It was 6:30 am Sunday morning and we were on the trail headed to Trail Canyon Falls, a beautiful waterfall cascading 30 feet down into a rugged canyon. What this hike lacks in distance, it makes up for in beautiful scenery. The trail to the falls winds through the canyon and crosses the creek several times before heading up to the top of the waterfall where you’ll have spectacular views looking straight down. If you’re feeling adventurous you can also descend a steep use trail where you can rock scramble your way down with the help of a rope tied to a tree to get to the base of the falls. Today the water was flowing beautifully, the wildflowers were blooming and butterflies were on the wing. Since we started so early, we shared the falls with only two other hikers. It was a very peaceful morning. As we headed back, I came upon a very hungry swallowtail who was so busy nectaring on Western Wallflower that he didn’t seem to mind me hovering over him with my camera to take some photos. Also, if you keep your eyes peeled, there’s a picnic table nestled away in the shade off to the side of the trail that makes for a great place for a snack break or even a picnic. We stopped there for a bite to eat before finishing up the hike. It was an absolutely perfect day with temperatures at about 65 degrees at 10:30 am when we arrived back at the trailhead.

Starting off on the trail approximately 6:30 am.

You can see the sun starting to show on the mountain top in the distance.

Western Wallflower  (Erysimum capitatum) — Western Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum)

Starting to climb.  Beautiful views. — Starting to climb. Beautiful views.

Wild Hyacinth  (Dichelostemma capitatum) — Wild Hyacinth (Dichelostemma capitatum)

Sometimes I get way ahead of my husband.  Other times he's way ahead of me.  :) — Sometimes I get way ahead of my husband. Other times he's way ahead of me. :)

My first view of the falls looking down from the cliff side trail.

If you hike past the first steep use trail that takes you to the bottom of the falls, you'll find a path that leads you to the top of the falls.  We did that first. — If you hike past the first steep use trail that takes you to the bottom of the falls, you'll find a path that leads you to the top of the falls. We did that first.

My husband standing on top of the falls.

After enjoying the views from the top of the waterfall, we headed back to find the use trail that would lead us down to the base of the falls.

There are great views from here too, but if you continue on the path you'll find a rope tied to a tree and you can scramble down about 10 to 15 feet.  From there just follow the path and you'll be at the base of the falls.  It's pretty eas… — There are great views from here too, but if you continue on the path you'll find a rope tied to a tree and you can scramble down about 10 to 15 feet. From there just follow the path and you'll be at the base of the falls. It's pretty easy as long as you have some level of fitness.

It's definitely worth it to get to the base and see this gorgeous 30 foot waterfall up close and personal.  When we arrived, there were only two other hikers.  When they left, we had the falls all to ourselves to enjoy. — It's definitely worth it to get to the base and see this gorgeous 30 foot waterfall up close and personal. When we arrived, there were only two other hikers. When they left, we had the falls all to ourselves to enjoy.

These beautiful pink flowers are at the base of the falls.  They look like cherry blossoms, but I'm not sure if that's what they are. — These beautiful pink flowers are at the base of the falls. They look like cherry blossoms, but I'm not sure if that's what they are.

One more photo before making the scramble back up the rope to get back to the main trail.

We crossed the creek many times on this hike.

I stopped to watch this hungry swallowtail enjoying the nectar of a Western Wallflower.