Exploring The Los Padres National Forest

Over 1000+ Cataloged Locations

Location specific weather reports, recent camp and trail surveys, water data and much more.

Hiking Trails

Explore the hiking trails of the Los Padres National Forest. Combine trails to make loop trips, discover new trails for backpacking, or find new areas to explore.

205 Hiking Trails

• Little Sur Trail
• Lion Canyon Trail
• Stonehouse Trail
• Jesusita Trail
• Madulce Trail

View All 205 Trails →

Camps and Campgrounds

This updated list on camps enables you to find a new camp to visit anytime; we have included all car campgrounds and trail camps in this section.

293 Camps

• Pine Valley Camp
• Buckeye Camp
• Los Prietos Campground
• Rocky Creek Camp
• Manzana Schoolhouse Camp

View All 293 Camps →

O.H.V. Trails

We got you covered on the O.H.V areas, including Google maps view of all trails, slope gains and losses, so you can be prepared for your next off road adventure.

56 OHV Trails

• Ballinger Route 19 OHV…
• Ballinger Route 54 OHV…
• Ballinger Route 10 OHV…
• Queen Bee OHV Trail
• Ballinger Route 49 OHV…

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206 Dirt Roads

• Lime Canyon - Forest…
• Branch Mtn - Forest…
• Cachuma Mtn - Forest…
• Miller Canyon - Forest…

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111 Peaks

• Puerto Del Suelo Peak
• Pine Ridge
• Little Pine Mountain
• South Ventana Cone
• Whiteacre Peak

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174 Springs

• Chokecherry Spring
• Cobblestone Spring
• Agua Caliente Spring
• Monjas Spring
• Big Spring - Cuyama

View All 174 Springs →

Latest Camp Reports

Please click on a report below to view the survey

Sykes Hot Springs Survey - 10-1-1996 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Sykes Hot Springs
Date:	10-1-1996
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	A story about a missed chance at visiting Sykes from 1996. Worth a read: https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2025-03-03/big-sur-wildfire-threat-camping-survival-story-between-a-rock
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Mono Campground Survey - 1-1-2024 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	1-1-2024
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Historic video showing the construction of the Mono Debris Dam from 1936, enjoy! https://archive.org/details/CCCAtMono1936
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Gridley Springs Camp Survey - 04-06-2025 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Gridley Springs Camp
Date:	04-06-2025
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Ant Camp Survey - 04-06-2025 - by Rick Hayes

Link:	Ant Camp
Date:	04-06-2025
Surveyor Name:	Rick Hayes
Camp Description:	Dough Flat to Ant Camp. Day pack from Cow Spring/Bucksnort junction. Can wear shorts to saddle before changing watersheds to drop down to Ant. Overgrown from saddle to Ant, need pants and long sleeves. Could do it with a full pack. Found old marijuana grow 1/4 mile upstream from Ant Camp, on right side. Irrigation, trash, fertilizer bags, pesticide spray bottle.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Painted Rock Camp Survey - 04-06-2025 - by Dave Bourgeois

Link:	Painted Rock Camp
Date:	04-06-2025
Surveyor Name:	Dave Bourgeois
Camp Description:	Water is trickling at Painted Rock but flowing well at the trough near Jackson Cabin.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	2L/min
Weather Conditions:

Oak Camp Survey - 04-03-2025 - by Chris Houlberg - Scoutmaster Troop119

Link:	Oak Camp
Date:	04-03-2025
Surveyor Name:	Chris Houlberg - Scoutmaster Troop119
Camp Description:	All three campsites are in good condition; however, the firepit in the upper canp could use some TLC.  The weather was cool with a cold breeze coming down the mountain.  The above mountains had a light dusting of snow visible.  The sky had patchy clouds with a couple of dark ones threatening rain.  In all we had a good day hike to and from camp.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Flow rate is great. Lots of clean, clear water flowing past camp.
Weather Conditions:	Patchy clouds. Day temperature in the lower 50s.

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 03-30-2025 - by Laura Clay

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	03-30-2025
Surveyor Name:	Laura Clay
Camp Description:	Camp in good shape, plenty of water for a few months Took Alder Creek trail in front locked Dough Flat gate. Road to trailhead in extremely good shape and trail is very clear
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Small flowing stream with some deeper pools in creek
Weather Conditions:

Valley View Camp Survey - 03-29-2025 - by Gio

Link:	Valley View Camp
Date:	03-29-2025
Surveyor Name:	Gio
Camp Description:	Plenty of water in the stream. Some pockets of poison oak along the trail coming into camp. Most tent sites are in good condition if a little on the small end, the one in a thicket of trees slightly uphill from the fire ring has a collapsed tree lying across it that will need to be removed. There are tools in a hollow tree but I did not have time.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Stream was full and flowing
Weather Conditions:	Surprise drizzles most of the night

19 or Nineteen Oaks Camp Survey - 03-28-2025 - by Jen Smith

Link:	19 or Nineteen Oaks Camp
Date:	03-28-2025
Surveyor Name:	Jen Smith
Camp Description:	Some landslides have been partially repaired along the trail, a few spots on the trail are slippery and difficult to climb. Poison oak looks like it has been cleared though, nothing overgrown. Camp is in good condition, water in trough is completely dry. Creek still has a trickle of flowing water with a few pools along the way.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	Cool, partially cloudy

Sheep Camp Survey - 03-27-2025 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Sheep Camp
Date:	03-27-2025
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Lots of snow on trail coming from Nordic. Best to have spikes or snow boots. I even worn my snow pants. Follow the footsteps to find your way if trail is covered with snow.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	50’s, cool

Latest Trail Reports

Please click on a report below to view the survey

Horse Pasture Trail Survey - 04-13-2025 - by Sam Graves

Link:	Horse Pasture Trail
Date:	04-13-2025
Surveyor Name:	Sam Graves
Trail description:	Crossing Tassajara Creek from Marble Peak trail is easy with a shallow wade and slow water. From then on the trail is designated only by occasional cairns and pink tape. The general contours could be followed but there was no clean, obvious trail. Rough going with little maintenance, deadfalls, and a stagnant spring running down the ravine which is crossed and crisscrossed repeatedly. We got close to the Tassajara Cutoff before deciding we were spending too much time navigating and turned back to Marble Peak Trail. Also, for anyone coming from Arroyo Seco be aware that the Horse Pasture Bridge is washed out; you'll need to wade in water that can get deep for some folks (up to my waist and I'm a little over six-foot).
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Hard to follow

Bucksnort Trail Survey - 04-07-2025 - by Rick Hayes

Link:	Bucksnort Trail
Date:	04-07-2025
Surveyor Name:	Rick Hayes
Trail description:	Dough Flat to Ant Camp, then 1/2 mile up Agua Blanca creek. Day pack from Cow Spring/Bucksnort junction. Can wear shorts to the saddle before changing watersheds to drop down to Ant. Overgrown from saddle to Ant, need pants and long sleeves. Could do it with a full pack. Couldn't make it to Saddle Skirt, too overgrown, hard to follow and poison oak. Couldn't hike up the water itself, too much flow and too much debris. Found old marijuana grow 1/4 mile upstream from Ant Camp, on right side. Irrigation, trash, fertilizer bags, pesticide spray bottle.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work

Sweetwater Trail Survey - 04-06-2025 - by Dave Bourgeois

Link:	Sweetwater Trail
Date:	04-06-2025
Surveyor Name:	Dave Bourgeois
Trail description:	Trail has been recently maintained by LPFA, and it's in great shape overall. There's a mile in the middle which still needs work, but even that section is easy to follow and not too overgrown.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Aliso Trail Survey - 04-05-2025 - by Dave Bourgeois

Link:	Aliso Trail
Date:	04-05-2025
Surveyor Name:	Dave Bourgeois
Trail description:	Met LPFA volunteers performing maintenance. Trail is in excellent shape for hiking and biking.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Red Reef Trail Survey - 04-01-2025 - by Rick Hayes

Link:	Red Reef Trail
Date:	04-01-2025
Surveyor Name:	Rick Hayes
Trail description:	Hiked from Nordhoff road down Red Reef to Sespe with full pack. Need pants, long sleeves, trekking poles entire route. Brush and deadfall. Water flowing at Ladybug and Horsethief camp. Poison Oak from Horsethief to Sespe.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work

Alder Creek Trail Survey - 03-30-2025 - by Laura Clay

Link:	Alder Creek Trail
Date:	03-30-2025
Surveyor Name:	Laura Clay
Trail description:	Recent trail work made it clear and easy to follow. Plenty of water along the route we took to Cow Spring
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Aliso Trail Survey - 03-29-2025 - by Casey Horgan

Link:	Aliso Trail
Date:	03-29-2025
Surveyor Name:	Casey Horgan
Trail description:	Trail is narrow and easy to follow. Mostly rideable with some areas of minor overgrowth and off camber.
Mode of transport:	Bicycle
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Out and back bike outing to Painted Rock

Santa Paula Canyon Trail Survey - 03-29-2025 - by Rick Hayes

Link:	Santa Paula Canyon Trail
Date:	03-29-2025
Surveyor Name:	Rick Hayes
Trail description:	Hiked to Bluff Camp. Need pants, long sleeves, trekking poles and Garmin or Gaia app to follow the trail after leaving the creek all the way to Bluff camp. Flagging to Cienega camp. Some of the flagging was wrong. Bear trails everywhere, lots of false trails. Tons of water at Cienega camp. Some flowing water at Bluff camp. Even more flowing water on the backside of the ridge of Bluff camp. Rock cairns from Cienega to Bluff
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Hard to follow

Poplar Trail Survey - 03-27-2025 - by Chris Berry

Link:	Poplar Trail
Date:	03-27-2025
Surveyor Name:	Chris Berry
Trail description:	We only did the 1 mile section of this trail down from the Loma-Victor fire road to Pens camp and the trail was next to non-existent. Multiple sections of hands and knees crawling, hoping to find the occasional cut stumps of chaparral to indicate there once was a trail here. A few decaying pieces of orange flagging helped give hints that we were on the correct path. Overall, very hard to follow and it took close to 3 hours to get through. Had we been going uphill I don't know that we would have succeeded. Unsure of the status of the trail up to Bluff as we exited down Indian Creek. Lot's of water flowing in Indian Creek at Pens. Pens camp was fairly overgrown but there was enough space to pitch a couple of tents.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Non existent

Mono-Alamar Trail Survey - 03-27-2025 - by Chris Berry

Link:	Mono-Alamar Trail
Date:	03-27-2025
Surveyor Name:	Chris Berry
Trail description:	The trail could use some work, it's easy to lose in many places and increasingly challenging to follow the further along one goes. The trail becomes particularly challenging and overgrown leaving Mono Creek up the Caracole. It was slow going and we often had to drop into the creek bed to advance or move up onto less vegetated slopes until we reached the junction with the Alamar Hill trail. Not much of a trail to be found going up to the Loma-Victor fire road, but hiking through the grass was easy enough, just steep.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work