Heart Rock Trailhead
The lot is the crux of this hike. A small dirt pull-in off Highway 138 just south of Camp Seeley in Crestline — roughly 8–10 cars — with an Adventure Pass required on the dash. On weekends from March through June it's full by 9am. Camp Seeley's road is private, and Highway 138's shoulders are narrow and patrolled.
The facts
- Trail served
- Heart Rock / Seeley Creek Trail 4W07 (1.5–2 mi RT, easy–moderate)
- Cost / pass
- Adventure Pass ($5/day, $30/yr) or Interagency pass
- Lot size
- ~8–10 cars, dirt
- When it fills
- Spring/early-summer weekends: by 9am
- Overflow option
- None sanctioned — weekdays are the real answer
- Tow / citation risk
- Citations on Hwy 138 shoulders; Camp Seeley road is private
- Restrooms
- No
- Road to the lot
- Paved Hwy 138; short dirt pull-in
- Busy season
- March–June (waterfall season) is the crush
Getting there
Seeley Creek Trail 4W07, Hwy 138, Crestline, CA 92325
Get directions →The situation
Heart Rock's Instagram fame collides with a trailhead built for a quieter era: a small dirt parking area off Highway 138 near the Camp Seeley entrance, room for about 8–10 cars, Adventure Pass required. When the waterfall is flowing — March through June — weekend demand outstrips those spaces by an order of magnitude.
What doesn't work: the paved road into Camp Seeley is private camp property (they will ask you to leave), and Highway 138's shoulders near the trailhead are narrow, signed, and patrolled — citations are routine on busy weekends.
Plan B
Honestly: go on a weekday or before 9am. That's the whole strategy. If you arrive to a full lot on a weekend, the best move is to flip the day's order — Lake Gregory is 10 minutes away with big paid lots, Crestline has breakfast — then check the trailhead again after 3pm when the morning wave clears.
For the trail itself — distance, the falls, the sketchy final scramble — see the full Heart Rock trail guide on our sister site.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you park for Heart Rock Trail?
In the small dirt lot off Highway 138 just south of the Camp Seeley entrance in Crestline, with an Adventure Pass displayed. It holds roughly 8–10 cars.
What if the Heart Rock lot is full?
There is no sanctioned overflow. Camp Seeley's road is private and Highway 138 shoulders are enforced. Come back on a weekday, arrive before 9am, or return after 3pm when the morning crowd leaves.
Do you really need an Adventure Pass at Heart Rock?
Yes — it's a fee site, and rangers do ticket. $5/day at local vendors and ranger stations, $30 for the annual; an America the Beautiful pass also covers it.
Facts on this page last verified July 18, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.