We visited this trailhead on 5/22/2022. We had trouble finding it, like just about everyone else who mentions it (I read a lot of reviews on AllTrails as well) but as the previous poster here noted, it is right before road marker 3.22 on Mulholland, from the PCH entrance. If you pass 3.22 on the right side of the road you have passed the 3-4 car area parking spot. You can park, walk up a small incline and be faced with a fence. There is no sign prohibiting entrance and there is a space between the fence and mountain side for people to get through.
According to the California park website (forgot which one) dogs are permitted on leashes and we had our large dog with us. We hiked at least 3 miles according to Google and we still did not reach the Nicholas Flats pond but we did reach a ridge from where we could see the pond. By then we were tired and hot and decided to turn around. If your prime desire is to get to the pond, take Decker Road to Decker School road and park at the end of the latter road to be close to the pond and the upper Nicholas Flats area. Or hike from Nicholas Flats (but dogs aren't allowed on the Nicholas Flats trail from the campground).
If you'd like a challenging hike filled to the brim with gorgeous wildflowers park off of Mulholland and go the long way. However, be prepared for a not well maintained trail. There are thistles EVERYWHERE. They are on the side of the trail and in the trail and they are just overwhelming at times. We didn't think about it until the next day when our dog seemed too tired for the hike we did but maybe having him walk through so many thistles wasn't good for him. He's fine now but his energy was low for 3 days after and he didn't eat anything the day after. If you did this hike during tick season you would hate yourself. There's no way you could not be covered with ticks. There is just too much growth close the trail, too many grasses encroaching on the trail and too much thistle.
There is also poison ivy growing in spots in the middle of the trail. We tried to remove as much as we could in several spots but that stuff grows so if you take this hike be very aware of that. It's definitely a good hike for long pants vs shorts. And we did see one snake. My husband and dog walked right over it without seeing it but I was last and saw it. I couldn't tell if it was a rattler but we were aware of the chance of seeing them out that day and made sure the dog was between us, especially after that sighting.
I would go back in a heartbeat, it was so gorgeous, but I wouldn't take a dog with me due to...
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