Use Marker Groups Wolf 2002
Piru 2003
Day 2006
Zaca 2007
Gap 2008
La Brea 2009
Nira Campground South Los Padres National Forest
- Camp Type: Car Campground - No Reservations, first-come, first-serve walk-in campground
- Topo Map Link: Bald Mountain
- Elevation: 2400 feet
- Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
- County: Santa Barbara County
- Ranger District: Santa Lucia Ranger District
- Longitude: -119.9379627
- Latitude: 34.77087571
- Water Sources: Mazana Creek seasonal
- Length of Stay: 14 Days
- Reservations: Car Campground - No Reservations, Walk In
Recent Water Reports:
| Date | Surveyor | Water Report |
| 12-08-2023 | Adam Donald | Flowing |
| 07-01-2023 | Alice B. | Flowing |
| 04-22-2022 | Ojai Valley School | Flowing |
| 07-24-2021 | Jeremy Sutherland | Dry |
| 06-07-2021 | Savage Guyd | Flowing |
| 02-05-2021 | Sean Reid | Flowing |
| 12-26-2020 | Claira Castillo | Trickle |
| 11-21-2020 | Stephen S | Dry |
| 08-29-2020 | Anonymous Surveyor | Stagnant |
| 06-19-2020 | Jeanette Gonzale | Flowing |
| 03-22-2020 | Duane Waite | Flowing |
| 02-23-2020 | Antonio Calderon | Flowing |
| 12-31-2019 | Duane Waite | Flowing |
| 06-22-2019 | Anonymous Surveyor | Flowing |
| 05-11-2019 | Anonymous Surveyor | Flowing |
| 03-10-2019 | Sonia | Flowing |
| 01-16-2019 | Anonymous Surveyor | Flowing |
| 01-01-2019 | Jonathan Rocque | Flowing |
| 12-24-2018 | S. Boyland | Flowing |
| 04-14-2018 | Anonymous Surveyor | Flowing |
| 12-30-2017 | Los Padres Forest Association | Flowing |
| 11-18-2017 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
| 10-08-2017 | Cahikerchick | Dry |
| 11-19-2016 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
| 10-25-2016 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
| 11-27-2015 | Daniel J. Hall | Dry |
| 08-29-2015 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
| 04-18-2015 | Hike Los Padres | Flowing |
| 12-17-2014 | Los Padres Forest Association | Flowing |
| 11-26-2014 | Paul "The Beeman" Cronshaw | Dry |
| 10-18-2014 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
| 08-31-2014 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
| 04-20-2014 | Los Padres Forest Association | Flowing |
Description:
Nira is the acronym for National Industrial Recovery Act which was a early depression program absorbed by the CCC's, The camp was originally called Manzana Camp. This camp was moved six miles up stream to its new location.
Located on Manzana Creek just up stream from the mouth of Davy Brown Creek. It is the end of the Sunset Valley Davy Brown Road and the trail head for trails up and down Manzana Creek that enter the San Rafael Wilderness located just across the creek from the camp. A popular camping spot on the weekends, especially during hunting season.
North of State Highway 154 via Happy Canyon Road or Figueroa Mountain Road from Los Olivos (both 7NO7) and Sunset Valley Road (8N09).
Recent Uploads:
Photo By: Antonio Calderon - Website Link
Survey Photos:
Los Padres Forest Association - 08-29-2015
Lower NIRA Trailhead
Los Padres Forest Association - 12-30-2017
One of the felled dead hazard oaks at NIRA Campground.
Los Padres Forest Association - 12-30-2017
The new San Rafael Wilderness sign along the upper Manzana Trail.
Sonia - 03-10-2019
Crossing right at the trail - above knee deep and quite fast
Sonia - 03-10-2019
Crossing about 50 yards upstream - about knee deep
Duane Waite - 12-31-2019
Campsite #3 at Nira with my plush sleep system
Antonio Calderon - 02-23-2020
Submitted Camp Reports
Nira Campground Survey - 12-08-2023 - by Adam DonaldLink: Nira Campground Date: 12-08-2023 Surveyor Name: Adam Donald Camp Description: Camp was empty other than my group and one backpacker car. Full of fallen leaves but camp is clean and in good condition. There is plenty of flowing water in the river, but easy to walk across on rocks. Beautiful stars at night. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: The river is low but flowing steadily Weather Conditions: 60s and windy in the daytime, low 30s at night - Nira Campground Survey - 07-01-2023 - by Alice B.
Link: Nira Campground Date: 07-01-2023 Surveyor Name: Alice B. Camp Description: Lovely swimming spot this year! A modest beach but room for multiple parties to enjoy and splash about in the water. What a great way to escape the heat! Lots of small fish living in the river. Saw a garter snake who was also escaping the heat by going for a swim!Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Waist-deep water that’s spectacularly clear and free of seaweed, seemingly only at Nira. Weather Conditions: 101F - Nira Campground Survey - 04-22-2022 - by Ojai Valley School
Link: Nira Campground Date: 04-22-2022 Surveyor Name: Ojai Valley School Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Water flowing steadily. Some campsites available. Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 07-24-2021 - by Jeremy Sutherland
Link: Nira Campground Date: 07-24-2021 Surveyor Name: Jeremy Sutherland Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Tiny stagnant pool behind campsite 1 Weather Conditions: High 90’s - Nira Campground Survey - 06-07-2021 - by Savage Guyd
Link: Nira Campground Date: 06-07-2021 Surveyor Name: Savage Guyd Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: More than a trickle, few inches deep, not heavy flow Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 02-05-2021 - by Sean Reid
Link: Nira Campground Date: 02-05-2021 Surveyor Name: Sean Reid Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Great water flow at the camp! Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 12-26-2020 - by Claira Castillo
Link: Nira Campground Date: 12-26-2020 Surveyor Name: Claira Castillo Camp Description: Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: some pools of water further down the creek along the trail Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 11-21-2020 - by Stephen S
Link: Nira Campground Date: 11-21-2020 Surveyor Name: Stephen S Camp Description: Set out a little after 6am for South Fork. Temperature was just about 45 degrees and was perfect t-shirt weather by the time I was to Alcove. The logbook at the trailhead is full and could use some more pages. Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Was dry at the trailhead and am assuming also through the campground. Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 08-29-2020 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Nira Campground Date: 08-29-2020 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: Busy weekend! We had booked a reservation a couple weeks ahead of time, and there was a constant stream of cars driving through looking for open spots. We were at Site 9 which had plenty of shade during the day. The firepit/table setup is a bit confusing, we ended up accidentally using Site 10's table as the people who booked that spot were using another site's amenities. A ranger visited on Saturday and said she was drawing up a map for campers to reference since we weren't the only ones who had swapped tables.
Site 10's area had been pretty trashed by its previous occupants - lots of styrofoam plates and capri-suns in the fire pit, cigarette butts all over camp, but we cleaned it all up. Bathrooms were nice and clean. Not well ventilated so to be conscientious of COVID we wore our masks inside.The area was shaded under the oak trees nicely during the day, and even though it was mid-80s kept camp nice and comfortable.Water Source: Stagnant Water Source Details: Creek was dry save for a small section of stagnant water bordering the campgrounds Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 06-19-2020 - by Jeanette Gonzale
Link: Nira Campground Date: 06-19-2020 Surveyor Name: Jeanette Gonzale Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Good swimming areas Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 03-22-2020 - by Duane Waite
Link: Nira Campground Date: 03-22-2020 Surveyor Name: Duane Waite Camp Description: Didn't realize until a management company rep stopped by and told me that Nira, and the other campgrounds, are closed due to COVID-19. You can dayhike, but camping and backpacking is off limits. That explains why the bathrooms were locked.She was kind enough to.refund my. $20, though.FYI, a group/herd/flock of Turkey's has taken over the campground. They might be domesticated, because they showed little fear of me while walking around.I.teresting times.Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Lovely spring flow. Weather Conditions: Fled the campground with the rain hot on my tail. - Nira Campground Survey - 02-23-2020 - by Antonio Calderon
Link: Nira Campground Date: 02-23-2020 Surveyor Name: Antonio Calderon Camp Description: Did not spend the night but we arrived early and no one was camping but trailheads had quite a few cars. Nice, quiet and clean. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Great flow Weather Conditions: Mid 60s, Sunny Images: - Nira Campground Survey - 12-31-2019 - by Duane Waite
Link: Nira Campground Date: 12-31-2019 Surveyor Name: Duane Waite Camp Description: My New Year's tradition. Surprisingly empty on New Year's Eve, considering January 1st is a federal holiday. Which is fine by me, since fireworks and gunshots tend to turn me into a misanthrope. Slept like a baby to the Zen sounds of Manzana Creek, accompanied briefly by an owl and what may have been a coyote out near the downstream trail head. And let's not forget that moist, fragrant night air.One note: the upstream log book is soaked beyond usefulness. Someone must have left the metal lid open and exposed to the recent heavy rains. Can someone rush over some new pages?Spent the night on my new car camping sleep system: a twin size memory foam mattress overlaying a portable cot with a sleeping bag and pillows from home. Jealous much?Did a 10 mile trail run up Lost Valley trail, which I will.post under that trails page. In the meantime, enjoy the attached photo of my wilderness bed set-up and get out to Nira and enjoy it before the rubes take it overWater Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Flowing well after recent rains. Water is clear, too. Weather Conditions: Night: 40's and damp. Day: cool and breezy Images:
Campsite #3 at Nira with my plush sleep system - Nira Campground Survey - 06-22-2019 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Nira Campground Date: 06-22-2019 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 05-11-2019 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Nira Campground Date: 05-11-2019 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 03-10-2019 - by Sonia
Link: Nira Campground Date: 03-10-2019 Surveyor Name: Sonia Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Water is flowing really well, need to ford the creek to get to the upstream trail - knee deep about 50 yards upstream. Weather Conditions: Images:
Crossing right at the trail - above knee deep and quite fast
Crossing about 50 yards upstream - about knee deep - Nira Campground Survey - 01-16-2019 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Nira Campground Date: 01-16-2019 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: I camped at Nira Campground during the night of January 16-17 when a strong rainstorm went through. Â Manzana Creek wast probably at least 4-5 feet deep and could not be crossed. Â The water crossings on Happy Canyon and Sunset Canyon Roads had between 1-2 feet of water. Â I do not recommend trying to go into this area when any winter rainstorms are predicted, otherwise you could be trapped in the area. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Too much water to cross river Weather Conditions: Heavy Rain - Nira Campground Survey - 01-01-2019 - by Jonathan Rocque
Link: Nira Campground Date: 01-01-2019 Surveyor Name: Jonathan Rocque Camp Description: The men's pit toilet was in great condition. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: The creek was flowing well and the camp looked great. Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 12-24-2018 - by S. Boyland
Link: Nira Campground Date: 12-24-2018 Surveyor Name: S. Boyland Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Plenty of water flowing !... Had the camp all to myself . Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 04-14-2018 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Nira Campground Date: 04-14-2018 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: Came through the camp on Saturday to park at the trailhead to backpack up Manzana. The camp was full. The new “Management “ company is doing a horrible job. The bathrooms were dirty and no toilet paper. Returned Sunday and still no toilet paper. Even though this is a pack out your trash site, the locked dumpster had bags of trash piled up and around it. Great for the bears. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 12-30-2017 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Nira Campground Date: 12-30-2017 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: LPFA camped at NIRA for two days working the trails upstream and downstream along the Manzana. We also installed a new San Rafael Wilderness sign along the upper Manzana Trail and felled a few dead hazard trees at NIRA Campground. There should be plenty of firewood for a while at NIRA! Camp was clean and appears that PMC is doing a good job of maintaining the campground. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Nice flowing water at the upper Manzana Trailhead crossing. Weather Conditions: Not that cold, but pretty warm. Images:
One of the felled dead hazard oaks at NIRA Campground.
The new San Rafael Wilderness sign along the upper Manzana Trail. - Nira Campground Survey - 11-18-2017 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Nira Campground Date: 11-18-2017 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Camp was clean and orderly. Both upstream and downstream Manzana Trails were PACKED, cars/trucks/trailers everywhere. Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: No water in the Manzana but there was water flowing out of Fir Canyon. Weather Conditions: COLD, low temps in the high 20's. - Nira Campground Survey - 10-08-2017 - by Cahikerchick
Link: Nira Campground Date: 10-08-2017 Surveyor Name: Cahikerchick Camp Description: The campground and restrooms are in great shape. Campsites and fire rings are raked. The new concessionaire is doing a good job of maintaining the campground.  Surprisingly, there were no campers and only one car when we left on Friday and again when we returned on Sunday. May be due to the warm weather predicted for the weekend. We had the trail and camps all to ourselves.Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 11-19-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Nira Campground Date: 11-19-2016 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Interesting article by Dan McCaslin in Noozhawk: https://www.noozhawk.com/article/dan_mccaslin_fish_creek_and_lost_valley_camp_day_hike_20161119Explains some of the history of NIRA Camp as well as a description of the Manzana Trail up to Fish Camp and some camp information about Fish Camp.Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 10-25-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Nira Campground Date: 10-25-2016 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: No water. Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 11-27-2015 - by Daniel J. Hall
Link: Nira Campground Date: 11-27-2015 Surveyor Name: Daniel J. Hall Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 08-29-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Nira Campground Date: 08-29-2015 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: LPFA installed a new kiosk at the lower NIRA trailhead. Â Looks great! Â There was no water anywhere to be seen either above, in the middle or below camp. Â Dry dry dry! Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: HOT, low 90's and HOT! Images:
Lower NIRA Trailhead - Nira Campground Survey - 04-18-2015 - by Hike Los Padres
Link: Nira Campground Date: 04-18-2015 Surveyor Name: Hike Los Padres Camp Description: Still good water at NIRA, considering our drought. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 12-17-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Nira Campground Date: 12-17-2014 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Manzana is now flowing through NIRA. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 11-26-2014 - by Paul "The Beeman" Cronshaw
Link: Nira Campground Date: 11-26-2014 Surveyor Name: Paul "The Beeman" Cronshaw Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 10-18-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Nira Campground Date: 10-18-2014 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: No water Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 08-31-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Nira Campground Date: 08-31-2014 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Nira Campground Survey - 04-20-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Nira Campground Date: 04-20-2014 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions:
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Survey / Report Form Last Updated: Wednesday, September 2, 2015
