Use Marker Groups Wolf 2002
Piru 2003
Day 2006
Zaca 2007
Gap 2008
La Brea 2009
Rock 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: 1530 feet
- Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
- County: Santa Barbara County
- Ranger District: Santa Barbara Ranger District
- Longitude: -119.56311
- Latitude: 34.53553
- Water Sources: No Water Available
- Length of Stay: 14 Days
- Reservations: Car Campground - No Reservations, Walk In
Recent Water Reports:
| Date | Surveyor | Water Report |
| 12-12-2023 | pmeyer | Flowing |
| 11-18-2023 | Brad Anderson | Flowing |
| 09-17-2023 | Dave Billybob | Flowing |
| 07-08-2023 | The Lost Padre | Flowing |
| 04-09-2022 | ARE | Trickle |
| 03-30-2022 | Addison Jerlow | Flowing |
| 03-18-2022 | Surly one | Flowing |
| 11-25-2021 | James Wapotich | Flowing |
| 08-07-2021 | Los Padres Forest Association | Trickle |
| 04-25-2021 | Luna | Trickle |
| 03-31-2021 | Anonymous Surveyor | Trickle |
| 09-02-2020 | Colin Weatherby | Dry |
| 07-25-2020 | Sean Reid | Stagnant |
| 07-25-2020 | Kevin Varga | Stagnant |
| 07-26-2019 | Michael Foster | Stagnant |
| 02-03-2017 | Anonymous Surveyor | Flowing |
| 01-15-2017 | Shaddus Maximus | Flowing |
Description:
Two Campsites Available with Limit of Two Vehicles Per Site. The Campground has oak trees and large rocks next to a creek, no pavement. Big Caliente hot springs is ½ mile away. Bring water. The campground is usually full on weekends and during deer hunting season, mid August through late September. The last 12 miles of driving to the campground is on dirt roads.
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!
Directions: (From Santa Barbara) Hwy 101, 8 miles N.W. on Hwy 154, 25 miles E. on East Camino Cielo to the Pendola Station, right on Big Caliente Road (5N16). The camp is 2 miles up Big Caliente Road.
Survey Photos:
Anonymous Surveyor - 02-03-2017
The Lost Padre - 07-08-2023
Submitted Camp Reports
Rock Campground Survey - 12-12-2023 - by pmeyerLink: Rock Campground Date: 12-12-2023 Surveyor Name: pmeyer Camp Description: All in good shape, lots of water for this time of year Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Steam flowing nicely Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 11-18-2023 - by Brad Anderson
Link: Rock Campground Date: 11-18-2023 Surveyor Name: Brad Anderson Camp Description: Rock camp is in excellent shape. Both picnic tables and fire tables are in good condition. Pit toilet is missing a door, but otherwise is functional. Major washout on the road right before camp, but not a problem for bicycles. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Flowing well. Pool near camp is two feet deep. Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 09-17-2023 - by Dave Billybob
Link: Rock Campground Date: 09-17-2023 Surveyor Name: Dave Billybob Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Stream next to camp was flowing great! Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 07-08-2023 - by The Lost Padre
Link: Rock Campground Date: 07-08-2023 Surveyor Name: The Lost Padre Camp Description: Campsite under the oak tree is nice, creek is flowing well. Around 10 miles in depending on which route you hike/bike.Gate is still closed at Romero Saddle as of 7-12Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: 3 foot deep next to the rock:) Weather Conditions: 90° Images: - Rock Campground Survey - 04-09-2022 - by ARE
Link: Rock Campground Date: 04-09-2022 Surveyor Name: ARE Camp Description: Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: At camp - not deep flow but enough to filter from Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 03-30-2022 - by Addison Jerlow
Link: Rock Campground Date: 03-30-2022 Surveyor Name: Addison Jerlow Camp Description: Good flow at Rock and next to Big Caliente, tho lots of poison oak between Rock and the creek. Much easier creek access at Big Caliente. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 03-18-2022 - by Surly one
Link: Rock Campground Date: 03-18-2022 Surveyor Name: Surly one Camp Description: This information is about Lower Caliente camp. I think Rock may have been re named as this is located below Big Caliente hot springs. Beautiful camp, shade water, flat tent spaces. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Creek is running several inches deep. Weather Conditions: 70s clear. - Rock Campground Survey - 11-25-2021 - by James Wapotich
Link: Rock Campground Date: 11-25-2021 Surveyor Name: James Wapotich Camp Description: Standing water right at camp, good, flowing water just downstream from camp Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 08-07-2021 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Rock Campground Date: 08-07-2021 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: LPFA weed whacked the upper camp for fire safety, lower camp is nice and shaded. Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Small trickle of water located on the crossing above camp Weather Conditions: HOT - upper 90's - Rock Campground Survey - 04-25-2021 - by Luna
Link: Rock Campground Date: 04-25-2021 Surveyor Name: Luna Camp Description: Plenty of water. 2 out of 3 basins at the hotsprings are working, the main one is full of cold water and nothing coming from the tap. Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 03-31-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Rock Campground Date: 03-31-2021 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: Camp was in good shape, plenty of space, and not at all crowded due to the closed fire road. While the official website says that this camp and the nearby hot springs are closed, a quick call to the Santa Barbara ranger district will prove this wrong. This means that the lower caliente springs have never been better as they are now very rarely used. The pit toilet was in bad shape and missing its door. There was plenty of shade provided by two oak trees and there was a conveniently placed rock in the sun to allow to dry your clothes. Fire wood was scarce and there was a lot of poison oak right outside campground area. Overall very nice , Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Water was barely flowing but enough, taste was not great but overall there was enough. Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 09-02-2020 - by Colin Weatherby
Link: Rock Campground Date: 09-02-2020 Surveyor Name: Colin Weatherby Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Camp has no water. Small stagnant pools at road crossing. Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 07-25-2020 - by Sean Reid
Link: Rock Campground Date: 07-25-2020 Surveyor Name: Sean Reid Camp Description: Water Source: Stagnant Water Source Details: Several stagnant pools near the campground, but nothing next to the campground. Several clean looking pools, others looked scummy. Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 07-25-2020 - by Kevin Varga
Link: Rock Campground Date: 07-25-2020 Surveyor Name: Kevin Varga Camp Description: Water Source: Stagnant Water Source Details: Stream mostly dry but 1 foot deep pool exists at the forest road crossing just before Rock Camp Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 07-26-2019 - by Michael Foster
Link: Rock Campground Date: 07-26-2019 Surveyor Name: Michael Foster Camp Description: Water Source: Stagnant Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Rock Campground Survey - 02-03-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Rock Campground Date: 02-03-2017 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: The creek near rock camp is flowing big right now. The first hot spring at big caliente is nice and full and hot. The two other hot springs in the creek were dry but Ted spent an hour fixing the broken pipes so they should be flowing now with toasty water! Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Images: - Rock Campground Survey - 01-15-2017 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Rock Campground Date: 01-15-2017 Surveyor Name: Shaddus Maximus Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Good amount of flowing water in Caliente Creek Weather Conditions:
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Survey / Report Form Last Updated: Tuesday, January 5, 2016
