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Pelch Camp South Los Padres National Forest

  • Camp Type: Wilderness Trail Camp
  • Topo Map Link: Big Pine Mountain
  • Elevation: 3311 feet
  • Wilderness Area: San Rafael
  • County: Santa Barbara County
  • Ranger District: Santa Barbara Ranger District
  • Longitude: -119.7113667
  • Latitude: 34.6790861
  • Water Sources: There is water either in the main branch of the Grapevine or within the nearby side canyon that comes down from Murietta Spring. In extreme conditions, there is always water upstream along the Grapevine Creek.
  • Length of Stay: 14 Days
  • Reservations: Wilderness Trail Camp

Recent Water Reports:

Date Surveyor Water Report
02-05-2022Stephen SFlowing
10-16-2019Los Padres Forest AssociationFlowing
02-27-2019Los Padres Forest AssociationFlowing
04-24-2018Matt Inman-Ojai Valley SchoolTrickle
04-22-2017James WapotichFlowing
03-31-2015Shaddus Maximus Trickle
06-27-2014Los Padres Forest AssociationTrickle

Description:

Pelch Camp is located along the Grapevine Trail within the Southern San Rafael Wilderness.  It’s tucked in amongst a thick blanket of oak trees at the junction of the Murietta Spring canyon and Grapevine Canyon.  The camp can be a little dark in the wintertime but there is a nice open meadow that is great for stargazing.  Pelch is most commonly accessed as part of a loop trip from Upper Oso along the way to Bluff Camp.  While the Grapevine Trail does see some traffic, very few people stay at Pelch Camp.

At one point in time there was a road dropping from Bluff Camp towards Pelch but it is unknown if the road extended all the way to Pelch or not.  Pelch is named after the Pelch/Pinkham families who used this camp as a hunting camp for an extended period of time in the early 20th century.  There are some great photos of an old cabin at Pelch and the remains of some of their setup can still be found.

Currently there is a table located in the upper meadow and the remains of an elaborate stove down closer to the creek.  There is also an old wooden food box that is unique to this area.  There is only one place to camp but having neighbors should not be a problem.  You should have the camp to yourself.  Water is somewhat reliable but access to the water can be tricky.  There is a lot of poison oak in the camp and if you plan on camping here it might be a good idea to bring some loppers to clear the access path to and from the water source.  In addition, the spur trail that leads to camp is followable but can be overgrown as well.

Pelch was burned in the 2007 Zaca Fire but most of the oaks have rebounded and are thriving once again.

 

 

Survey Photos:


  • Shaddus Maximus - 03-31-2015

  • Los Padres Forest Association - 02-27-2019
    The new fake signs

  • Los Padres Forest Association - 02-27-2019
    Pelch Camp

Submitted Camp Reports

Pelch Camp Survey - 02-05-2022 - by Stephen S
Link: Pelch Camp
Date: 02-05-2022
Surveyor Name:Stephen S
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Pelch Camp Survey - 10-16-2019 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Pelch Camp
Date: 10-16-2019
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:Camp remains rustic and wild.  LPFA volunteers did work the spur trail from Grapevine to the camp.  

The table remains but one of the trail signs has disappeared.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Water can be heard from the camp but does require some bushwhacking to get to the water
Weather Conditions:
Pelch Camp Survey - 02-27-2019 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Pelch Camp
Date: 02-27-2019
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:The trail down to Pelch is a mess.  The two new fake signs have been torn off the post, probably by mister or misses bear.  Pelch has a table, large concrete fire thingy, metal storage box and an assortment of other human 50+ year old artifacts.  Nice shade - you could stay here a long time before running into anyone else.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Water was flowing but the trail down to the water was too thick in bramble and PO to get down and check it out 1st hand
Weather Conditions:
Images:

The new fake signs

Pelch Camp
Pelch Camp Survey - 04-24-2018 - by Matt Inman-Ojai Valley School
Link: Pelch Camp
Date: 04-24-2018
Surveyor Name:Matt Inman-Ojai Valley School
Camp Description:Looks like an old pioneer or hunting cabin was here at some point...there is a huge stone bbq/fire place. A little bit off the beaten path.
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:Relatively low flow 2-3" in small creek surrounded by poison oak.
Weather Conditions:
Pelch Camp Survey - 04-22-2017 - by James Wapotich
Link: Pelch Camp
Date: 04-22-2017
Surveyor Name:James Wapotich
Camp Description:Good water flowing in Grapevine Creek
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Pelch Camp Survey - 03-31-2015 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Pelch Camp
Date: 03-31-2015
Surveyor Name:Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:Spur trail down to Pelch from the Grapevine Trail is very overgrown but easy to find. 
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:Pelch is located at the confluence of Grapevine Creek and one its tributaries. Both had a slight flow of water when I was there. The flow is unlikely to last much longer, however.
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Pelch Camp Survey - 06-27-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Pelch Camp
Date: 06-27-2014
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:We visited Pelch as part of an LPFA trail project. It was hard to tell the last time anyone camped there. The table remains in pretty good shape.  We did clear out some of the brush around the stove and also did a little work on the spur trail down to the camp.  It was nice and shady and there were no issues with bugs.
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:Water was in the side canyon about 15 yards downstream from the camp. It was flowing but pretty light.
Weather Conditions:Hot, sunny in the low 90's

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Last Updated: Tuesday, December 22, 2015

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