Other Areas to Explore

Besides the established trails in and out of Lost Valley, there are innumerable other hiking opportunities in the area. A few of the best areas to explore are described below. There are no trails, and none of these areas should ever be explored alone. But for a group with Staff or Scoutmaster leadership, these areas offer all sorts of interesting opportunities.

The Three Beaus

The three small peaks on the hills at the north end of Lost Valley have been known since the 1970s as the Three Beaus – named Beau, Bow, and Bo (but even I cannot remember which is which anymore). From camp, the best approach is probably via a scrambling trail that climbs steeply up to the eastern peak from near the Grace Water Tower. For a longer hike, there is now an access road for our communications tower on the north side of the hills, off the Lost Valley Road. This will bring you up the saddle; turn right for the highest peak, but the best views of the valley are further south at Grandview Point. Plans are underway to eventually have a proper trail up to one of the peaks.

Lost Valley from the Three Beaus, 2004

Anza Canyon

Anza Canyon was named in 1981, when old Camp Anza was renamed Camp Grace. It offers a short-cut down to Indian Kitchens and several nice overnight camping spots along the way. There is no established trail, but the brush is not thick, and the little creek leads all the way down to the Tarabal Trail. The head of the canyon is located just north of the Cat Road gate at its junction with the Lost Valley Road. Heading out the Cat Road, pass the gate and turn immediately to the right. The natural lay of the land will lead you down into the creek bed that winds through the canyon. This is also the best way to head out to the Carlsbad Mica Mine (see the Tarabal Trail section for details).

Oak Canyon

Few people realize that the camp property extends all the way up and over the Three Beaus, far north of Camp Grace. Oak Canyon cuts through this area, climbing up towards Radio Point. The mouth of the canyon is located along the Lost Valley Road, just around the bend, west of the Cat Road gate. The bottom of the canyon is wide and fairly open, and there are sometimes game trails along the creek. But as the canyon turns up and to the left, the brush closes in and the canyon gets rockier, making for rough going. The canyon begins to fork several times near the top, but which ever route you choose, you’ll end up near the Lost Valley Road on top. Oak Canyon can also make for an interesting way to reach the Three Beaus.

Sycamore Creek

Sycamore Creek runs west of the Old Road, crossing the Lost Valley Trail below. It can used as part of a loop trip off the Old Road, or as an overnight camping area. The creek is seasonal, and usually dry by summer.

The Desert

“The Desert” is the nickname given by the Hiking staff in the early 1980s to the area just east of camp between the Indian Road and the Cat Road. There are endless possibilities for hiking back here. The southern end of the Desert (easily entered by going over the hill from the amphitheatre) is mostly rolling sandy hills. Various Indian sites can be found in this area, along with sandy bowls that make nice, close-in overnight camping spots. To the north, east of Bear Hollow, the Desert is cut by several small narrow canyons running back into the hills.

The Water Caves

About a quarter of a mile above Agua Caliente Falls is the beginning of the “Water Caves,” which stretch along the creek for several hundred yards. The name was applied by Scouts more than 35 years ago. The Water Caves are not actually caves at all, just a jumble of large granite boulders with the creek winding through gaps and passageways. The Water Caves are a dangerous area, and should never be entered without an experienced staff guide. (Note: The Water Caves are only explored as part of the C.O.P.E. during Summer Camp, this area is off limits otherwise).

Agua Caliente Canyon

Agua Caliente Canyon can be followed all the way down to Highway 79 at Warner Hot Springs (approximately nine miles). Much of the time there is water in the creek. As late as 1980 beaver still lived in the canyon – the last survivors of a small group introduced into the Lost Valley area by the U.S. Forest Service in the late 1940s, in hopes their dams would provide erosion control in the valley.  No sign of them was visible by the end of the decade.

There is no established trail below Agua Caliente Falls; the route simply follows the creek downstream. In some places the canyon is quite narrow. Further down, it is possible to pick up the Pacific Crest Trail, which drops into the canyon on your right (west), but it will add about a mile to the trip (and is out in the open sunlight). You’ll want to make arrangements to be picked up at the highway . . . or it’s all uphill back to camp.

Flame-Around-the-Ankles Mountain

This famous camp landmark can be reached by hearty hikers, though there is no trail much of the way. Take the Birkenstock cut-off from the Lost Valley Trail, but before it climbs into the rocks, start around the back (west) side of the peak and aim for the rock face. There is some rough terrain between the peaks. The rock face loses none of its impact when standing at its base. The surface of the rock is rough and loose, with lots of plants, duff, and gravel which make free climbing difficult. There are some possible technical climbing routes on the face, but none of them appear to rate more than about F4.

Flame Around the Ankles

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