Ode2Fatty

The Grotto Trail at Circle X Ranch

January 7, 2006

The Grotto Trail at Circle X Ranch. Even though I’ve lived in SoCal for 35 years, I’ve never even heard of the Circle X Ranch. It’s about 5 miles up PCH from Kanan and into the mountains another 5 miles or so. Several ranches are located in this hidden canyon, and one ranch even had a buffalo in it’s front “yard”! Circle X has a few trails, including the Mishe Mokwa Trail to Sandstone Peak which takes you to the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. We decided to go in the opposite direction and went down the canyon taking The Grotto trail. It’s an easy stroll downhill and quite beautiful, green and quiet (I think Circle X must be Los Angeles’s best kept secret), but at the bottom of the trail is a rocky streambed, and it was a bit rougher trying to climb up and around the boulders. But it was definitely worth it - at the bottom was, in fact, a Grotto - complete with waterfall and cave. We hope to do the Mishe Mokwa trail next.For a list of Circle X Trails go to http://www.nps.gov/samo/maps/cx.htm#Anchor-Trails-35882

posted by Fatty @ 10:37 AM