Use Marker Groups Wolf 2002
Piru 2003
Day 2006
Zaca 2007
Gap 2008
La Brea 2009
Maple Camp South Los Padres National Forest
- Camp Type: Wilderness Trail Camp
- Topo Map Link: Wheeler Springs
- Elevation: 3800 feet
- Wilderness Area: Matilija
- County: Ventura County
- Ranger District: Ojai Ranger District
- Longitude: -119.3569142
- Latitude: 34.56179632
- Water Sources: Upper North Fork of the Matilija Creek
- Length of Stay: 14 Days
- Reservations: Wilderness Trail Camp
Recent Water Reports:
| Date | Surveyor | Water Report |
| 02-14-2021 | Antonio Calderon | Flowing |
| 12-05-2020 | Anonymous Surveyor | Trickle |
| 12-29-2019 | Christopher P. Lord | Flowing |
| 02-20-2019 | Anonymous Surveyor | Flowing |
| 02-16-2019 | Los Padres Forest Association | Flowing |
| 10-25-2018 | Los Padres Forest Association | Flowing |
| 06-10-2018 | Los Padres Forest Association | Trickle |
| 11-10-2017 | Oh Three | Flowing |
| 10-29-2017 | Peter | Trickle |
| 03-04-2017 | Craig R. Carey | Flowing |
| 01-16-2016 | Shaddus Maximus | Trickle |
| 04-07-2015 | Hike Los Padres | Trickle |
| 11-09-2014 | Los Padres Forest Association | Trickle |
Description:
Named after the cluster of maple trees that call this part of the canyon home, Maple Camp is the highest camp along the Matilija Trail within the Matilija Wilderness. It has a few icecan stoves and is located near semi-reliable water. The camp is easiest accessed from the Cherry Creek Trailhead but is probably more commonly hiked to from the main Matilija Trailhead. The camp is very serene and pleasant, especially in the fall as the maples change colors and coat the ground in fallen leaves.
If you look at the overview canyon photo in this post, Maple is located at the bottom bend of the canyon. Great spot to say the least.
Survey Photos:
Los Padres Forest Association - 11-09-2014
Maple Camp
Los Padres Forest Association - 11-09-2014
Maple Camp
Craig R. Carey - 03-04-2017
Craig R. Carey - 03-04-2017
Scouts clearing debris at Maple, courtesy Sr Avila
Craig R. Carey - 03-04-2017
Ice Can Stove at Maple, courtesy Sr Avila
Craig R. Carey - 03-04-2017
Oh Three - 11-10-2017
Los Padres Forest Association - 10-25-2018
Approach to Maple, the water flowed around on both the left (normal creek) and the right.
Los Padres Forest Association - 10-25-2018
The ice can stoves at Maple, hanging tough.
Los Padres Forest Association - 10-25-2018
The creek is a bit challenging to get to, but once there you'll find nice water.
Los Padres Forest Association - 02-16-2019
Maple tree at Maple Camp
Los Padres Forest Association - 02-16-2019
Clear creek flowing strong, most of the water downstream was a light chocolate
Anonymous Surveyor - 02-20-2019
My Campsite
Christopher P. Lord - 12-29-2019
Christopher P. Lord - 12-29-2019
Christopher P. Lord - 12-29-2019
Christopher P. Lord - 12-29-2019
Christopher P. Lord - 12-29-2019
Christopher P. Lord - 12-29-2019
Anonymous Surveyor - 12-05-2020
Anonymous Surveyor - 12-05-2020
Submitted Camp Reports
Maple Camp Survey - 02-14-2021 - by Antonio Calderon Link: Maple Camp Date: 02-14-2021 Surveyor Name: Antonio Calderon Camp Description: Made our way to maple camp from lower matilija trailhead. Trail was in good shape to middle matillija. From middle Matilija to maple a bit of route finding is necessary. Beautiful trail with amazing views. Water wa flowing throughout the whole stretch. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Good water flow Weather Conditions: 55 F windy sunny - Maple Camp Survey - 12-05-2020 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Maple Camp Date: 12-05-2020 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: Beautiful site. Trail easy to lose going down/up hillside. Trial pretty overgrown in some areas. Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Images: - Maple Camp Survey - 12-29-2019 - by Christopher P. Lord
Link: Maple Camp Date: 12-29-2019 Surveyor Name: Christopher P. Lord Camp Description: Hiked up from matilija Trailhead to Maple Camp on Sunday 12/29/19. Camp Coordinates:   N34° 33' 43.2" W119° 21' 26.0" Water was flowing great and the Camp was covered in snow. A real winter wonderland. Site has a couple Ice Can Stoves and Steel grill grate. It was so nice up there I honestly never wanted to leave. Trail conditions detailed at the link below. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Images: - Maple Camp Survey - 02-20-2019 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Maple Camp Date: 02-20-2019 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: Maple camp is in fairly good condition. Water is flowing abundantly. Stayed there overnight. Pretty cold; 27 deg. when I woke up at 7 am. Came in through the north via Cherry Creek Road. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Good flow Weather Conditions: Mid 30s on arrival (~4 pm), Mid 20s at night Images:
My Campsite - Maple Camp Survey - 02-16-2019 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Maple Camp Date: 02-16-2019 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Maple looks fine. Nothing new to report. Ice cans remain, as do the other stove features. Lots of flat space to camp. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Creek was ankle deep and flowing strong Weather Conditions: Snow flurries, cold, sunny, wind Images:
Maple tree at Maple Camp
Clear creek flowing strong, most of the water downstream was a light chocolate - Maple Camp Survey - 10-25-2018 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Maple Camp Date: 10-25-2018 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: We surveyed Maple Camp on October 26 as part of a larger Thomas Fire trail inventory. Somehow, amazingly, Maple Camp was mostly spared by both the Thomas Fire but also the January 9 deluge. The raging water that night flowed around both sides of the campsite but did not cross the main camping area. Ice can stoves remain on site, maples alive and well and the fire rings intact. The trail to the camp from Ortega is followable but challenging - look for the fresh layer of flagging. The trail below Maple is gone and needs a lot of work. More on that to come..... Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Good water flowing through Maple Camp. Weather Conditions: Chilly in the shade and warm in the sun, mid 70's and sunny. Images:
Approach to Maple, the water flowed around on both the left (normal creek) and the right.
The ice can stoves at Maple, hanging tough.
The creek is a bit challenging to get to, but once there you'll find nice water. - Maple Camp Survey - 06-10-2018 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Maple Camp Date: 06-10-2018 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Report from recent trail survey: Maple Camp is quite inundated with mostly small diameter downed trees.Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Maple Camp Survey - 11-10-2017 - by Oh Three
Link: Maple Camp Date: 11-10-2017 Surveyor Name: Oh Three Camp Description: Beautiful rarely used camp. It's a mere 45 minutes downhill from the trailhead, assuming you can drive the length of Cherry Creek Road. 4-wheel drive needed.Almost the entire camp is covered with grass. Only around the fireplace (NOT USED! due to Level III Fire Danger) is the vegetation trampled into raw dirt.We spread 15 people out over close to 100'. The moon didn't rise until midnight so we had the Milky Way, and shooting stars, above us.The creek is dry north (upstream) of the camp. Water starts flowing right where the fireplace is, but water starts flowing rather whole-heartedly. So water is actually between a trickle and "flowing." There's plenty of small pools to pump and filter.Our Scouts cooked their meals on the gravel and rocks down by the stream, to avoid having to clear 5' circles free of flammable materials in the camp. "Leave No Trace."ÂCuidado! The trail is overgrown and washed out both above and below the camp, so good trail skills are needed. Not at all impassible, it just requires paying attention.Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Slight clouds, 45 degrees at night. Perfect! Images: - Maple Camp Survey - 10-29-2017 - by Peter
Link: Maple Camp Date: 10-29-2017 Surveyor Name: Peter Camp Description: Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Dry but slightly flowing at the campsite. Weather Conditions: - Maple Camp Survey - 03-04-2017 - by Craig R. Carey
Link: Maple Camp Date: 03-04-2017 Surveyor Name: Craig R. Carey Camp Description: The intrepid mountain men of Boy Scout Troop 111 (Ventura) backpacked the length of the Upper North Fork (from Cherry Creek Road at Hwy 33 to lower Matilija TH) Friday 3/3 to Sunday 3/5.
Maple camp in great shape (and green!); boys cleared some downfall to allow plenty of space. Great water.Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Fast and clear! Weather Conditions: Cool and sunny Images:
Scouts clearing debris at Maple, courtesy Sr Avila
Ice Can Stove at Maple, courtesy Sr Avila - Maple Camp Survey - 01-16-2016 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Maple Camp Date: 01-16-2016 Surveyor Name: Shaddus Maximus Camp Description: Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Barely a slight trickle of water immediately at Maple, but there are a few small pools from which you can filter. Much more water in the creek just below Maple. Weather Conditions: - Maple Camp Survey - 04-07-2015 - by Hike Los Padres
Link: Maple Camp Date: 04-07-2015 Surveyor Name: Hike Los Padres Camp Description: As per the Ojai Ranger District:Water is flowing 100 yards below the camp.Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Maple Camp Survey - 11-09-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Maple Camp Date: 11-09-2014 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: While there is moving water at Maple, it emerges out of the ground and is only a trickle. A cup is needed to gather the water and poor it into larger vessels. Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Images:
Maple Camp
Maple Camp
Leave A Camp Report
Survey / Report Form Last Updated: Thursday, May 21, 2015
