Upper Santa Ysabel Creek

Kanaka Flat

Distance: 7 miles, loop Hiking Time: 3.5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: 1200′/1200′ Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

Directions: From Julian, drive 2 miles north on Farmer Road to Wynola Road, jog briefly right, turn left to remain on Farmer Road. Continue 1.2 miles north to the Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve staging area on the left.

From the staging area head west along side the upper reaches of the Santa Ysabel Creek, on the Kanaka Loop Trail.
At 1.5 miles, just before a gate on the road ahead, you make a left turn, cross the creek, and start a steep ascent up to a chaparral slope dotted with black oaks. Topping out on the Kanaka Flat.
At the next junction, 2.2 miles, go left to encircle the rim of the Kanaka Flat in the clockwise direction, or go right and make a counterclockwise loop. Either way, it’s 2.6 miles around, and you return to this same junction.