Use Marker Groups Wolf 2002
Piru 2003
Day 2006
Zaca 2007
Gap 2008
La Brea 2009
Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp South Los Padres National Forest
- Camp Type: Wilderness Trail Camp
- Topo Map Link: Rancho Nuevo Creek
- Elevation: 4068 feet
- Wilderness Area: Dick Smith
- County: Santa Barbara County
- Ranger District: Mt. Pinos Ranger District
- Longitude: -119.4606247
- Latitude: 34.68617917
- Water Sources: Seasonal
- Length of Stay: 14 Days
- Reservations: Wilderness Trail Camp
Recent Water Reports:
| Date | Surveyor | Water Report |
| 03-14-2021 | Luna | Flowing |
| 12-27-2020 | Christopher P. Lord | Trickle |
| 04-05-2020 | Louis Tremblay | Flowing |
| 11-02-2019 | Craig R. Carey | Trickle |
| 04-20-2019 | James Wapotich | Flowing |
| 05-06-2018 | Shaddus Maximus | Trickle |
| 04-06-2018 | M. Jones | Flowing |
| 12-16-2016 | Los Padres Forest Association | Stagnant |
| 03-27-2016 | Geoff | Trickle |
| 04-11-2015 | BC | Stagnant |
| 03-02-2015 | Mark Subbotin | Trickle |
Description:
Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp is a small camp just above a narrows along the Rancho Nuevo Trail. Water in this part of the Dick Smith Wilderness is very seasonal. Don't expect to find good water during the Summer and early Fall months. There is not much at the camp other than an old fire grate and some random pots and pans. The camp used to be set under some shade bearing alder tree but the trees were burned in the 2007 Zaca Fire. As a result the camp is not very attractive and can be quite exposed. All this being said, like most camps, if you give it time and a chance, you will most likely enjoy a night spent under the stars at Upper Rancho Nuevo.
Recent Uploads:
.JPG)
Photo By: Craig R. Carey - Website Link
Survey Photos:
Mark Subbotin - 03-02-2015
campsite & stove
BC - 04-11-2015
Water situation
BC - 04-11-2015
My darkest nightmare
Geoff - 03-27-2016
Looking north-northeast towards the fire grate from the central open area.
Geoff - 03-27-2016
Sleeping bags and other trash at the campsite.
Geoff - 03-27-2016
Camp on the terrace, near 119.461033°W 34.685583°N.
Geoff - 03-27-2016
Another view of the camp on the terrace, near 119.461033°W 34.685583°N.
Geoff - 03-27-2016
The stagnant water pool near the campsite.
Geoff - 03-27-2016
Flowing water about 415 ft downstream from the campsite.
Los Padres Forest Association - 12-16-2016
The slender camp at URN
Los Padres Forest Association - 12-16-2016
Great rock outcrops outside of camp
Los Padres Forest Association - 12-16-2016
And the detritus of campers come and gone - BUMMER
M. Jones - 04-06-2018
Camp after visit and clean up
M. Jones - 04-06-2018
View of camp from west.JPG)
Craig R. Carey - 11-02-2019
Sign Install.JPG)
Craig R. Carey - 11-02-2019
.JPG)
Craig R. Carey - 11-02-2019
Camp stoves.JPG)
Craig R. Carey - 11-02-2019
Christopher P. Lord - 12-27-2020
Christopher P. Lord - 12-27-2020
Christopher P. Lord - 12-27-2020
Christopher P. Lord - 12-27-2020
Christopher P. Lord - 12-27-2020
Christopher P. Lord - 12-27-2020
Submitted Camp Reports
Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 03-14-2021 - by LunaLink: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 03-14-2021 Surveyor Name: Luna Camp Description: The path directly to the camp is almost impassible due to a combined 30-40 feet thick of rose thickets and a very silty muddy creek that is difficult to cross. Go back 50 yards on the trail, up the hill to the west and climb over the rocks and approach camp from the south instead. The camp itself looked decent. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: 2 inches of water on 1 inch of orange algae on 4 inches of silt. The water dyed my white dog a nice orange creamsicle color.. Weather Conditions: - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 12-27-2020 - by Christopher P. Lord
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 12-27-2020 Surveyor Name: Christopher P. Lord Camp Description: Upper Rancho like Deal junction is another small site with two stoves. A steel grill grate and very weathered Ice Can. Large Sandstone formations surround the camp and the views up canyon are wonderful. In 1974 Dennis Gagnon writes "Upper Rancho Nuevo is nestled deep in a remote canyon on a streamside flat, this camp is flanked by steep canyon walls where big cone spruce, pinon pine, yucca, and chaparral find their home. Water is available in the wet months, when the surrounding peaks are frequently dusted by winter snows. Facilities are limited to four stoves and two tables.This we know of the former facilities is no longer the case as years of fire, flood and lack of maintenance have taken it's toll. Nonetheless it's still as nice little camp (when it's not getting trashed by hunters) with great access to explore even fur beyond into the less traveled, wildly remote Dick Smith Wilderness. More details available at the link belowhttps://christopherplord.blogspot.com/2020/12/rancho-nuevo-trail-24w03.htmlWater Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Cold and rainy Images: - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 04-05-2020 - by Louis Tremblay
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 04-05-2020 Surveyor Name: Louis Tremblay Camp Description: Trash and a sleeping bag at the campsite; based on the history maybe a hermit is around here? Follow Geoffs post, the bluffs nearby are way more pleasant and offer much better views.ÂWater Source: Flowing Water Source Details: steady stream Weather Conditions: - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 11-02-2019 - by Craig R. Carey
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 11-02-2019 Surveyor Name: Craig R. Carey Camp Description: T111 Pathfinders surveyed the Upper Rancho Trail and installed a new sign donated by LPFA on a brisk morning. Was surprised how much shade is available at URN — almost like the "good old days" pre-Zaca. Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Not a huge flow, but clean and enough to filter. Weather Conditions: Very cold (morning) to warm (low 70s) Images:
Sign Install
Camp stoves - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 04-20-2019 - by James Wapotich
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 04-20-2019 Surveyor Name: James Wapotich Camp Description: Camped at Deal Junction and day hiked up to Upper Rancho Nuevo. Trail overgrown in places but still generally followable. Good water along the entire length of the creek, including near camp. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 05-06-2018 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 05-06-2018 Surveyor Name: Shaddus Maximus Camp Description: Low flow of water but certainly enough to pump out of. I wouldn't count on water flow here for much more than a month or so. At points below Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp, the creek bed is entirely dry--mainly in the flat, sandy stretches--but there is currently slight flowing water at the camp. Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Water has metallic taste to it. Best to filter if for no other reason than taste. Weather Conditions: - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 04-06-2018 - by M. Jones
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 04-06-2018 Surveyor Name: M. Jones Camp Description: Camp is clean and has firewoodRemoved and packed out trash, old sleeping bag from camp.Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Good flow, creek has iron rich water, creek bottom is red in upper camp area Weather Conditions: Overcast and 70 Images:
Camp after visit and clean up
View of camp from west - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 12-16-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 12-16-2016 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Upper Rancho Nuevo was a mess once again with weathered old camping gear thrown around camp in all directions. The camp has never recovered from the Zaca Fire and is small and cold. There are nicer places to setup a tent close by. But the canyon remains wild and beautiful! Water Source: Stagnant Water Source Details: A few frozen puddles near camp, more water just below camp but not very good for human consumption. Weather Conditions: COLD - Freezing when not in the sun. Images:
The slender camp at URN
Great rock outcrops outside of camp
And the detritus of campers come and gone - BUMMER - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 03-27-2016 - by Geoff
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 03-27-2016 Surveyor Name: Geoff Camp Description: This is a small camp. There are a couple of flat areas where you could pitch a tent, one near the fire grate and another to the southwest of the central open area. A tent could be pitched in the central open area but the ground is gently sloping towards the creek and therefore may be uncomfortable. The campsite has a significant amount of thorn bushes all around. The thorns will pull at your legs as you enter the camp and when you go to fetch water. The thorns are also around the areas where you can pitch a tent. On another note, the views at the campsite are not the best around. We basically found the camp to be somewhat undesirable.
The camp has a lot of trash right now, including two synthetic sleeping bags, a heavy jacket, a large piece of bubble wrap, several beer cans, alcohol bottles, food cans and other trash. Unfortunately, we were not able to clean up the trash. The next time I hike to this area I will carry a larger backpack and bring a contractor’s trash bag to carry out as much as possible.
Approximately 250 ft southwest of the Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp is an open, flat, grassy terrace on the southwest side of a northwest-southeast trending ridge. We camped at this location (near 119.461033°W 34.685583°N). It is a comfortable place to camp, there are many good places to pitch a tent, the views are great, and it is not very far from water. There is no shade on the terrace, but the vegetation just below the terrace can provide some relief from the sun.
We found water at two locations. The closest water to the Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp is at a stagnant pool just west-southwest of the campsite. We found it difficult to obtain water from the pool because there is a lot of very soft clay in the creek bed and at the areas adjacent to the pool. The soft clay made it challenging to get near the water. Also, the clear to slightly cloudy water in the stagnant pool easily became very cloudy when disturbing the bottom of the pool. The second water source is trickling within the creek, starting about 415 ft downstream from the campsite (near 119.460283°W 34.687150°N). The flow was very shallow, making it difficult to collect water. But we found water running over a small log and it only took a few seconds to fill a bottle. The water was clear but the creek bed at the running water had a rust colored bottom, possibly from iron bacteria. The water had a slight mineral taste.
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Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Very shallow trickle flow starting about 415 ft downstream from the camp, stagnant pool at the camp. Weather Conditions: Sunny, warm days. Cold night. Images:
Looking north-northeast towards the fire grate from the central open area.
Sleeping bags and other trash at the campsite.
Camp on the terrace, near 119.461033°W 34.685583°N.
Another view of the camp on the terrace, near 119.461033°W 34.685583°N.
The stagnant water pool near the campsite. - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 04-11-2015 - by BC
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 04-11-2015 Surveyor Name: BC Camp Description: We spent one night at Upper Ranccho Nuevo after a failed attempt to reach Lizards Head. Â The camp was overgrown, so we did some mild pruning with a camp saw. Â If it were not for the lizard man, this would have been a pleasant place to spend the night. Â I hypothesize that our attempt to scale his forbidden abode atop Lizard's head reignited his hatred for full man. Â The exact events of that night I am not able to relate in this type of open forum. Â It was only with the greatest relief that myself and my companions were able to make the return trip to our vehicles. Â Coincidentally, Â the lizard man left us an opened bottle of Gatorade and water in the old steel box adjacent to the camp. Â We didn't dare touch these items much less drink them despite our severe dehydration. Â These beverages remain at the camp to tempt future travelers. Â Beware, only those right in mind and spirit can drink the lizard man's offering. ÂWater Source: Stagnant Water Source Details: Shallow standing pools of muddy sulfur smelling water, did not attempt to purify Weather Conditions: Images:
Water situation
My darkest nightmare - Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Survey - 03-02-2015 - by Mark Subbotin
Link: Upper Rancho Nuevo Camp Date: 03-02-2015 Surveyor Name: Mark Subbotin Camp Description: 1 camp stove, minimal shade as camp was burned over in 2007 Zaca Fire, camper trash cleaned up Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: trickle from recent rains Weather Conditions: Images:
campsite & stove
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Survey / Report Form Last Updated: Friday, July 31, 2015
