Alisal Road near Nojoqui Falls, Santa Barbara County.

I stopped by Nojoqui Falls (pronounced na-hoe-ee) the other day for a looksee, which is located on the north slope of the Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara County (Jack’s Map). It’s a tall but weak flowing seasonal waterfall with rarely more than a trickle cascading over its precipice except in exceptionally wet seasons or immediately after a heavy rainstorm. The cold air smelled sweet with the fragrance of a rain soaked oak forest.

I was walking back down the trail to get my camera when I passed by a group of several people heading up to the fall. One guy was in a short sleeved t-shirt and shorts and the others in normal street clothes. As I walked by in full rain gear, black pants and olive drab rain coat, I thought, These people are probably wondering who the heck this shady looking character is in full waterproof gear.

It was a day of spotty intermittent showers not really such that called for the type of gear I was wearing, but I wore it all anyway. Just in case. As I retrieved my camera from the truck and turned to start back up the creek the sky unloaded with a barrage of small hailstones that ripped through the forest canopy in sheets. I chuckled out loud thinking of the guy in a t-shirt and appreciated having on what I was wearing.

Looking toward Nojoqui Creek canyon from Alisal Road.

The creekside trail leading to the falls.

A description of the waterfall’s formation:

The waterfall flows into a shallow puddle at its base.

Nojoqui Falls is tall, but flows weakly.