Exploring The Los Padres National Forest

Over 1000+ Cataloged Locations

Location specific weather reports, recent camp and trail surveys, water data and much more.

Hiking Trails

Explore the hiking trails of the Los Padres National Forest. Combine trails to make loop trips, discover new trails for backpacking, or find new areas to explore.

205 Hiking Trails

• Little Sur Trail
• Lion Canyon Trail
• Stonehouse Trail
• Jesusita Trail
• Madulce Trail

View All 205 Trails →

Camps and Campgrounds

This updated list on camps enables you to find a new camp to visit anytime; we have included all car campgrounds and trail camps in this section.

293 Camps

• Pine Valley Camp
• Buckeye Camp
• Los Prietos Campground
• Rocky Creek Camp
• Manzana Schoolhouse Camp

View All 293 Camps →

O.H.V. Trails

We got you covered on the O.H.V areas, including Google maps view of all trails, slope gains and losses, so you can be prepared for your next off road adventure.

56 OHV Trails

• Ballinger Route 19 OHV…
• Ballinger Route 54 OHV…
• Ballinger Route 10 OHV…
• Queen Bee OHV Trail
• Ballinger Route 49 OHV…

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206 Dirt Roads

• Lime Canyon - Forest…
• Branch Mtn - Forest…
• Cachuma Mtn - Forest…
• Miller Canyon - Forest…

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111 Peaks

• Puerto Del Suelo Peak
• Pine Ridge
• Little Pine Mountain
• South Ventana Cone
• Whiteacre Peak

View All 111 Peaks →

174 Springs

• Chokecherry Spring
• Cobblestone Spring
• Agua Caliente Spring
• Monjas Spring
• Big Spring - Cuyama

View All 174 Springs →

Latest Camp Reports

Please click on a report below to view the survey

Mono Campground Survey - 1-1-2024 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	1-1-2024
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Historic video showing the construction of the Mono Debris Dam from 1936, enjoy! https://archive.org/details/CCCAtMono1936
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Oak Camp Survey - 02-01-2025 - by Paul Muhl

Link:	Oak Camp
Date:	02-01-2025
Surveyor Name:	Paul Muhl
Camp Description:	Beautiful spacious camp with plenty of room, nice fire pit, under a gorgeous oak tree. Didn't stay here but definitely would if the opportunity arose.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Nice flow, good enough to fill a water bottle
Weather Conditions:	cool, clear, sunny

Chorro Grande Camp Survey - 02-01-2025 - by Paul Muhl

Link:	Chorro Grande Camp
Date:	02-01-2025
Surveyor Name:	Paul Muhl
Camp Description:	Smallish camp with one nice spot for a small party (1-3+). Strange metal fire box but no clear fire ring around it. Nice little spring just across the trail. Some snow on the trail just uphill from here hiding in the shadows, but a very pleasant hiking temperature today.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Enough flow to refill but not gushing
Weather Conditions:	cool, clear, sunny

Coldwater Camp Survey - 01-20-2025 - by Paul Muhl

Link:	Coldwater Camp
Date:	01-20-2025
Surveyor Name:	Paul Muhl
Camp Description:	Another one of my favorites, completely empty. Lots of room for tents, great creek access, multiple fire pits should the season allow.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Ankle to calf
Weather Conditions:	Warm, clear

Potrero Camp Survey - 01-20-2025 - by Paul Muhl

Link:	Potrero Camp
Date:	01-20-2025
Surveyor Name:	Paul Muhl
Camp Description:	Nice camp, split by the creek
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Good place to refill water bottle; easy rock hop across with current levels
Weather Conditions:	Clear, warm, sunny

Miller Camp Survey - 01-19-2025 - by Paul Muhl

Link:	Miller Camp
Date:	01-19-2025
Surveyor Name:	Paul Muhl
Camp Description:	Big patch of grass. Even if fire restrictions were lifted (eg after a rain) I wouldn't want to make a fire in the ring here due to all the grass. Could be a good place to spend a night after a long summer day.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	Sunny, clear, warm

Mormon Camp Survey - 01-19-2025 - by Paul Muhl

Link:	Mormon Camp
Date:	01-19-2025
Surveyor Name:	Paul Muhl
Camp Description:	One of my faves. Had a nice lunch here this day. Great camp above the creek. The trail got so washed out a couple years ago it's now a cliff where it used to be so you have be creative with your creek crossing and finding your way back to camp.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	Clear, sunny, warm

Water Canyon Camp Survey - 01-19-2025 - by Paul Muhl

Link:	Water Canyon Camp
Date:	01-19-2025
Surveyor Name:	Paul Muhl
Camp Description:	Great camp, only stayed for a snack this time. Take the creek route (not hillside) to the schoolhouse if you're doing the loop counter clockwise. Much easier and easier to follow.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	ankle to knee. good refill spot
Weather Conditions:	Clear, warm, sunny

Manzana Schoolhouse Camp Survey - 01-19-2025 - by Paul Muhl

Link:	Manzana Schoolhouse Camp
Date:	01-19-2025
Surveyor Name:	Paul Muhl
Camp Description:	It was bone dry in October, now it's flowing nicely in January, with no rain in-between. Go figure. Nice camp. There was some condensation at night and it got down into the 20's. Cold night/morning but once the sun hits it's perfect hiking weather.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	ankle to knee
Weather Conditions:	Clear

Beartrap Camp Survey - 01-18-2025 - by Troop 26

Link:	Beartrap Camp
Date:	01-18-2025
Surveyor Name:	Troop 26
Camp Description:	Camp is in good shape
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	strong flow in creek
Weather Conditions:	sunny/ 60's during day, 21 in the morning

Latest Trail Reports

Please click on a report below to view the survey

Chorro Grande Trail Survey - 02-01-2025 - by Paul Muhl

Link:	Chorro Grande Trail
Date:	02-01-2025
Surveyor Name:	Paul Muhl
Trail description:	Beautiful trail in great condition with excellent views going from classic chaparral at the start to towering pines at the top. Loved it.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Ortega OHV Trail Survey - 01-25-2025 - by Matt

Link:	Ortega OHV Trail
Date:	01-25-2025
Surveyor Name:	Matt
Trail description:	I live in Ojai and have ridden this trail off and on for 30 years. As veteran of Tour of Idaho single track, as well as annual trips down Piru Creek, Snowy, Tinta, Disneyland, Toad, Sheep, and other stealth routes in Lockwood, I can report that It used to be a challenging but passable trail. Unfortunately, at this point the Ortega Trail is only suitable for hard enduro or trials riders due to the terrible erosion and 5-10' high boulder fields that have been left unmaintained. Unless you have no regard for the condition of your bike and plan to ghost your bike up these big ledges, the trail should only be tackled in groups of three or more riders with plans of regular spotting, lifting, hauling, pushing and pulling to overcome obstacles. There are sections of this trail that are still in great shape and fun to ride, but I have to be honest say that the route is a total mess. My son and I rode it from Hwy 33 to Hwy 33 on 1/25//25, and loved the scenery, but were bummed that the Ortega Trail has decomposed to this extent.
Mode of transport:	Array
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Hard Enduro or Trials Only

Piedra Blanca Trail Survey - 01-18-2025 - by Troop 26

Link:	Piedra Blanca Trail
Date:	01-18-2025
Surveyor Name:	Troop 26
Trail description:	Hiked from Reyes Creek to Beartrap camp.  Trail generally in good shape and easy to follow, a few places have to push your way through the chaparral that's grown in, but it's not much of a problem.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Indian Trail Survey - 01-12-2025 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Indian Trail
Date:	01-12-2025
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:	I looked on both ends and couldn't really find a start or a finish to this trail.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Non existent
Condition details:	No evidence of a trail

Indian Trail Survey - 01-12-2025 - by Robert

Link:	Indian Trail
Date:	01-12-2025
Surveyor Name:	Robert
Trail description:	I looked in the wrong place. I realized I was looking in the wrong place for this trail due to Brookshire Camp being in the wrong place on Gaia GPS map.  Will try it again sometime soon I hope.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Non existent
Condition details:	Disregard my prior post

Santa Barbara Canyon Trail Survey - 01-05-2025 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Santa Barbara Canyon Trail
Date:	01-05-2025
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:	Hiked from trailhead to picnic table at Chokecherry. Trail was easy to follow.  Had a handful of ticks from just North of Chokecherry Canyon.  Light water flowing on a about half of the crossings.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Lost Valley Trail San Rafael Wilderness Survey - 01-01-2025 - by Kevin w

Link:	Lost Valley Trail San Rafael Wilderness
Date:	01-01-2025
Surveyor Name:	Kevin w
Trail description:	Hiked to the view of Sulphur Spring Canyon, 15 miles round-trip from NIRA. Took 7 hours at a decent pace for young folks. A lot of the trail is shaded this time of year, otherwise it would already be a little hot. Views are some of the best in the forest. Vulture spring has good flow. Once you get on the ridge the trail didn't seem so bad. Picked off 300+ ticks from the dogs.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Hard to follow
Condition details:	past twin oaks the brush gets even thicker but it's difficult to get lost. a few slide outs on the way to the ridge, but if you made it that far you're ok

Sisquoc Trail Upper Survey - 01-01-2025 - by Brian D'Amour

Link:	Sisquoc Trail Upper
Date:	01-01-2025
Surveyor Name:	Brian D'Amour
Trail description:	Started at South Fork at 6:30.  Trail past Skunk and to Mansfield was generally in good shape with minimal river crossings.  Between Mansfield and Heath, travel was slow due to some issues relocating trail after river crossings and not wanting to hike in the river.  There is a trail, you just have to work to find it sometimes.  After Heath, the trail became easier to follow again at crossings.  This was a really great stretch of forest.  Water in river all the way up to the falls but not above.  Upper Bear had water flowing from the springs.  Made it to Alamar Saddle at 12:30.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Hiked entire trail on 1/1/25. Good flow in river all the way up to the falls.

Mission Pine Trail Survey - 01-01-2025 - by Brian D'Amour

Link:	Mission Pine Trail
Date:	01-01-2025
Surveyor Name:	Brian D'Amour
Trail description:	Hiked westward from the Buckhorn Road.  Trail is generally easy to follow and in great shape all the way.  The only section that could use some work is a small stretch about a mile east of Mission Pine Basin.  There are some moments where you really have to push through the brush to continue along the trail.  Also, if you are travelling east be aware that there is a trail junction just past Mission Pine Basin, with a Trail sign pointing north.  Don't follow the trail in the direction of the sign as it will take you off the ridge as it leads down to the Sisquoc at Mansfield Camp. Stayed near Mission Pine Springs (still flowing) on 1/1 and hiked out to Cachuma Saddle on 1/2.  Great sunset and sunrise from the trail this time of year.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Trail is mostly in great shape. Some areas between West Big Pine and Mission Pine Basin need to be trimmed.

Tequepis Trail Survey - 12-30-2024 - by Dan Reynolds

Link:	Tequepis Trail
Date:	12-30-2024
Surveyor Name:	Dan Reynolds
Trail description:	This is a challenging trail with great rewards.  The first mile is along the creek that still has running water. Very nice to see.  Once you are out of the trees along the creek the trail gets steep. There are many switchbacks that take a little of the steepness out of the uphill hike.  The views also distract from steep uphill hike.  Push yourself to get to the top. It is very rewarding with a feeling of accomplishment.  The trail is easy to follow. The creek crossings are very manageable. The trail has been maintained recently.  See my YouTube video here of my hike that was filmed over three visits to the trail:  Tequepis Trail-Los Padres National Forest  Get out there and enjoy!
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow