Hard Luck Campground South Los Padres National Forest

• Camp Type: Closed Permanently
• Topo Map Link: Black Mountain
• Elevation: 2800 feet
• Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
• County: Ventura County
• Ranger District: Mt. Pinos Ranger District
• Longitude: -118.8472778
• Latitude: 34.68841563
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Reservations: Closed Permanently

Recent Water Reports:

Date	Surveyor	Water Report
04-18-2020	Duane Waite	Flowing
01-27-2020	Duane Waite	Flowing
08-28-2019	MaldonadoRarara	Trickle
03-31-2019	Oh Three	Flowing
08-09-2018	Anonymous Surveyor	Stagnant
03-05-2016	Anonymous Surveyor	Flowing
01-01-1994	Oh Three	Flowing

Upload Image

×

Survey This Camp

Description:

This campground is located near Pryamid Lake off Buck Creek Road but is CLOSED indefinitely. The closed gate is located here 34.705357, -118.821099 just beyond the Los Alamos Campground on Hard Luck Road. It is a 3.6 mile walk one way from the closed gate to Hardluck Campground.

Directions: Exit I-5 at Smoky Bear Road, south on the East Valley Road

Recent Uploads:

Photo By: - Website Link

Survey Photos:

• 
  Anonymous Surveyor - 08-09-2018
  Creek NE of the campground
• 
  Anonymous Surveyor - 08-09-2018
  View from NE of the campground
• 
  Oh Three - 03-31-2019
  
• 
  Duane Waite - 01-27-2020
  Hard luck campground
• 
  Duane Waite - 01-27-2020
  Piru creek

Submitted Camp Reports

Hard Luck Campground Survey - 04-18-2020 - by Duane Waite

Link:	Hard Luck Campground
Date:	04-18-2020
Surveyor Name:	Duane Waite
Camp Description:	Colder, cloudier and windier than my visit back in January. Unfortunately no photos, but believe me when I tell you that Piru Creek is raging. A tie tag wrapped around a tree near the creek, dated March 8th, reported a flow of 1,200 cubic feet per second. After the rain we had a few weeks ago, who knows what the flow is now. But it took several minutes for me to cross that slick Arizona crossing, with water at the center just touching the knee caps. BTW, that's my go-to running spot when the thought of making the schlep out to the Santa Barbara district just feels too daunting a task.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Water crossing over the concrete bridge at least 12 inches, if not more. It's raging!
Weather Conditions:	Cloudy, Wind Approx 10mph, Temp mid-50's.

Hard Luck Campground Survey - 01-27-2020 - by Duane Waite

Link:	Hard Luck Campground
Date:	01-27-2020
Surveyor Name:	Duane Waite
Camp Description:	Got in some hill training by running to this abandoned car camp. A haunting sight, but beautiful surroundings. It's not a wilderness area, so mountain bike tracks abound on the trail past the camp. First visit to the camp in over 3 and a half years, when I brought my own mountain bike!
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Flowing well. Six inches deep across the concrete crossing
Weather Conditions:	Cool afternoon, a little wind.
Images:	Hard luck campground Piru creek

Hard Luck Campground Survey - 08-28-2019 - by MaldonadoRarara

Link:	Hard Luck Campground
Date:	08-28-2019
Surveyor Name:	MaldonadoRarara
Camp Description:	Nice medium level hike to the camp. Steep uphill and gradual downhills.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Not much movement. Water was hardly moving making crossing a breeze.
Weather Conditions:	80-90's

Hard Luck Campground Survey - 03-31-2019 - by Oh Three

Link:	Hard Luck Campground
Date:	03-31-2019
Surveyor Name:	Oh Three
Camp Description:	See my review of Buck Creek trail same date.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Flowing ankle deep over the ford, quite deep elsewhere
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Hard Luck Campground Survey - 08-09-2018 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Hard Luck Campground
Date:	08-09-2018
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Creek was only a few inches deep, not flowing.
Weather Conditions:	103F at day, approx. 70F at night.
Images:	Creek NE of the campground View from NE of the campground

Hard Luck Campground Survey - 03-05-2016 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Hard Luck Campground
Date:	03-05-2016
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Went in just to check it out after seeing that it was closed down. You have to park at the fence which is three miles away from the actual camp. The hike in is on a beaten/forgotten paved road and is about 3.2 miles. There was water flowing just before the camp and I could hear trickles of the stream but didn't really look at it. I just went in for a nice little day hike. I think it is worth the 3.2 mile walk but others may not. Its cool to see an abandoned campground with all of its amenities still there but in disrepair.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	There was flowing water about 100 yards before the actual campsite
Weather Conditions:

Hard Luck Campground Survey - 01-01-1994 - by Oh Three

Link:	Hard Luck Campground
Date:	01-01-1994
Surveyor Name:	Oh Three
Camp Description:	This *was* my favorite car campsite in late 1980's and early 1990's, along with Twin Pines (now also closed) and Dutchman on top of Alamo Mountain. And when the road up Alamo was snow bound (back before NFS closed it half of each year), then Hard Luck was the only car campground. There used to be really sketchy "camp ground hosts" who lived there rather permanently, taking up several sites, and cutting trees in the valley to sell for firewood. Maybe that's the real reason why NFS closed this site, not the Arroyo Toad problem.  ;)  Anyway, from here, you could day hike to summit Cobblestone Mountain if you were a stud, going up Buck Creek. It's still an interesting day hike, hiking in on the closed road. If you do visit, hike all the way to the south end of the Valley and look at what's crossing the stream. I think it's called a "flying squirrel." Give it a ride. Please tie it up properly when you're done. It's more fun than an "e" ticket ride! Â
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	Snow in winter, hotter than heck in summer

Leave A Camp Report

Survey / Report Form