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🥾 Trail
Santa Paula Canyon Trail (Punch Bowls)
Santa Paula
Dog Friendly
🥾 Hiking
📸 Scenic
👨👩👧👦 Family
💎 Hidden Gem
🦅 Wildlife
A classic 6-mile out-and-back through citrus groves and oak canyon to a series of swimming pools (the Punch Bowls) and a waterfall.
Santa Paula Canyon Trail — known to everyone as the Punch Bowls Hike — starts beside Thomas Aquinas College, winds through citrus orchards, then climbs into oak canyon along Santa Paula Creek. The reward is a series of clear swimming pools tucked under sandstone cliffs, with a waterfall at the upper end. It's one of the most beloved hikes in the county.
🌟 Why Locals Love It
A real reward hike — oak canyon, sandstone pools, and a waterfall.
What to Expect
6 miles round-trip, some creek crossings, and slick rocks at the swimming holes.
💡 Good to Know Before You Go
Trailhead parking is on Thomas Aquinas property — read the signs. Pools are deep — use caution.
📍 Local Tip
Go midweek. Weekends in summer get crowded with college students.
Best Time to Visit
Spring through early fall.
Notable Features
Punch Bowl Pools
Waterfall
Oak Canyon
Citrus Grove Approach
Practical Info
Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA 93060
Dawn to dusk
Free lot near Thomas Aquinas College.
Amenities
Parking
Trails
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