Road en route to the trailhead for Seven Falls
The parking situation along Tunnel Road en route to the trailhead for Seven Falls

That meant that it wasn’t unusual to have to park upwards of a half-mile or so away from the trailhead before even starting the actual hike!

So that would add to the overall hiking distance and duration.

The parking was actively patrolled as enforcement personnel were checking closely for vehicles remaining to the right of the white lines.

The first time we were here, I think we were lucky to have found a precarious spot in a little gully or gutter at about a 15-minute walk from the trailhead.

Seven_Falls_SB_17_006_04012017 - Each parallel parked car along Tunnel Road had to be parked to the right of the white lines or else risk getting a parking citation
Each parallel parked car along Tunnel Road had to be parked to the right of the white lines or else risk getting a parking citation

The second time I was here, I managed to park a little bit closer though there were already lots of cars parked along the street despite it being about 7:30am!

And so after finding parking, the initial part of the hike involved walking along the paved Tunnel Road between residences and ultimately towards the end of the residential road.

With frustrations all around for doing this hike, Julie and I also wondered how much the residents must not like the weekend traffic that this place gets every week.

The Seven Falls Hike – Hiking to Mission Creek

Seven_Falls_016_02152015 - The start of the Seven Falls hike, which followed this road just past the gate beyond the drivable part of Tunnel Road
The start of the Seven Falls hike, which followed this road just past the gate beyond the drivable part of Tunnel Road

At the end of the Tunnel Road, we encountered a fork where we followed the signs, and then followed a paved utility road past a water tank and gate.

Beyond the gate, the paved road continued, but now it was part of the hike.

At this point, most of the hike was exposed to the hot sun.

Moreover, the hike was mostly uphill as it hugged some cliffs, which further added to the difficulty of the hike considering how much the sun was beating down on us.

Seven_Falls_145_02152015 - While on the initial part of the Seven Falls hike, we got these views over some expensive homes towards the Pacific Ocean with the Channel Islands piercing above the haze in the distance
While on the initial part of the Seven Falls hike, we got these views over some expensive homes towards the Pacific Ocean with the Channel Islands piercing above the haze in the distance

Throughout this part of the hike (which persisted for about the first 3/4-mile), we were able to get impressive views of the ocean and the Channel Islands out in the distance.

In the foreground, we saw some expensive homes sprinkled about the landscape.

Eventually, the path would curve over a bridge spanning Mission Creek, where there was some dam infrastructure just downstream of the bridge.

Right below the bridge was a fairly interesting waterfall called Fern Falls that was said to be about 25ft.

Seven_Falls_124_02152015 - Along the way to Seven Falls, we had to cross this footbridge where benath it was the Fern Falls, which would typically be flowing if it has enough water
Along the way to Seven Falls, we had to cross this footbridge where benath it was the Fern Falls, which would typically be flowing if it has enough water

Short of making the unsanctioned steep scramble into the creek itself, it was difficult to get a clean look at the falls due to the overgrowth.

Not long after the bridge, the trail continued climbing towards a bend where we managed to get impressive views both in the direction of the sandstone-protruding mountains further inland as well as the ocean.

Ultimately, the pavement would end at a junction nearby.

At this point, we continued straight ahead on the Inspiration Point and Jesusita Trail (as opposed to going right, which would eventually lead to the Tunnel Trail).

Seven_Falls_032_02152015 - At a signposted trail junction where we kept straight ahead to remain on the Tunnel Trail and Jesusita Trail
At a signposted trail junction where we kept straight ahead to remain on the Tunnel Trail and Jesusita Trail

About five minutes of climbing beyond the junction on the now dirt path, we then reached another junction where a single-track path veered to the left while the wider trail continued to the right.

We went left onto the smaller path, which narrowed considerably as we found ourselves walking beneath bare trees with black bark, which indicated that a fire had passed through this area in the recent past.

This narrow trail then started to hug the gorge carved out by Mission Creek before descending down to the creek itself (roughly about a mile from the trailhead).

At this point, we were at the section of Mission Creek where we would leave the Tunnel Trail (which continued on to Jesusita Trail and Inspiration Point among other things) and scramble our way to the Seven Falls.

The Seven Falls Hike – The Scramble on Mission Creek

Seven_Falls_SB_17_041_04012017 - The start of the scramble on Mission Creek in pursuit of the Seven Falls
The start of the scramble on Mission Creek in pursuit of the Seven Falls

After leaving the Tunnel Trail, we then had a choice of following either a somewhat overgrown but well-used narrow path to the left of the creek, or a direct stream scramble within Mission Creek.

Keep in mind that in a bit of a catch-22 situation, the latter option of stream scrambling would be a bit more difficult if there was more water in the creek.

Along the faint trail, there were several unsigned forks branching back down towards some intermediate small falls and pools along the way.

There was also one real steep trail to the left that joined back up with the Inspiration Point/Jesusita Trail.

Seven_Falls_SB_17_047_04012017 - Looking towards some of the intermediate waterfalls on the partial stream scramble along Mission Creek to the Seven Falls
Looking towards some of the intermediate waterfalls on the partial stream scramble along Mission Creek to the Seven Falls

For the most part, I was able to follow the trail paralleling Mission Creek.

However, it would eventually laed me back to the Mission Creek just downstream of an attractive two-tiered waterfall spilling into a pool, which I’ll call Pool 1.

Incidentally, on my first attempt at hiking Seven Falls, this was my turnaround point.

The Seven Falls Hike – Scrambling for the Waterfalls

In order to get past the waterfall at Pool 1, I was able to scramble around the pool to the right.

Seven_Falls_SB_17_058_04012017 - This was the pair of small waterfalls at what I'm calling Pool 1, which turned us around the first time we attempting to reach the Seven Falls
This was the pair of small waterfalls at what I’m calling Pool 1, which turned us around the first time we attempting to reach the Seven Falls

There were some rocks and enough informal footholds in the bedrock to allow me to scale the sloping walls supporting the falls at Pool 1.

After a short distance of creek scrambling further upstream, I then encountered the attractive waterfall of the second pool.

The waterfall at this pool probably fell around 15-20ft or so.

There was also evidence of a landslide to the left of the pool that left behind what appeared to be a natural arch of some sort.

Seven_Falls_SB_17_067_04012017 - Context of a landslide and the waterfall spilling into what I'm calling Pool 2 on Mission Creek en route to the Seven Falls
Context of a landslide and the waterfall spilling into what I’m calling Pool 2 on Mission Creek en route to the Seven Falls

According to the locals whom I met here, that arch wasn’t there before, and it was undoubtedly the result of the heavy rains that had hit the area in early 2017.

Anyways, for most people, Pool 2 would be the turnaround point as the sandstone walls of Mission Canyon had closed in.

That said, I was able to do a precarious scramble to climb up around the right side of the waterfall at Pool 2.

There was quite a bit more of dropoff exposure, and it would certainly not be something I’d attempt if the walls were wet.

Seven_Falls_SB_17_078_04012017 - Psychedelic patterns on the bedrock that yielded me the frontal views of the Seven Falls on Mission Creek
Psychedelic patterns on the bedrock that yielded me the frontal views of the Seven Falls on Mission Creek

So just at the top of the falls for Pool 2, I encountered a third pool.

This pool spanned the entire width of the canyon so further progress meant needing to wade through the pools, which I opted not to do.

However, I was able to scramble a little ways up a slope (which had some interesting patterns in the bedrock), and I managed to get a nice view of the remaining waterfalls of the Seven Falls in succession.

It was only with this perspective that I finally understood how Seven Falls got its name.

Seven_Falls_SB_17_116_04012017 - Context of the return hike from the Seven Falls amongst some expensive homes and the Pacific Ocean with the Channel Islands in the distance
Context of the return hike from the Seven Falls amongst some expensive homes and the Pacific Ocean with the Channel Islands in the distance

After having my fill of the Seven Falls, I then headed back to the car in a mostly downhill hike.

While there was certainly the option of continuing on the main trail up to Inspiration Point, I opted to head downhill back to the trailhead instead.

The nice thing about the return hike was that now the trail was facing the gorgeous views of the ocean and the Channel Islands.

So that made for an enjoyable return hike, which made it easy for us to see why this place was so popular.

Authorities

Seven Falls resides in the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara, 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: mission falls, seven falls, santa barbara, mission, california, southern california, los padres, national forest, swim, swimming, drought, parking situation, jesusita



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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.