Heart of Stone

Hike to Heart Rock and Seeley Creek Falls

02.06.2020

Hikes, Dog Friendly

Having a heart of stone isn't such a bad thing if you're an iconic rock formation in the San Bernardino Mountains. It's just a half-mile hike to Heart Rock at Seeley Creek Falls, where you’ll find a perfectly symmetrical heart-shaped granite bowl carved by nature at the crest of the 25-foot waterfall (can you spot it in the photo?).

Set out down the Seeley Creek Trail, descending along the namesake stream through Jeffrey pines and black oaks. Your walk through this wonderland ends on an overlook above Seeley Creek Falls. This is the best vantage for seeing both the falls and Heart Rock—a slice of eye candy that’s more intriguing than a box of mixed chocolates. If the creek’s flow has some good mojo, you’re in for some extra bling: water flows into the crown of the heart and free-falls out the bottom. But even if the falls are slim, you're still looking at a sweet heart. Of stone.

Take Route 138 north of Crestline to Camp Seeley (map) and turn west up Forest Service Road 2N03. Continue 0.4 mile to the trailhead (labeled 4W07) on the right, where the road becomes gated. Because Seeley Creek flows over Forest Service Road 2N03, you may wish to park along Route 138 and walk the extra distance to the trailhead. Follow Seeley Creek Trail along the left bank of the creek, reaching an outcropping above the waterfall after 0.5 mile. Display an Adventure Pass on your vehicle. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave
Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!
View
Afternoon on the Island
What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!
View
Easiest Best Hike in the World
Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road
View
San Francisco's Middle Earth
No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.
View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

Locals' Feature: Jim Litchfield, Owner of Reno Fly Shop
If there's a river, you're likely to find Jim Litchfield there. As the owner of Reno Fly Shop, Nevada's premier fly fishing outfitter and shop, Jim's passion for rivers knows no bounds: he's fished in places near and far, including Alaska, Bolivia and Christmas Island. But home is beautiful Reno, where he has been running Reno Fly Shop and leading tailored river float and fly fishing adventures (including beginner-friendly options) for over a decade.
View
Volcanic Activity
Northern California is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the country: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The region features geothermal areas, including the largest dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak. Hike to the top of this active volcano on a 5-mile out-and-back.
View
Great Is an Understatement!
Tucked against the Utah border in eastern Nevada, Great Basin is a hiking wonderland of 13,000-foot peaks, ancient forests, sub-alpine lakes, and marbled limestone caves.
View
Sponsored
Savor Summer in Paso Robles
Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.
View