Lion Den Camp North Los Padres National Forest

Submitted Camp Reports

Lion Den Camp Survey - 09-02-2024 - by Joel B

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	09-02-2024
Surveyor Name:	Joel B
Camp Description:	Camp was clean, no visible animal activity. Picnic tables at upper and lower camp were in good shape. Good spot for hammock camping if the weather is warm. There were a lot of gnats at the camp, but they went away after sunset. There were areas on the trail up that had an annoying amount of gnats.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Water flow from spring at camp was moving, but not a lot of volume. Enough to fill a water bottle.
Weather Conditions:	Clear. High of upper 70’s, lows of mid to low 60’s
Images:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 05-13-2024 - by Lightningrod

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	05-13-2024
Surveyor Name:	Lightningrod
Camp Description:	Hiked in to Lion's Den on the Cruikshank trail and found the hike to be a real challenge with the uphill climb.  Camp is awesome with two tables and a great view to the west.  The coast was totally fogged in so no view of the ocean.  The water is flowing so no problem filling up.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Flowing slowly, turning to a trickle shortly
Weather Conditions:	Sunny at camp in the upper 60's.
Images:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 03-18-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	03-18-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 01-06-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	01-06-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Both sites in good condition, beautiful as ever
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Creek at camp clear and flowing, 2 feet wide, 2-3" deep
Weather Conditions:	Cold, windy, and rainy

Lion Den Camp Survey - 11-03-2023 - by Justin

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	11-03-2023
Surveyor Name:	Justin
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Small pools, deep enough to scoop from
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 09-24-2023 - by Bryce

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	09-24-2023
Surveyor Name:	Bryce
Camp Description:	Slept a great night. No wind, no mosquitos, and just two friendly guys as neighbors. The smoke blocked the view of the ocean but it wasn't bad enough to smell it at all.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	The water was only a couple inches deep but it was clear with a steady flow
Weather Conditions:	perfect
Images:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 09-24-2023 - by Laura Clay

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	09-24-2023
Surveyor Name:	Laura Clay
Camp Description:	Stopped for a break while hiking, did not camp. Looked like a cool view but there were a lot of flying ants/gnats which wasn't pleasant
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Mostly stagnant pools but enough flowing to filter
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 05-29-2023 - by Forest L

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	05-29-2023
Surveyor Name:	Forest L
Camp Description:	Trail is still in good shape after the rains and road closure. Salmon Creek Trail is a bit overgrown in places and there are some washouts/blowdowns but nothing too difficult to pass. Definitely lots of poison oak but not unavoidable.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	strong flow, about 2-3 inches deep at places. Enough to fill up a water bottle or bag for filtering.
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 11-24-2022 - by Addison Jerlow

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	11-24-2022
Surveyor Name:	Addison Jerlow
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	One fillable trickle plus several good pools. 1L/min
Weather Conditions:	low 70s, high 40s

Lion Den Camp Survey - 09-10-2022 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	09-10-2022
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 07-07-2022 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	07-07-2022
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 06-01-2022 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	06-01-2022
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Never been here before so not sure what is normal flow.  No problem filling my bottles.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 05-22-2022 - by Valinor223

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	05-22-2022
Surveyor Name:	Valinor223
Camp Description:	Small pool where crosses the trail. Recommend bringing a bag to fill, as a floating pump filter will be difficult to use!
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Clean and cold water. Flowing approx. 4L/min.
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 04-23-2022 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	04-23-2022
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 03-13-2022 - by Chad Thomas

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	03-13-2022
Surveyor Name:	Chad Thomas
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 02-22-2022 - by Davide Bisi

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	02-22-2022
Surveyor Name:	Davide Bisi
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 11-06-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	11-06-2021
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Light flow but easy enough to fill a bag to filter!
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 10-11-2021 - by Dan Tischler

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	10-11-2021
Surveyor Name:	Dan Tischler
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Flowing across trail with 1+ ft deep pool upstream. Watch for poison oak.
Weather Conditions:
Images:	Morning at Lions Den

Lion Den Camp Survey - 07-26-2021 - by Wesley van den Eikhof

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	07-26-2021
Surveyor Name:	Wesley van den Eikhof
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Small puddle, barely deep enough to filter
Weather Conditions:	Cloudy, high 70s

Lion Den Camp Survey - 07-03-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	07-03-2021
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	buggy, but great views.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	muddy with a few pools to collect water
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 06-26-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	06-26-2021
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	A trickle of water but enough flowing spots to filter from. Delicious lemon-y taste!
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 05-15-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	05-15-2021
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Somewhere between a trickle and a flow, but definitely enough for drinking
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 05-05-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	05-05-2021
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	4 liters per minute - good quality
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 04-30-2021 - by Tim K

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	04-30-2021
Surveyor Name:	Tim K
Camp Description:	Didn't stay the night, just passed through. Two tables, one with a wide view of the canyons below, and the pacific.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Water is a "medium" trickle. Flowing enough to grab some to filter, but it would take some time to gather. I would suggest bringing water up the hill justin case.
Weather Conditions:	Hot at midday.

Lion Den Camp Survey - 04-09-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	04-09-2021
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 03-27-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	03-27-2021
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	downed snag suspended in forked tree between upper and lower sites, lots of large broken limbs on ground ~15' from fire grate at lower site
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	~4" deep, ~3' wide clear creek flowing across trail at Lions Den
Weather Conditions:	warm days, chilly nights, clear skies

Lion Den Camp Survey - 07-26-2020 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	07-26-2020
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Low flow but more than a trickle.
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 06-23-2020 - by Bill Eckert

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	06-23-2020
Surveyor Name:	Bill Eckert
Camp Description:	One site with view of ocean in the distance, other just below in the shade.  Great spot!  No difficulty hiking up Salmon Creek Trail or down Cruikshank, with the possible exception of some poison oak
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Low flow, but perhaps more than a trickle
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 02-27-2020 - by Josh

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	02-27-2020
Surveyor Name:	Josh
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Very low flow, but not yet a trickle
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 10-23-2019 - by Dave

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	10-23-2019
Surveyor Name:	Dave
Camp Description:	The upper campsite was lovely with an expansive view.  It was sheltered from the strong winds which came on during the night.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Barely a trickle but there were several pools from which water could be pumped.
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 10-19-2019 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	10-19-2019
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 01-04-2019 - by Ana Nadal

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	01-04-2019
Surveyor Name:	Ana Nadal
Camp Description:	Cruickshank Trail between Silver Public Camp and Lion Den has a slide but is passable. Just watch your footing and poles help. Maintenance on trail has removed overgrown trees.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Good flow right on the edge of camp.
Weather Conditions:	sunny and cool

Lion Den Camp Survey - 02-18-2018 - by Michael Pratt

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	02-18-2018
Surveyor Name:	Michael Pratt
Camp Description:	Cruickshank Trail between Cruickshank Camp and Lion Den is a bit overgrown, so lots of ducking under tree branches is required, but the trail otherwise remains passable.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	There is a pool of water without much flow, but plenty to filter.
Weather Conditions:

Lion Den Camp Survey - 01-23-2016 - by Mark Garrison

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	01-23-2016
Surveyor Name:	Mark Garrison
Camp Description:	Note: on the way to Lion Den from Cruickshank Trail, there is a trail intersection just before the camp, at the top of the ridge and the highest point on the trail. There is a fire ring there, but that is NOT lions den camp. Lions den camp is further east on Cruickshank trail, and well marked with a sign. The trail intersection is not on all maps, and heads south to silver peak.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	January - cold nights. Rain on the first day, clear on the next 2.
Images:	Lion Den camp - vista area Lion Den camp - sign (night)

Lion Den Camp Survey - 10-17-2015 - by Steve Cypher

Link:	Lion Den Camp
Date:	10-17-2015
Surveyor Name:	Steve Cypher
Camp Description:	Large site. A fire ring with a view and one in the shade. Water is on the edge of the camp. Not many people make it up there. One of my favorites.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Not a lot of flow, but plenty of clear, sweet water.
Weather Conditions:	Awesome

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