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Big Pine Camp South Los Padres National Forest

Camp Type: Wilderness Trail Camp
Topo Map Link: Big Pine Mountain
Elevation: 6,100 feet
Wilderness Area: San Rafael
County: Santa Barbara County
Ranger District: Santa Lucia Ranger District
Longitude: -119.6602976
Latitude: 34.69705226
Water Sources: There is a reliable spring located at the camp.
Length of Stay: 14 Days
Reservations: Wilderness Trail Camp

Recent Water Reports:

Date	Surveyor	Water Report
03-04-2024	Michael McGurk	Flowing
06-19-2022	Hugh Ranson	Stagnant
05-20-2022	Addison Jerlow	Stagnant
05-16-2021	Rick Hayes	Trickle
04-05-2021	Oak Titmouse	Trickle
02-25-2021	Los Padres Forest Association	Flowing
11-24-2020	BD	Stagnant
05-25-2020	Bingo Wathen	Flowing
10-26-2019	Craig R. Carey	Stagnant
06-22-2018	Los Padres Forest Association	Flowing
05-29-2018	Anonymous Surveyor	Stagnant
05-16-2018	Valerie Norton	Trickle
05-19-2017	MSchless	Trickle
04-01-2017	Littleredridingwood	Trickle
11-06-2016	Cameron D	Trickle
08-14-2016	Los Padres Forest Association	Flowing
07-16-2016	Jasonn Beckstrand	Trickle
02-13-2016	James	Trickle
06-07-2015	Los Padres Forest Association	Stagnant
05-09-2015	Los Padres Forest Association	Trickle
04-29-2015	Jeff B.	Trickle
03-30-2015	Shaddus Maximus	Trickle
02-15-2015	Heather	Trickle
11-25-2014	Shaddus Maximus	Stagnant
09-30-2014	Los Padres Forest Association	Stagnant
06-15-2014	Los Padres Forest Association	Dry
11-13-2009	M. Jones	Flowing

Photo: M. Jones - 11-13-2009

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Survey This Camp

Description:

Big Pine Camp (aka Big Pine Spring Camp) is located about 1/4mile down off the Buckhorn Rd on the western flank of Big Pine Mtn in the San Rafael Wilderness. Big Pine Camp has a very reliable spring which helps fill up a large metal sub-terranean spring tank. In order to access the water you must lower a bucket into the tank and pull the water out within the bucket. That being said, there is usually enough water flowing out of the ground nearby that you don't need to use the tank water.

The camp is the only reliable water between Upper Bear and Bluff Camp and as a result sees a good amount of traffic, mostly from hunters, peak baggers or bikepackers crossing the Los Padres on the Buckhorn Road. There are great views of the upper Sisquoc River Valley. There is cell reception is nearby as well.

NOTE: There are a few hazard trees in the camp, please pick your camping spot wisely. The safest camp is located directly above the spring near some oak trees.

Survey Photos:

M. Jones - 11-13-2009
M. Jones - 11-13-2009
M. Jones - 11-13-2009
M. Jones - 11-13-2009
M. Jones - 11-13-2009
Shaddus Maximus - 11-25-2014
Shaddus Maximus - 11-25-2014
There is one main campsite with picnic table here but several other places to pitch a tent, too.
Shaddus Maximus - 11-25-2014
The spring at Big Pine Spring camp.
Shaddus Maximus - 03-30-2015
Los Padres Forest Association - 06-07-2015
Collage, Jenkins
Los Padres Forest Association - 06-07-2015
Springbox, Jenkins
Jasonn Beckstrand - 07-16-2016
Spring is full and clear and about 4 feet deep
Jasonn Beckstrand - 07-16-2016
well has water but easier just to go to the spring
Littleredridingwood - 04-01-2017
Rock fall a few miles in from sierra Madre rd.
Littleredridingwood - 04-01-2017
Large tree down at the sisquoc trailhead towards bear camps.
Littleredridingwood - 04-01-2017
Multiple trees down before big pine mtn/windy gap
Littleredridingwood - 04-01-2017
Looking south west towards cachuma, West big pine to the right?
Littleredridingwood - 04-01-2017
West dry canyon rd washed out...
Los Padres Forest Association - 06-22-2018
Craig R. Carey - 10-26-2019
Cleaning up Camp.
Craig R. Carey - 10-26-2019
Craig R. Carey - 10-26-2019
Craig R. Carey - 10-26-2019
Craig R. Carey - 10-26-2019
Addison Jerlow - 05-20-2022
Addison Jerlow - 05-20-2022
Addison Jerlow - 05-20-2022

Submitted Camp Reports

Big Pine Camp Survey - 05-20-2022 - by Addison Jerlow

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	05-20-2022
Surveyor Name:	Addison Jerlow
Camp Description:	Saw bear #3 of the day bathing in the black bin below the spring pipe as I arrived! Lower metal cylinder with bucket is empty. Black bin is green and bear-y. Pipe has no flow. Wood lid basin is full but has a gnarly sulfur/metal taste to it. A little hard to stomach but ice cold. Camp above the spring is in good shape with a table. Room for 2 tents if you move the table.
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	low 70s, mid 40s
Images:

Big Pine Camp Survey - 02-25-2021 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	02-25-2021
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Repaired spring box and water access is working great. Good flowing water into the small trough and easy to pull water out of the metal culvert tank. Some of the campsites have hazard trees, one campsite up the small draw and above the spring source is probably the best place to camp.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Big Pine Camp Survey - 10-26-2019 - by Craig R. Carey

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	10-26-2019
Surveyor Name:	Craig R. Carey
Camp Description:	Troop 111 (Ventura) reworked the tread, fixed the trailhead sign, removed several downed trees en route to camp, and cleaned up the best site (the shaded site just upstream from spring) â€” stove cleaned out, table moved from far end of old camps to here, tent flats clean up, horseshoe pit clean up, fallen fir tree removed. The other sites aren't very desirable these days. Lots of down and hazard trees, but this one site is now in fantastic shape.
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Water in well is about 8 feet down, wasn't able to retrieve bucket.
Weather Conditions:	Smoky from recent fires, warm.
Images:	Cleaning up Camp.

Big Pine Camp Survey - 05-19-2017 - by MSchless

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	05-19-2017
Surveyor Name:	MSchless
Camp Description:	Grated "tank" has a bunch of bugs and stuff on the surface with water about 5-6 ft below the grate. Lots of hazard trees around. Counted 5 different ice can stoves, but only one site below a big oak just up the drainage from the spring is safe to camp. Big deadfall tree across the picnic table which basically confirms the danger of camping at that "main" site. Lots of bear sign including scat and scratches below the big oak where we camped. Beautiful sunset over the Sisquoc.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Spring is trickle/flowing with good clear water
Weather Conditions:	High 40s overnight

Big Pine Camp Survey - 04-01-2017 - by Littleredridingwood

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	04-01-2017
Surveyor Name:	Littleredridingwood
Camp Description:	While I didn't actually find/stay at this camp, I scouted the road from buckhorn/Sierra Madre intersection, Â to Big Pine Mtn/windy gap. Road washed out/Rockfall Â in many places, Â a few large trees down, blocking road/trail.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	Sunny,65
Images:	Rock fall a few miles in from sierra Madre rd. Large tree down at the sisquoc trailhead towards bear camps. Multiple trees down before big pine mtn/windy gap Looking south west towards cachuma, West big pine to the right? West dry canyon rd washed out...

Big Pine Camp Survey - 11-06-2016 - by Cameron D

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	11-06-2016
Surveyor Name:	Cameron D
Camp Description:	The subterranean tank had fairly clean water. Lots of bugs on the surface but after skimming those off (and filtering) the water looked and tasted good. I poked around the area and didn't see the spring. It might be dry or just trickling, but more likely I just missed it since I wasn't really looking. Trail to campground from road was a bit grown over and there were a lot of different use paths. Still easy enough to find the way down since all the options probably worked. Campground itself was somewhat overgrown and had lots of 'widow makers'. The whole area rests on a hill as well, but the site I stayed at had two nearby cut-outs of level ground (big enough for 1).
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Spring tank was fine, did not locate other sources
Weather Conditions:

Big Pine Camp Survey - 08-14-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	08-14-2016
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Good water flowing below the spring tank as well as within the spring tank. Â A scout project is planned for later in 2016 to relocate one of the campsites, fix the trail down to the camp and make some improvements to the spring tank water collection system.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	mid-90's and HOT HOT HOT!

Big Pine Camp Survey - 06-07-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	06-07-2015
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	VWR PATROL We successfully found the springbox this trip. There are a few feet of water in the bottom of the pipe that can be reached with the five gallon bucket and rope. The rust line on the pipe wall suggests that the water is very low from previous years. The seep up on the road has all but dried up. We photographed five stove sites.Â
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Some water within the springbox tank
Weather Conditions:
Images:	Collage, Jenkins Springbox, Jenkins

Big Pine Camp Survey - 11-25-2014 - by Shaddus Maximus

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	11-25-2014
Surveyor Name:	Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:	To be clear, this is Big Pine Spring camp, located just west of Big Pine Mountain. Some of the photos above appear to refer to a different Big Pine campground.
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Water available in well next to the one established site with picnic table. Must use a bucket with rope attached to pull up water. (Bucket w/ rope are at the campsite.)
Weather Conditions:	Freezing overnight temps here.
Images:	There is one main campsite with picnic table here but several other places to pitch a tent, too. The spring at Big Pine Spring camp.

Big Pine Camp Survey - 09-30-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	09-30-2014
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	We cleared the trail to Big Pine Camp. There is a 24 inch tree very close to the road that someone still needs to cut out. We limbed the tree so the trail is still usable for now. We were able to clear all other obstructions including a 12 inch tree. At camp we painted the table, leveled two tent sites, and generally cleaned things up.
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	The well still has water although it's low.
Weather Conditions:	Hot and Windy

Big Pine Camp Survey - 11-13-2009 - by M. Jones

Link:	Big Pine Camp
Date:	11-13-2009
Surveyor Name:	M. Jones
Camp Description:	Historical highlight: Because of its spring and protected location, this site replaced the Windy Gap Camp used by the first visitors to the area. The Hartman brothers used it as a hunting camp until the Forest was closed during World War II. It was also used by the Civilian Conservation Corp during the construction of the Buckhorn Road. During this time the spring was boxed in with a corrugated iron culvert pipe. Since the water in it is often contaminated, itâ€™s better to go west down the little draw to the bottom of the camp area where there is another spring. Should this be dry, go about 2/10â€™s of a mile northwest through the old horse corral to the big spring. (Source A Camper Guide to the Tri-County Area, Robert Burtness 1981).
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	OK when we were there, best to always filter water
Weather Conditions:	65* and sunny
Images: