Use Marker Groups Wolf 2002
Piru 2003
Day 2006
Zaca 2007
Gap 2008
La Brea 2009
Indian Trail - Dick Smith - Los Padres National Forest
Trail Distance 2.78 Miles
One of the most enjoyable trails in the back country. It starts at Bluff Camp and descends along the creek of the same name until the creek joins Mono Creek a short distance up stream from the Santa Ynez River. A beautiful section from Pens Camp down to just above Indian Creek Camp was, thankfully, never completed. Although there isn't a designated trail, you can hike with care through the narrows. There are several beautiful water falls and numerous deep pools that provide good swimming and trout fishing.
Along most of its length Indian Creek runs from north to south but at the upper end of the narrows it runs from east to west until it cuts through a bed of Eocene Age Sierra Blanca Limestone. In the 1890's Jose Morage established Indian Narrows Camp under oak trees on the west side of the creek. Across the creek he dug a tunnel and filed a claim on the limestone for use in lithographic printing. Unfortunately he found small flecks of quartz in the algal limestone rendering it useless for that purpose. He then proposed building a railroad to the site and establishing a cement plant. Thankfully, this never came to pass.
Just down the creek from the limestone bed is a large, deep pool below a waterfall. It is one of the best swimming pools in the forest.
Trail Details
- Trail #: 26W08
- Wilderness Area: Dick Smith
- County: Santa Barbara County
- Ranger District: Santa Barbara Ranger District
- Trail-head Latitude: 34.57761
- Trail-head Longitude: -119.67016
- Water Sources: Water is available from Indian Creek which flows year round.
- Trail Condition: Bad - Trail may require some bushwhacking and/or searching for markers due to potential sub standard trail conditions
- Topo Maps:
Activities & Features: - Backpacking
- Creek
- Day Hiking
- Panoramic Views
- Wildlife Viewing
- Wilderness Camping
Trail Stats
- Total Elevation Gain: + 797 feet.
- Total Elevation Loss: - 408 feet.
- Overall Average Slope Gain: + 8 %.
- Overall Average Slope Loss: - 8 %.
- Kilometers: (km)
- Meters: (m)
- Miles: (mi)
- Feet: (ft)
- Average Slope: (%)
Trail Camps
Survey Photos:
Alex Stone - 05-13-2016
Alex Stone - 05-13-2016
Alex Stone - 05-13-2016
Alex Stone - 05-13-2016
John Doe - 05-11-2020
LPFA - 04-10-2021
Submitted Trail Reports
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Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 04-27-2022 - by Ojai Valley School Lower CampusLink: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 04-27-2022 Surveyor Name: Ojai Valley School Lower Campus Trail description: Just wanted to add that the route from Loma Pelona down into Pens is almost entirely GONE. When you drop off the road heading west the trail descends through grass, and enters chaparral. It switchbacks steeply for a bit and then levels off and runs almost straight west toward Pens. At the point that the switchbacks end, we began flagging with red and orange, following black/orange polka dot flags as well. There is no sign of previous tread, and there is no sign of previous cuts/pruning or ducks. The brush was intense and we tunneled, crawled, and generally got thrashed the rest of the way to camp. This section is about 1.5 miles and it took us 2+ hours. Eventually, we blew it off and walked creek bed as our clothes and skin were shredded. Tough little section that I would not recommend. Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Non existent Condition details: Loma Pelona to Pens - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 04-27-2022 - by Ojai Valley School Lower Campus
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 04-27-2022 Surveyor Name: Ojai Valley School Lower Campus Trail description: Whoa! LPFA rehabbed the trail from Indian Canyon Camp all the way to the Camuesa Road. INCREDIBLE work! Thx everyone! Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Good shape and easy to follow - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 04-10-2022 - by Addison Jerlow
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 04-10-2022 Surveyor Name: Addison Jerlow Trail description: Lots of great work from the LPFA recently. Trail from Indian Creek Camp to the road is in phenomenal shape. Have at it! Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Good shape and easy to follow - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 06-27-2021 - by Surveyor
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 06-27-2021 Surveyor Name: Surveyor Trail description: Creek is bone dry, all confluence are dry as well. Very few usable pools they'll be gone soon Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Good shape and easy to follow - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 04-10-2021 - by LPFA
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 04-10-2021 Surveyor Name: LPFA Trail description: No trail to follow, just hike down the middle of the creek and you will be on the right path. Truly spectacular. Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Good shape and easy to follow Images:
Perfect 10 - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 06-17-2020 - by Graham A.
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 06-17-2020 Surveyor Name: Graham A. Trail description: Trail is in good shape and easy to follow from the trail head on the Camuesa road until Meadow camp. Past Meadow camp the trail is flagged and it is generally possible to follow it all the way to Indian Camp. From Meadow to Indian Camp it is very overgrown in places and will test your trail finding skills and your tolerance for Poison Oak and bushwhacking. There is still water in Indian creek all the way to the Camuesa road Trailhead, but it is drying up fast. Buckhorn creek was dry at Buckhorn camp. Plenty of water further upstream. Lots of Deer and one Mountain Lion encounter. Plenty of bear tracks and scat that looked fresh as well.  Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Needs some work Condition details: Description of the lower trail including some of the Buckhorn trail. - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 05-11-2020 - by John Doe
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 05-11-2020 Surveyor Name: John Doe Trail description: The trail is definitely seeing the effects of recent road closures. Once past meadow camp, the trail becomes quite overgrown, although it is flagged for a mile or so. After the first crossing, it is basically a game of take the path of least resistance upstream. You may not always know where the trail is but you won’t be dangerously lost since you’re just following the creek. Indian camp is in great condition, a shady oasis once you’ve pounded out the hard miles to get there. Past there, I could locate no semblance of a trail but one can rock hop to some neat spots. I found it much easier to follow the trail on the way back, perhaps due to tired feet and increased motivation to stay out of the creek bed. At times, one can locate the trail, but it is so engulfed with poison oak that wading/rock hopping is preferable. Perhaps I shall return armed with bigger loppers and more time. Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Needs some work Images: - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 08-30-2019 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 08-30-2019 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Trail description: SB author James Wapotich describing his 2019 backpack trip up Indian Creek: Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Hard to follow - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 04-01-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 04-01-2017 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Trail description: Forest service road to get to mono camp or trail head to indian creek is closed with a forest gate closing it about 4 miles in where paved road ends. Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Non existent - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 05-13-2016 - by Alex Stone
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 05-13-2016 Surveyor Name: Alex Stone Trail description: The day started out really great we left the truck at the gate near little caliente and kept a swift pace keeping our eyes peeled for rattlesnakes of course.Once reaching the trail at the one mile mark not far beyond that is a pool of deep water and a culvert obviously manmade. The dogs cooled off and we continued up the creek. Between Pie Cyn. and lower buckhorn we came across fresh bear scat and tracks leading up the creek and continuing on the trail. Reaching Meadow camp the bench and stove are still intact and in good shape. Water was Slowly flowing I would say most areas aren't stagnant. The trail is just overgrown with grass mostly but is visible. One small oak tree was across the trail between here and indian camp. The Indian Camp was in good shape and we got the will to continue upstream another three quarters of a mile after a snack. The pools upstream were my goal but both of us succumbed to the heat and began feeling fatigued. We turned around and realized our water was running low too low. Lets just say the slog back was tough to the point of being so dehydrated I started feeling faint with cottonmouth, loss of sweat and breathing was labored i'd never felt so foolish in my life. BRING MORE WATER THEN YOU THINK YOU NEED. That dry heat and sun isn't a joke. Lesson learned... Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Needs some work Images: - Indian Trail - Dick Smith Survey - 03-30-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Indian Trail - Dick Smith Date: 03-30-2016 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Trail description: The trail to Indian Camp from the Meadow Camp is getting marginal. It isn’t too hard to follow, but it is down to just a break in the brush to push through in some stretches. Otherwise, not bad. Mode of transport: Hike Trail condition: Hard to follow
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Survey / Report Form - Please click this box to open the form.Last Updated: Wednesday, February 24, 2016
