Welcome To Hike Los Padres!
User Log In or Sign Up
Use Marker Cluster
Markers: Use Marker Groups
Time used: ms
Routes
    Trails
    OHV Trails
    Forest Roads
    Streams
Wildfire Layers
    Wolf 2002
    Piru 2003
    Day 2006
    Zaca 2007
    Gap 2008
    La Brea 2009
Forest Layers
    Forest Boundary
    Wilderness Areas
    Ranger Districts
    Counties
    Topographic Outlines
    Trailheads
    OHV Trailheads
Helpful Hints
    ↣ Right click the map for location data. ↣ Click a stream for Water Stats.

Bluff Camp - East Fork Santa Paula Canyon South Los Padres National Forest

  • Camp Type: Trail Camp
  • Topo Map Link: Santa Paula Peak
  • Elevation: 4600 feet
  • Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
  • County: Ventura County
  • Ranger District: Ojai Ranger District
  • Longitude: -119.0095119
  • Latitude: 34.46122228
  • Water Sources: There is seldom water at this camp.
  • Length of Stay: 14 Days
  • Reservations: Trail Camp

Recent Water Reports:

Date Surveyor Water Report
05-29-2021C GoodyearDry
09-21-2019Christopher P. LordDry
05-27-2016Rick and JamesTrickle

Description:

Bluff Camp gets its name from the very large, awe inspiring, red sandstone formations surrounding the site. The camp sits just outside the southern edge of the Sespe Wilderness boundary. While seldom visited, it does still get occasional upkeep from the more adventures backcountry enthusiasts. Traditionally, the camp could also be accessed from Timber Canyon along the Santa Paula Peak Trail. That route, however, has been long abandoned and is in private hands. Hikers must now resolve to a rock-hop up the washed out East Fork Santa Paula Creek after hiking up the Santa Paula Canyon Trail (21W11), passing though Cienega Camp and continuing the accent approximately another 1.5 miles before reaching Bluff.

Survey Photos:


  • Rick and James - 05-27-2016
    facing west, going north. Where trai ended

  • Christopher P. Lord - 09-21-2019
    What's left of the old sign

  • Christopher P. Lord - 09-21-2019
    Camp overview

  • Christopher P. Lord - 09-21-2019

  • Christopher P. Lord - 09-21-2019

  • Christopher P. Lord - 09-21-2019

  • Christopher P. Lord - 09-21-2019

  • C Goodyear - 05-29-2021

  • C Goodyear - 05-29-2021

  • C Goodyear - 05-29-2021

  • C Goodyear - 05-29-2021

  • C Goodyear - 05-29-2021
    Snow Plants (Sarcodes sanguinea)

Submitted Camp Reports

Bluff Camp - East Fork Santa Paula Canyon Survey - 05-29-2021 - by C Goodyear
Link: Bluff Camp - East Fork Santa Paula Canyon
Date: 05-29-2021
Surveyor Name:C Goodyear
Camp Description:Easily the most sublime, serene campsite I've ever stayed at, but you REALLY gotta want it. The last 1.5 mi., 1100 ft. climb up from Cienega Camp (which is no walk-in-the-park to reach in the first place) is steep, loose, exposed, and overgrown to about chest height with thick, rough, pokey brush. Despite flags and cairns, it's really easy to loose the trail, even when you're mere feet away. (Christopher P. Lord's GPS map was a helpful backup for that section.) Oh, and the last flowing water is at Cienega, so you have to do all that while tanked up with your full supply for however long you plan to stay up top. Coming down is almost as difficult as going up; it's neither for the faint of heart nor the inexperienced. (Don't forget your bug spray, either; way more mosquitos than I expected for place with that little water.)

Also, for the love of whatever's dear to you, PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT! Really disappointing to see more and more litter up East Fork SP Creek every time I pass through; I always assumed most of the trashy, ill-equipped trolls quit at the Punchbowls. 
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:Nearest water is at Cienega Camp
Weather Conditions:Clear skies, high 70s (day) to low 50s / high 40s (night)
Images:







Snow Plants (Sarcodes sanguinea)
Bluff Camp - East Fork Santa Paula Canyon Survey - 09-21-2019 - by Christopher P. Lord
Link: Bluff Camp - East Fork Santa Paula Canyon
Date: 09-21-2019
Surveyor Name:Christopher P. Lord
Camp Description:Visited Bluff Camp on Saturday. Rebuilt the fire ring, left a new camp shovel and $25 dollar REI gift card for the next lucky visitor. Stayed the night at Cienega as no water was found near Bluff. Lower half of the trail coming up from Cienega is badly overgrown, be diligent about trying to stick to the old tread and it will make the journey much easier. From around the halfway point or here N34° 27' 17.0" W119° 00' 47.5" the trail opens up and becomes much more followable the rest of the way into Camp. A couple large rocks and makeshift bench make for good seating. The site is well shaded and the real estate is prime. I do highly recommend you get out there. Camp Coordinates: N34° 27' 40.2" W119° 00' 34.4" For more detail please see the link below.
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:Mid 80's
Images:

What's left of the old sign

Camp overview





Bluff Camp - East Fork Santa Paula Canyon Survey - 05-27-2016 - by Rick and James
Link: Bluff Camp - East Fork Santa Paula Canyon
Date: 05-27-2016
Surveyor Name:Rick and James
Camp Description:Attempted to find the trail from Bluff to last chance. Did fine outta Bluff for about 45 min. Then the brush was too thick. After 3 hrs up and down, in and out of manzanita, beautiful groves though, I felt i found a good path. But the water, time wasted and the unknown  ( James had to be back Sun.), we retreated ti Cienega for the night and back down the next morn. Gonna try again in fall or spring. Lots of bears signs, but no sightings this trip. 
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:after drawing a gal. out with pump. had to wait for pool to fill up to previous level
Weather Conditions:nice, clear
Images:

facing west, going north. Where trai ended

Leave A Camp Report

Survey / Report Form


Last Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2023

Join Our Mailing List
×
Get updates on conditions, surveys and more...

L.P.N.F. Contacts »

  • Forest Headquarters
    Phone: (805) 968-6640
  • Mt. Pinos District
    Phone: (661) 245-3731
  • Ojai Ranger District
    Phone: (805) 646-4348
  • Santa Barbara District
    Phone: (805) 967-3481
  • Santa Lucia District
    Phone: (805) 925-9538
  • Monterey District
    Phone: (831) 385-5434