The Punchbowls (or Punch Bowls) are among the most beloved swimming holes in Southern California — a series of clear, deep, rock-rimmed pools fed by a waterfall deep in Santa Paula Canyon, in the Los Padres National Forest above the town of Santa Paula in Ventura County. A big 25-foot waterfall pours into the main pool, and the polished sandstone that cradles the water gives the “bowls” their name. It's a genuine backcountry reward, and on a hot day the cool water at the end of the hike feels like a small miracle.

Reaching the Punchbowls is a strenuous hike of roughly 6 to 7 miles round trip. The trail starts near the entrance to Thomas Aquinas College off Highway 150 (Ojai Road) and heads up the canyon along Santa Paula Creek, passing Big Cone Camp before reaching the pools on the East Fork. The route climbs and crosses the creek several times, so expect wet feet and a real workout — but the scenery, with its cottonwoods, sandstone walls, and canyon views, is beautiful the whole way.

Above the main falls, the creek carves a set of natural rock water slides as it tumbles toward the bowls. They vary in difficulty, and the steepest is genuinely fast and slick, sending sliders close to a rock wall — fun for the bold, but a real hazard if you're not careful, so scout each slide and the pool below before committing.

An important access note: the first stretch of trail crosses private property by easement, including college and ranch land. You're welcome to use the trail to reach the national forest, but you must stay on it — no loitering, no wandering off across the property — so treat the access with real respect, since it's the reason the trail stays open. Check current trail status before you go, as the canyon has seen closures after fires and floods.

For those who want more, the canyon rewards an overnight. Big Cone Camp and Cross Camp, the two small Los Padres campgrounds that bracket the Punchbowls, let backpackers turn the trip into a relaxed weekend of swimming, exploring, and stargazing deep in the wilderness. Note that a National Forest Adventure Pass or equivalent may be required to park at the trailhead, and the canyon has been reshaped by wildfire in recent years — the 2017 Thomas Fire burned through here — so the landscape is still recovering and conditions can change.

Come prepared: carry plenty of water (and a way to filter more), wear sturdy shoes with grip that can get wet, and start early to beat the heat and the crowds, which can be heavy on summer weekends. Watch depth carefully before any jump or slide, keep an eye on kids, and pack out every scrap of trash to protect this well-loved canyon. Spring through early summer, when the creek runs full, is the sweet spot — that's when the Punchbowls are at their deep, clear, cliff-jumping best.