Explorer Jim

Here we enter a riparian wonderland of sparkling streams and majestic trees, hidden away in a portion of a major Santa Ana Mountains canyon inaccessible to all but intrepid adventure hikers.

Josephine Creek drains a large area on the North face of 6,165′ Strawberry Peak, descending steeply into the dramatic gorge of mighty Big Tujunga Canyon. The last drop into the gorge is the sheer face of 170′ tall Josephine Falls. Here a unique first person perspective from start to finish, captured via a helmet-mounted GoPro […]

This incredible wooded canyon, one of the loveliest unknown gems of the San Gabriel Mountains, features numerous awesome deep pools and a number of great waterfalls, culminating in a sheer 70′ tall fall and another adjacent fall which carve a dramatic chasm into solid granite.  

YinYang Canyon is so named – by yours truly, since it is unnamed on maps – due to the fact that this wild and pristine canyon features two sculpted stone segments with waterfalls only about .5 mile apart which exhibit a radically different character from each other. This canyon is absolutely wild and while it […]

I’m often asked, “What’s the best place to hike after it rains?” I have a special attraction to waterfalls, and really love the canyons in the mountains, so I’m drawn to waterfalls and streams first after rain. My initial choice is usually a hike including a beautiful mountain stream with a nice waterfall. There’s a […]

Although The Hiker’s Way typically covers hiking adventures in the Southern California area, occasional coverage of interesting and exciting outdoor adventures in other beautiful areas will also be provided from time to time. A recent Black Canyon Colorado River Canyoneering trip outside Las Vegas is a case in point. Black Canyon is the name conferred […]