Dutch Oven Camp South Los Padres National Forest

• Camp Type: Wilderness Trail Camp
• Topo Map Link: Malduce Peak
• Elevation: 3700 feet
• Wilderness Area: Dick Smith
• County: Santa Barbara County
• Ranger District: Santa Barbara Ranger District
• Longitude: -119.59365
• Latitude: 34.67079
• Water Sources: Stream (seasonal)
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Reservations: Wilderness Trail Camp

Recent Water Reports:

Date	Surveyor	Water Report
04-25-2022	Ojai Valley School Lower Campus	Flowing
04-09-2019	Los Padres Forest Association	Flowing
11-17-2018	Los Padres Forest Association	Dry
05-13-2018	Los Padres Forest Association	Flowing
03-21-2018	Shaddus Maximus	Flowing
03-18-2018	Los Padres Forest Association	Dry
02-29-2016	Los Padres Forest Association	Dry

Photo: Bryan Conant
www.BryanConant.com

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Description:

Dutch Oven Camp was supposedly named after a dutch oven pot that was left at the camp and stayed there for some time.  The camp was probably created due to it being just below the junction of the Alamar Trail (26W06) and the Puerto Suelo Trail (3E08).  This portion of Alamar Canyon burned very hot during the Zaca Fire and as a result almost all the manzanitas died and most of the oaks took heavy hits during the fire.  While the vegetation is returning post-fire, the camp is not very attractive.  There are a handful of icecan stoves at camp, a camp sign and some metal posts.  The camp is also quite far from the nearest water source.  Alamar Creek is very unreliable along this part of the canyon and your best bet might be heading up to Puerto Suelo Creek for water.  There is year round water located about a mile below Dutch Oven along the Alamar Trail.  While the canyons are spectacular in these parts, Dutch Oven isn't the greatest camp in the world.  In fact, most people when describing Dutch Oven Camp might refer to the other use of the word instead of the cooking pot.  That being said, the views are great both up and down canyon and the solitude at camp is what makes the Dick Smith so special.  Spend a little time there and chances are it will grow on you.

Survey Photos:

• 
  Los Padres Forest Association - 02-29-2016
  That's Dutch Oven Camp
• 
  Los Padres Forest Association - 02-29-2016
  The sign is in the oak tree at the junction of Puerto Suello and Alamar, see it?
• 
  Los Padres Forest Association - 02-29-2016
  In case you couldn't see it, now securely in place
• 
  Los Padres Forest Association - 03-18-2018
  
• 
  Los Padres Forest Association - 04-09-2019
  Dutch Oven Camp, ha ha ha!
• 
  Los Padres Forest Association - 11-17-2018
  

Submitted Camp Reports

Dutch Oven Camp Survey - 04-25-2022 - by Ojai Valley School Lower Campus

Link:	Dutch Oven Camp
Date:	04-25-2022
Surveyor Name:	Ojai Valley School Lower Campus
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Nice camp with five ice can stoves arranged to make a kitchen. A little shade with reliable water about 100 yrds. down canyon. Intense brush and crawling to get here.
Weather Conditions:

Dutch Oven Camp Survey - 04-09-2019 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Dutch Oven Camp
Date:	04-09-2019
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Surveyed the Alamar Trail up to Dutch Oven Camp for April 2019 trail crew work.  Dutch Oven is still there.  Water in all nearby canyons.  Green grass.  Doesn't look like anyone has camped there in a long time.  Go check it out!
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Water flowing nicely through the canyon and coming out of nearby Puerto Suelo Canyon as well
Weather Conditions:
Images:	Dutch Oven Camp, ha ha ha!

Dutch Oven Camp Survey - 11-17-2018 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Dutch Oven Camp
Date:	11-17-2018
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Surveyed Dutch Oven Camp in November 2018 in advance of trail work.  The camp looked like it usually does. In case you are wondering, there is year round water on the Alamar a mile or so below Dutch Oven at these coordinates: 34° 39' 51.966" N, 119° 35' 31.212" W
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:	No water in the Alamar or Puerto Suelo Creeks
Weather Conditions:	Cold nights and warm days
Images:

Dutch Oven Camp Survey - 05-13-2018 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Dutch Oven Camp
Date:	05-13-2018
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Report from LPFA trail crew who was working along the Alamar Trail.  Good water flowing at Dutch Oven Camp.  Camp did not look like its been used in a long time.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Dutch Oven Camp Survey - 03-21-2018 - by Shaddus Maximus

Link:	Dutch Oven Camp
Date:	03-21-2018
Surveyor Name:	Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Dutch Oven Camp Survey - 03-18-2018 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Dutch Oven Camp
Date:	03-18-2018
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	No signs that anyone has camped at Dutch Oven any time recently.  Camp remains with multiple ice-can stoves and a steel camp sign.  Things are growing back nicely post-Zaca, the camp grows on you. No water nearby, closest water is usually a hike down-canyon.
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:	No water coming out of Puerto Suelo Creek and we couldn't hear any water in Alamar here either.
Weather Conditions:	Perfect, high 60's, cool but not cold.
Images:

Dutch Oven Camp Survey - 02-29-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Dutch Oven Camp
Date:	02-29-2016
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Camp was green and still there.  This has got to be one of the more remote and seldomly visited camps in the Los Padres.  I fixed the sign at the Alamar / Puerto Suello trail junction and remounted it to the oak tree facing the correct direction.  The camp doesn't jump out and say CAMP HERE CAMP HERE, but if you spend a night there it will grow on you.
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:	Did not walk down to the creek, there was no water in Puerto Suello Creek at the crossing above Dutch Oven.
Weather Conditions:
Images:	That's Dutch Oven Camp The sign is in the oak tree at the junction of Puerto Suello and Alamar, see it? In case you couldn't see it, now securely in place

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