Black Star Canyon

Black Star canyon is normally done as a hike to the base of a unique and beautiful waterfall. When the waterfall is flowing, the water will split in two channels: one going down the natural route and one going down a man-made cave located in the last 20 feet of the waterfall. While there is only 1 significant rappel and quite some hiking, the canyon makes for an easy full-day hiking adventure. It's also an excellent mountain bike ride out and back for a 2 to 3 hour round trip canyon adventure and serious aerobic workout! Be warned that there is a lot of poison oak in the technical canyon and the lower creek bed, but all is avoidable with care.

The hike skirts along OC parks land and Edwards Ranch land and there are numerous no trespassing signs and electric fence signs. About 2.4 miles into the hike, the trail will take a hairpin turn to the left with a brown steel sign that says "Black Star Canyon Falls". Make note that this is where you will exit the creek if doing the big loop on foot. Hiking only Bike and Hike combo Out and Back hike, gully climb around technical canyon

R bonus 65 feet R0 45 feet R0 NEW 160 feet To access the "NEW" R0 use the hiking trail off the main road at 33.79774, -117.65716. R1 80-150 feet You can continue to rappel through the cave, but add 10 feet to the rappel distance. Also, if you rappel through the cave, the pull side must be on the outside, otherwise the friction is too high and you cannot pull your rope. Even so, from option 1 or 2 anchor the friction is huge. From the bolts, the friction is not an issue to pull your rappel rope all the way up through the cave. Alternatively, if you are hiking back up top using the gully and side trail, you can rig your rope "fixed", hike back up, and then pull it up from the top.

Hiking Only or Hike and Bike with bike at bottom Follow the obvious trails and short down-climbs back down the creek until it intersects Black Star Canyon road. This point is marked as "Creek bed intersection with Sign" on the map. Hike and Bike with bike at top Climb back up gully either all the way to the top and follow trails hugging to the left back to the upper creek bed, then the upper approach trail back to your bike. Or climb the gully 200 feet, take the side trail to the top of the main waterfall, then climb up the rest of the canyon to the upper approach trail. Note:Poison oak abounds on the exit so be careful!