Cow Spring Camp South Los Padres National Forest

Submitted Camp Reports

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 12-17-2023 - by Dave Billybob

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	12-17-2023
Surveyor Name:	Dave Billybob
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Flowing enough to filter, but not much movement.
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 11-11-2023 - by Caleb Frahm

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	11-11-2023
Surveyor Name:	Caleb Frahm
Camp Description:	No reliable water between Dough Flat TH and Alder Creek Camp
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Low volume stagnant pools growing algae
Weather Conditions:	Sunny with moderate winds in the afternoon. Low 70s/Low 40s
Images:	Photo of Cow Creek Camp

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 10-29-2023 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	10-29-2023
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Several stagnant pools
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 10-05-2023 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	10-05-2023
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	There was a trickle - you'd be happy if you were in a pinch.  Probably not so happy if you were camping there. Also water at Kahus Flat, aka Squaw Flat.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 06-15-2023 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	06-15-2023
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	LPFA Trail Crew spiked at Cow Spring in early June as we began work on clearing the Alder Creek Trail. The camp was clean and somewhat overgrown due to the lack of use. The road to Dough Flat opened June 12.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Water was flowing at camp but starting to recede
Weather Conditions:	Getting hot and already buggy
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-27-2022 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-27-2022
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	No water flowing.
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-27-2022 - by Juan Sanchez

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-27-2022
Surveyor Name:	Juan Sanchez
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-01-2022 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-01-2022
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Minimal water remains at the spring behind the camp. The bugs and snakes are plentiful!
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 04-17-2022 - by Lizza McGregor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	04-17-2022
Surveyor Name:	Lizza McGregor
Camp Description:	Camp in good shape, water to left of camp as you come in off the trail. Flowing underground still and more flow below the dry waterfall at the far side of camp. Lots of ticks in surrounding 1 mile.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Clear, starting to get some algae
Weather Conditions:	Sunny/cloudy 65

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 04-03-2022 - by Christopher P. Lord

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	04-03-2022
Surveyor Name:	Christopher P. Lord
Camp Description:	Spring is trickling behind the main site. Downstream at the falls the pools are still holding. Gate is locked to Dough Flat. Birds chirping loudly and not a soul in site. Best time to be out there is now.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-30-2021 - by Calduc

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-30-2021
Surveyor Name:	Calduc
Camp Description:	It is a trickle but can be life saving. Some small pooling and muddy creek. But is real nice to see in under the trees and refresh.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Good trickle.
Weather Conditions:	80. Warm.
Images:	I drank the water straight from the moss drips.

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 12-27-2020 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	12-27-2020
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Passed through here on our way to and from Alder Creek Camp. We didn't check out the upstream spring, but the creekbed running along the camp had a stagnant, shallow pool in it. Not much shade here.
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	A lone, stagnant puddle.
Weather Conditions:	Cool, cloudy.

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 10-25-2020 - by Antonio Calderon

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	10-25-2020
Surveyor Name:	Antonio Calderon
Camp Description:	Camp in good shape. Slow trickle at spring
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	Cloudy foggy 65F
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 06-11-2020 - by Jess Haas

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	06-11-2020
Surveyor Name:	Jess Haas
Camp Description:	Camp is in decent shape. Not much shade so it is getting a bit hot for use this time of year. When fires are allowed again someone needs to dig all the ash out of the original firepit with grate in order to make it functional again.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Went up creek to where the water falls down the rocks. Was able to place bag against rocks and catch the flowing water.
Weather Conditions:	Sunny 94F
Images:	Camp Old Stove creek Cattle trough across trail

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-10-2020 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-10-2020
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Camp was in good condition. Original fire pit with grate is damaged and unusable. A second fire pit was built and is usable. Creek was slowly flowing and some areas were 4” deep.Â
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 01-09-2020 - by Jim Kenney

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	01-09-2020
Surveyor Name:	Jim Kenney
Camp Description:	Stopped by this camp on my way to Alder Creek.  The camp is well taken care of and looks like a great place to camp.  There was a deer skeleton by the fire pit.  HmmmÂ
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	cool and raining
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 12-30-2018 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	12-30-2018
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Be prepared for anything.Â
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:	This is the way i went into the willet hot springs camp ! A bit of a diffacult hike .
Weather Conditions:	I went in the spring it was hot & dry

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 11-18-2018 - by Christopher P. Lord

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	11-18-2018
Surveyor Name:	Christopher P. Lord
Camp Description:	Water was dry at the spring, the creek and the base of the falls. Camp suffers from no shade. The inside of the concrete stove appears to have been turned into a trash can. If water is needed continue on to dripping springs.  https://christopherplord.blogspot.com/2018/11/dough-flat-to-sacred-cave-in-sespe.html
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-26-2018 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-26-2018
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 02-25-2018 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	02-25-2018
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Nice clean place to camp... water was low able to collect if needed... trail to get here was a bit overgrown but easily accessible. Great scenery all around.
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Stagnat low muddy water
Weather Conditions:	Windy.... High 60s
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 11-10-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	11-10-2017
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Not a horrible place to fill up. It could be worse. USE FILTER
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Cloudy, hunters hung a deer carcass above the spring runnel a few yards down stream.
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-30-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-30-2017
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	You have to look for it. If I had not followed creek bed that had a little moisture, would of missed it.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Small water flow plenty for drinking at the source.
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-15-2017 - by Kara Hooper

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-15-2017
Surveyor Name:	Kara Hooper
Camp Description:	I have stayed at Cow Springs in May each of the last four years, and this was the most significant water I have seen there.  It was trickling at a steady small flow up at the spring source, and water extended out into the creek bed, with numerous tadpoles growing and wriggling in the pools.  This camp is spacious and has an excellent cooking area.
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	There is actually a trickle from up by the springs, and this is the most significant wanter I have seen here in 4 trips at this time of year.
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-12-2017 - by C Erin

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-12-2017
Surveyor Name:	C Erin
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	No flow but there is pretty clear water here. Not the greatest campsite.
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 03-05-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	03-05-2017
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Camp is nice and clean. There's a lot of water in the creek right now. It's all over the place right now actually.
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 07-09-2016 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	07-09-2016
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 06-24-2016 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	06-24-2016
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Standing Puddle / Water Clear / Filterable
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 11-21-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	11-21-2015
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Ojai Ranger District project to install carsonite Condor Sanctuary signs along the west boundary of the Alder Creek Trail.  Somewhat surprisingly they found a small puddle of water at Cow Springs. Â
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 11-06-2015 - by M. Jones

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	11-06-2015
Surveyor Name:	M. Jones
Camp Description:	Spring had a pool of water that could be pumped. However,  there were deer parts in the water at the spring which may foul the water supply.   Camp site had a pile of 30.06 rifle shells and toilet paper spread about.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Small pool of poor quality water
Weather Conditions:	60*, sunny and windy
Images:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 05-18-2015 - by Kara Hooper

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	05-18-2015
Surveyor Name:	Kara Hooper
Camp Description:	Cow Springs used to be the last camp that cars could drive to before the wilderness was closed.  It is flat, and it has an ice box stove.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	I am calling it a trickle because the water is moving some, but it is on the line between stagnant and trickle. You could pump it and drink it if needed. You have to walk up the dry creek bed and around a curve to find the spring.
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 03-22-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	03-22-2015
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	According to a Sierra Club hike through the area: Damp seep at Cow Springs, could probably produce water if a hole was dug.
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 09-07-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	09-07-2014
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Cow Spring Camp Survey - 06-09-2014 - by M. Jones

Link:	Cow Spring Camp
Date:	06-09-2014
Surveyor Name:	M. Jones
Camp Description:	Nice concrete camp stove, not often seen in the LPNF
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	A very small pool of water is being fed by the spring, looked ok to pump if desperate.
Weather Conditions:	Sunny and mid-90's
Images:

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