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MAP TYPE

Mono Campground South Los Padres National Forest

Camp Type: Car Campground - No Reservations, first-come, first-serve walk-in campground
Topo Map Link: Hildreth Peak
Elevation: 2080 feet
Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
County: Santa Barbara County
Ranger District: Santa Barbara Ranger District
Longitude: -119.6292621
Latitude: 34.52919053
Length of Stay: 14 Days
Reservations: Car Campground - No Reservations, Walk In

Recent Water Reports:

Date	Surveyor	Water Report
1-1-2024	Los Padres Forest Association	Flowing
07-11-2023	The Lost Padre	Flowing
07-02-2023	mwb	Trickle
04-28-2022	Ojai Valley School Lower Campus	Flowing
04-23-2022	Duke	Flowing
03-31-2022	Addison Jerlow	Flowing
03-17-2022	Surly one	Flowing
02-12-2022	Chris Chirgwin	Flowing
01-23-2022	JLB	Flowing
01-15-2022	Chris Shorb	Flowing
01-01-2022	Paul Cronshaw	Flowing
11-06-2021	Donnie T	Dry
06-08-2021	Rasa	Trickle
05-30-2021	James Wapotich	Trickle
02-28-2021	Anonymous Surveyor	Flowing
02-13-2021	Bryant K.	Flowing
01-30-2021	Antonio Calderon	Flowing
01-06-2021	John O'Connell	Dry
10-26-2018	Conor W	Dry
06-29-2018	Jason Morris	Trickle
03-30-2018	Shaddus Maximus	Flowing
06-26-2017	Los Padres Forest Association	Trickle
05-13-2017	Anonymous Surveyor	Flowing
02-25-2017	edsafaris	Flowing
01-16-2017	Shaddus Maximus	Flowing
08-15-2016	Byrdie Boy	Stagnant
05-10-2016	Dan	Trickle
06-17-2015	Joshua Isaac	Dry

Photo By: Antonio Calderon - Website Link

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Survey This Camp Forest Service Page

Description:

The camp long used as a camp site was improved by the CCC,in 1938 and was the site of a spike camp during the construction of the Mono Debris Dam at the north end of the camp area. Below the dam is a large swimming and fishing hole. Silt and sand has filled the one time lake above the dam to the top of the dam. The Mono Forest Station was housed in an old adobe which was built in 1906. It was destroyed by a flood in 1978.

Mono Campground has three campsites which are all "Walk-in" only sites. The walk from the parking lot to the campsites is approximately 300 yards. The camp sites feature a meadow, shade, many large trees, next to river- water will be low in summer. The campground is usually full on weekends during deer hunting season, mid August through late September. The Mono Debris Dam is close to the campground. The Cold Springs Trailhead is located in the parking area and Little Caliente Hot Springs is 2 miles away. The last mile of Little Caliente Road is closed and a short 5 minute walk provides access to the Little Caliente Hot Springs.

The last 12 miles of driving to Mono Campground is on dirt roads. The last section of steep dirt road before Mono Campground becomes slippery during wet weather. Vehicles may have to wait for up to a week for this section to dry out, so not advisable to use this area of the forest during wet weather.

Access to Big and Little Caliente Hot Springs and the Pendola / Upper Santa Ynez Recreation Area (Forest Road 5N12, 5N15, 5N16)

The road to access the Big and Little Caliente Hot Springs and the Pendola / Upper Santa Ynez Recreation Area consists of more than 8 miles of adobe clay roads. Higher clearance vehicles are recommended. The dirt roads are adobe clay, which becomes dangerously slippery to drive on during wet weather. For this reason, gates within the area get closed prior to wet weather events. Please check the Los Padres Forest Web Page for updated information on these gate closures. There are no services in the Pendola Area. There are no phones, limited cell phone coverage, no potable water, no trash service, no gasoline, and limited tow service for automotive repairs. There is no camping at Big and Little Caliente Hot Springs. The Hot Springs are for Day Use Only (6am – 10pm). Camping is allowed in Campgrounds Only. There are four campgrounds available for camping – Mid Santa Ynez, Rock Camp, P-Bar Flats, and Mono Campgrounds. Mono Campground is a walk-in only campground with 3 sites available. Rock Camp is limited to two vehicles per site with 2 sites available. Mid Santa Ynez and P-Bar Flats have multiple sites and group sites that can all be accessed by vehicle. Fees for camping consist of needing a Forest Adventure Pass. Campground Amenities consist of tables, fire rings, stand-up BBQ’s, and toilets. Adventure Pass is not required for day use at the Hot Springs or Forest Trailheads. Water in the creeks vary from being extremely low to completely dry. It is recommended that visitors plan to haul their own water in for camping. The Hot Springs still has flowing water. Please check the Los Padres Forest web site for updated information of fire restrictions. All regulations are enforced!

Recent Uploads:

Photo By: Antonio Calderon - Website Link

Survey Photos:

edsafaris - 02-25-2017
road near P-Bar
edsafaris - 02-25-2017
Mono Camp
edsafaris - 02-25-2017
Mono Meadow
Anonymous Surveyor - 05-13-2017
meadow
Anonymous Surveyor - 05-13-2017
debris dam
Anonymous Surveyor - 05-13-2017
silted table
Los Padres Forest Association - 06-26-2017
We arrived to find the tables looking like this. In some cases the FS had to use metal detectors just to locate the tables.
Los Padres Forest Association - 06-26-2017
Digging out the tables.
Los Padres Forest Association - 06-26-2017
Colorful water flowing over the nearby Mono Debris Dam.
Jason Morris - 06-29-2018
Mono camp
Jason Morris - 06-29-2018
Giant tamarix in the mono drainage
Rasa - 06-08-2021
Water coming over the debris dam on the far side.
Rasa - 06-08-2021
Close-up of current water at debris dam.
Paul Cronshaw - 01-01-2022
Campsite closest to debris dam
Paul Cronshaw - 01-01-2022
Mono Parking Lot
Paul Cronshaw - 01-01-2022
Mono Signs
Paul Cronshaw - 01-01-2022
Functional toilet
Paul Cronshaw - 01-01-2022
Buried toilet
The Lost Padre - 07-11-2023
The Lost Padre - 07-11-2023
The Lost Padre - 07-11-2023

Submitted Camp Reports

Mono Campground Survey - 07-02-2023 - by mwb

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	07-02-2023
Surveyor Name:	mwb
Camp Description:	I didn't personally make it to Mono Camp, but I met a group on Cold Springs Trail that made the trek and said the campground is still completely washed out and covered with debris after this year's storms. They said you can find a little water still but did not recommend trying to camp there. Anyone looking to camp at Mono may want to look for other options until the site can be repaired.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Mono Campground Survey - 02-12-2022 - by Chris Chirgwin

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	02-12-2022
Surveyor Name:	Chris Chirgwin
Camp Description:	We day hiked into Mono Camp from Forbush Trailhead. The route was clear and the trail was easy to follow. We could tell a significant amount of work and trail clearing had recently been done. The path through the upper Santa Ynez River basin was easy to follow.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	A bit of water was flowing over the Mono dam and Mono Creek was flowing at a slow rate.
Weather Conditions:	80 and sunny

Mono Campground Survey - 01-01-2022 - by Paul Cronshaw

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	01-01-2022
Surveyor Name:	Paul Cronshaw
Camp Description:	There are two functional campsites at Mono. We stayed at campsite #2 nearest to the dam. There is only one functional toilet; the water level is at the base of the toilet. Nature is taking back this camp.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Nice flow after recent rains. Dirty water
Weather Conditions:	Sunny with day temps in 50s and night temps in 30s
Images:	Campsite closest to debris dam Mono Parking Lot Mono Signs Functional toilet Buried toilet

Mono Campground Survey - 06-08-2021 - by Rasa

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	06-08-2021
Surveyor Name:	Rasa
Camp Description:	Both pit toilets look like they are now in usable condition since one of them was dug out enough to squeeze through the doorway. Trail to camp is mostly overgrown but it's still visible. (Little Caliente Hot Springs are full and look like they've been really cleaned out recently compared to November.)
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Trickle coming over the debris dam; Fast enough to fill a 2L Sawyer flat water bottle in about a minute.
Weather Conditions:	high 70's, low 80's with a breeze
Images:	Water coming over the debris dam on the far side. Close-up of current water at debris dam.

Mono Campground Survey - 06-29-2018 - by Jason Morris

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	06-29-2018
Surveyor Name:	Jason Morris
Camp Description:	The cold springs trail is in pretty good shape for los padres standards. Poison oak is encroaching the majority of the trail past forbush flats. Once you reach the Santa Ynez River and enter the Jungle whatever way you took before is gone and things start to really close off, it's dry so not really any mud or water, but the drainages are becoming. Completely choked out by invasive tamarix.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	I carried water from the grotto its flowing clean there, the Santa Ynez/Mono are dry but water is tickling over the debris dam again. Make a pool above the dam it's slow but it's there for now.
Weather Conditions:	90Â° days 50Â°
Images:	Mono camp Giant tamarix in the mono drainage

Mono Campground Survey - 06-26-2017 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	06-26-2017
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	LPFA volunteer project to assist the Forest Service in reclaiming the buried tables / firerings and digging out the silted in oak trees. Â In all we un-earthed two tables and two fire rings.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	Hot but could have been hotter!
Images:	We arrived to find the tables looking like this. In some cases the FS had to use metal detectors just to locate the tables. Digging out the tables. Colorful water flowing over the nearby Mono Debris Dam.

Mono Campground Survey - 05-13-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	05-13-2017
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Camp is completely silted out, tables buried to top with mud. One fire pit dug out. Out houses standing in water. Meadow looks great. Creek is flowing well but is disorganized and braided through the mono jungle. No single channel heavily silted.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Water flowing over entire length of debris dam
Weather Conditions:
Images:	meadow debris dam silted table

Mono Campground Survey - 02-25-2017 - by edsafaris

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	02-25-2017
Surveyor Name:	edsafaris
Camp Description:	Mono Creek completely left it's banks and flowed across the campsite, leaving 3-4' of silt and mud/ash all through the camp. Tables, firepits gone. (Mud all the way to the outhouses, which survived nicely.) Road section from P-Bar to Mono has large washout hole where it leaves the river bank and begins up the hills.Â And, Little Caliente is filled-in with stones and mud, and is running cold!
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Flowing is an understatement.
Weather Conditions:	Sun to rain.
Images:	road near P-Bar Mono Camp Mono Meadow

Mono Campground Survey - 08-15-2016 - by Byrdie Boy

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	08-15-2016
Surveyor Name:	Byrdie Boy
Camp Description:	Creek bed dry camp seems to be in good condition caution a few ticks sill hanging around. Trail to the dam is clear few pools at the base of the dam all of which are stagnant. Mountain lion tracks and scat all around the campground. Thick layer of oak leaves covering the ground extreme caution with fires.
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	No flow left just small pools of water at the base of Mono Debris Dam
Weather Conditions:	Hot Dry 80Â°+

Mono Campground Survey - 06-17-2015 - by Joshua Isaac

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	06-17-2015
Surveyor Name:	Joshua Isaac
Camp Description:	Large campsite, with ample room for big groups. 3 fire pits. About 1.5 miles from the hot springs. Trail from Forbush camp was a little overgrown for the last mile or so, but there are blue trail markers to guide your path.
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:	There was stagnant water ~2 miles back the trail towards Forbush, but the hot springs were flowing at Little Caliente
Weather Conditions: