Exploring The Los Padres National Forest
1,257 Miles of Trails on 1,762,400 Acres, with 875,000 Acres of Protected Wilderness to Explore.
Thank you for taking the time to visit the Hike Los Padres Community. This website was created with the mission of being a source of shared information on trails, camps, and locations across the entire Northern and Southern portions of the Los Padres National Forest. The more information we all share and catalog, the better we can track the conditions of the forest network and figure out what sections, trails, and locations are safe to use and which need maintenance.
A good portion of the interior of Los Padres National Forest gets very little use by the public, so any information on these areas will ensure that these places remain accessible for future generations of hikers, backpackers, trail runners, equestrians, O.H.V, hunters, cyclists, and explorers. Many of the trails listed may be unmaintained. Know your level of ability, and always remember to bring extra water.
In partnership with the Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA). The LPFA’s mission is to care for the Los Padres Forest, ensuring it thrives and remains safe and open for the people to use and enjoy. LPFA volunteers work to keep trails open, report and assess forest conditions and provide public education on how to use the forest safely. If you are interested in becoming a member or volunteering, please visit www.lpforest.org to learn more.
Over 1000+ Cataloged Locations
Location specific weather reports, recent camp and trail surveys, water data and much more.
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
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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
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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
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Recent Water Reports
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Latest Camp Reports
Please click on a report below to view the survey
Sykes Hot Springs Survey - 10-1-1996 - by Los Padres Forest AssociationLink: | 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 AssociationLink: | 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: | |
Cow Spring Camp Survey - 03-30-2025 - by Laura ClayLink: | 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 GioLink: | 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 SmithLink: | 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 SurveyorLink: | 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 |
Manzana Narrows Camp Survey - 03-24-2025 - by Anonymous SurveyorLink: | Manzana Narrows Camp |
Date: | 03-24-2025 |
Surveyor Name: | Anonymous Surveyor |
Camp Description: | camp is in good condition 32 river crossings there and back. Most can be rock-hopped except the last 2-3 right before camp. Some crossings are challenging, some are easy. Highest water went a little above my ankle. |
Water Source: | Flowing |
Water Source Details: | |
Weather Conditions: | sunny hot 85 deg |
Fish Creek Camp Survey - 03-24-2025 - by Anonymous SurveyorLink: | Fish Creek Camp |
Date: | 03-24-2025 |
Surveyor Name: | Anonymous Surveyor |
Camp Description: | rock hopped across creek Highest water went a little above my ankle. camp is in good condition |
Water Source: | Flowing |
Water Source Details: | |
Weather Conditions: | sunny hot 85 deg |
Rays Camp Survey - 03-24-2025 - by Anonymous SurveyorLink: | Rays Camp |
Date: | 03-24-2025 |
Surveyor Name: | Anonymous Surveyor |
Camp Description: | camp is in good condition rock hopped Highest water went a little above my ankle. |
Water Source: | Flowing |
Water Source Details: | |
Weather Conditions: | sunny hot 85 deg |
Manzana Camp Survey - 03-24-2025 - by Anonymous SurveyorLink: | Manzana Camp |
Date: | 03-24-2025 |
Surveyor Name: | Anonymous Surveyor |
Camp Description: | camp is in good condition 32 river crossings there and back. Most can be rock-hopped except the last 2-3 right before camp. Some crossings are challenging, some are easy Highest water went a little above my ankle.
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Water Source: | Flowing |
Water Source Details: | |
Weather Conditions: | sunny hot 85 deg |
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Latest Trail Reports
Please click on a report below to view the survey
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Red Reef Trail Survey - 04-01-2025 - by Rick HayesLink: | 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 |
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Alder Creek Trail Survey - 03-30-2025 - by Laura ClayLink: | 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 |
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Aliso Trail Survey - 03-29-2025 - by Casey HorganLink: | 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 |
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Santa Paula Canyon Trail Survey - 03-29-2025 - by Rick HayesLink: | 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 |
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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 |
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Mono-Alamar Trail Survey - 03-27-2025 - by Chris BerryLink: | 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 |
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Lion Canyon Trail Survey - 03-22-2025 - by Rick HayesLink: | Lion Canyon Trail |
Date: | 03-22-2025 |
Surveyor Name: | Rick Hayes |
Trail description: | Hiked from Middle Lion camp to Nordoff Ridge road. Trail is in great shape and easy to follow. Did whole thing in shorts and T-shirt, no brush. Last water is at the junction of East Lion and West Lion camp. Old melted irrigation tubing at base East Lion falls. |
Mode of transport: | Hike |
Trail condition: | Good shape and easy to follow |
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Piedra Blanca Trail Survey - 03-21-2025 - by Daniel J. HallLink: | Piedra Blanca Trail |
Date: | 03-21-2025 |
Surveyor Name: | Daniel J. Hall |
Trail description: | We went from Piedra Blanca Trailhead to Pine Mt. Lodge, with 2 nights at Twin Forks, from March 19 -21. The trail from the Trailhead to Twin Forks was clear and easy to follow. The first mile up from Twin Forks was clear and easy to follow, except for a couple of minor rock slides that don't affect hikers, but may cause stock some problems. The following stretch of trail up to PML has been recently worked and was in amazing condition: good tread, very wide clearance with extraordinary water bars that are greatly needed in that steep, remote trail and which I hope do not get destroyed by hikers or stock. However, almost up to PML, there was a section of trail about 200 feet long that is thick, over-your-head brush, but at least it is the kind of brush that you can slip through fairly easily. For more detail, see https://tinyurl.com/2bbxdu3r
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Mode of transport: | Hike |
Trail condition: | Needs some work |
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Piedra Blanca Trail Survey - 03-16-2025 - by bardleyLink: | Piedra Blanca Trail |
Date: | 03-16-2025 |
Surveyor Name: | bardley |
Trail description: | the purpose of my survey is to relate the current water levels at the beginning of this hike, from the piedra blanca trailhead to the far side of sespe creek at the junction / trailhead of the sespe river trail.
the water crossings at lion creek, the sespe creek tributary stock and hiker crossings, and the sespe creek main crossing are all readily passable with deepest water levels at mid-calf. a returning hiker related that the further down the sespe - the deeper the water. at the hot springs = hip deep.
no defined trail from the stock/hiker crossing to the main crossing. |
Mode of transport: | Hike |
Trail condition: | Non existent |
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Big Falls Trail Survey - 03-16-2025 - by DMajorLink: | Big Falls Trail |
Date: | 03-16-2025 |
Surveyor Name: | DMajor |
Trail description: | Did some trail clearing up to the main waterfall Some challenges crossing the river many times All the poison oak is cut back so good tread amd a clear pathway with just a few blowdowns and easy crossing Newts are out in force, and the falls are roaring No trash, no people on the trail in the afternoon Impressive canyon after a trek to the trailhead |
Mode of transport: | Hike |
Trail condition: | Good shape and easy to follow |
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