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The heavy winter rains have had an effect on Santa Teresa Park. Here's
a report on the park conditions as of January 2003.
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Waterfall:
The waterfalls in Laurel Canyon have been flowing. The upper waterfall
is the most spectacular, but is only seen after heavy rains, and is hard
to find. It can only be seen from one point: the Hidden Springs Trail below
the Wright Center. To get to it, from the parking lot at the Pueblo Area
by the emergency phone, take the Hidden Springs Trail to the left after
the trail signboard, instead of to the right towards Coyote Peak. Head
up the trail, which runs below the Muriel Wright Center on the hill to
the left. The start of the trail tends to get muddy, so be careful. You
will see two large oak trees on the side of the trail. The waterfall can
be seen starting at the first tree and can be best seen from under the
second tree. Look back towards Coyote Peak, then look down into the canyon.
You should see the waterfall:

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Trail conditions:
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The Hidden Springs Trail to Coyote Peak is in relatively good condition
considering all the rain. There are some muddy spots, but they can be bypassed.
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The Coyote Creek Trail from Coyote Peak to the service road entrance at
Countryview Drive is in good shape. This trail has been turned into a gravel-surfaced
road by the company that services the antenna on Coyote Peak.
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The Mine Trail is a muddy mess, particularly at the start of the trail
starting from the last parking lot at the Pueblo Area:

It's also muddy near the junction with the Rocky Ridge Trail, where the
Mine Trail crosses the end of a marsh. As the trail descends to the Fortini
Trail, it is also also a long and muddy stretch.
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The Fortini Trail is not too bad, at least the section between the Mine
Trail and the end of Fortinit Road. Be careful of the cable crossing the
trail near the Club 14-E site and don't fall into the barbed wire fence.

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I haven't been on it, but the Rocky Ridge Trail, as it ascends up the hill
from Big Oak Valley, usually turns into a rain gutter in the rainy season.
It's likely to be muddy. The upper portions of the trail below Coyote Peak
and along the top of the ridge, tend to be dryer as the ground is hard
and rocky. The lower portion of the trail through Big Oak Valley to the
Mine Trail is deeply rutted.

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Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch
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There's a new drinking fountain near the ranch house.

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The 4H kids have harvested some of the vegetables near the house and gave
them to charity.
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There is a new bulletin board on the restroom wall, currently showing pictures
of community activities in the park:

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There was a tree house in a tree by the canal above the Springs area. The
rangers took it down. Since then, there has been vandalism at the Springs.
The signs have been scratched. The slats on the fence by the springs have
been kicked out.
Ronald Horii,
Secretary, Friends of Santa Teresa Park
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