Abel Canyon Camp South Los Padres National Forest

• Camp Type: Wilderness Trail Camp
• Topo Map Link: Hurricane Deck
• Elevation: 1726 feet
• Wilderness Area: San Rafael
• County: Santa Barbara County
• Ranger District: Santa Lucia Ranger District
• Longitude: -119.8625050762588
• Latitude: 34.82260277702968
• Water Sources: Sisquoc River
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Reservations: Wilderness Trail Camp

Recent Water Reports:

Date	Surveyor	Water Report
04-23-2023	Matt Inman - Ojai Valley School	Flowing
02-04-2022	Stephen S	Flowing
03-19-2021	Jeremy K	Flowing
01-17-2021	Greg	Stagnant
12-31-2020	Shaddus Maximus	Trickle
12-11-2020	Steve Cypher	Trickle
05-16-2020	Addison Jerlow	Flowing
01-01-2020	Shaddus Maximus	Flowing
11-25-2019	Paul Cronshaw	Flowing
06-09-2019	Los Padres Forest Association	Flowing
04-01-2019	M Schless	Flowing
11-19-2018	Arlen Van Draanen	Flowing
05-16-2018	IGTOFT	Flowing
04-22-2018	Matt Inman-Ojai Valley School	Flowing
03-26-2018	Andrew Toborowski	Flowing
01-13-2018	Los Padres Forest Association	Flowing
10-04-2017	Anonymous Surveyor	Flowing
04-01-2016	Katie Mendenhall	Flowing
05-07-2015	James Wapotich	Flowing
02-15-2014	Los Padres Forest Association	Flowing

Photo: Bryan Conant

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Description:

Abel Canyon Camp is located on the Sisquoc Trail (30W1) in the San Rafael Wilderness.  Abel is one of the more remote and seldom visited camps.  It's located under a thicket of oak trees just above a perennial seep along the Sisquoc River.  The camp can be quite dark and dank due to the oak trees, thick blanket of oak leaves and position within the canyon.  Abel Canyon is located just a few hundred yards downstream from Abel Camp.  There are also some old Abel family homestead ruins near camp and an old decrepit wooden table in camp.

Abel canyon was the homestead of the Abel family. Henry Abel was born in Germany in 1854. He moved first to San Luis Obispo then to Santa Maria and opened a saddlery shop. He died at the age of 78 years. His son, Henry John Abel was. the Game and Fish Commissioner: for Santa Barbara County for many years. Henry Abel died in 1925. At one time there were two stoves, a throne, a couple of old iron spring beds and the remains of a stove chimney remaining at the camp.

Recent Uploads:

Photo By: Paul Cronshaw - Website Link

Survey Photos:

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  Los Padres Forest Association - 02-15-2014
  
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  Katie Mendenhall - 04-01-2016
  
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  Los Padres Forest Association - 01-13-2018
  
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  Los Padres Forest Association - 01-13-2018
  
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  Andrew Toborowski - 03-26-2018
  
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  Andrew Toborowski - 03-26-2018
  
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  Andrew Toborowski - 03-26-2018
  
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  Andrew Toborowski - 03-26-2018
  
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  Andrew Toborowski - 03-26-2018
  
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  Andrew Toborowski - 03-26-2018
  
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  Los Padres Forest Association - 06-09-2019
  
• 
  Paul Cronshaw - 11-25-2019
  Creek crossing at Abel Canyon.
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  Paul Cronshaw - 11-25-2019
  Sisquoc River at Abel Camp
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  Paul Cronshaw - 11-25-2019
  Abel Campsite Table
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  Paul Cronshaw - 11-25-2019
  Abel Campsite
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  Addison Jerlow - 05-16-2020
  main camp

Submitted Camp Reports

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 04-23-2023 - by Matt Inman - Ojai Valley School

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	04-23-2023
Surveyor Name:	Matt Inman - Ojai Valley School
Camp Description:	Just fine, another solid Sisquoc camp.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 02-04-2022 - by Stephen S

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	02-04-2022
Surveyor Name:	Stephen S
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 03-19-2021 - by Jeremy K

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	03-19-2021
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy K
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Good Water Flow
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 01-17-2021 - by Greg

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	01-17-2021
Surveyor Name:	Greg
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Stagant pools by the camp. There is a small creek flowing on the west side of the camp. You cannot miss it, it's on the trail
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 12-31-2020 - by Shaddus Maximus

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	12-31-2020
Surveyor Name:	Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Big, clear pools of water in the riverbed at Abel; not much of flow.
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 12-11-2020 - by Steve Cypher

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	12-11-2020
Surveyor Name:	Steve Cypher
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	A little flow near camp. Better flow a half mile downstream.
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 05-16-2020 - by Addison Jerlow

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	05-16-2020
Surveyor Name:	Addison Jerlow
Camp Description:	quite nice right now. not looking too dark or dank
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Abel Canyon Creek flowing
Weather Conditions:
Images:	main camp

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 01-01-2020 - by Shaddus Maximus

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	01-01-2020
Surveyor Name:	Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 11-25-2019 - by Paul Cronshaw

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	11-25-2019
Surveyor Name:	Paul Cronshaw
Camp Description:	Despite loosing its legs, the old table is still present and functional.  There is a shovel.   The creek crossing at Abel Canyon has good flowing water for refilling your bottle.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Clean, flowing water with shallow pools
Weather Conditions:	70s and Sunny
Images:	Creek crossing at Abel Canyon. Sisquoc River at Abel Camp Abel Campsite Table Abel Campsite

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 06-09-2019 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	06-09-2019
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	LPFA Working Vacation stopped work at Abel Camp, coming from downstream.  Abel remains shady and cool. The trail is a bit hard to follow upstream from Abel and up to Cliff.  People miss this section of trail more than anywhere else on the Lower Sisquoc.  Pay attention and study maps, otherwise you may miss Cliff altogether.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Great water and swimming holes around Abel Camp
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 04-01-2019 - by M Schless

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	04-01-2019
Surveyor Name:	M Schless
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Sisqoc flowing steady
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 11-19-2018 - by Arlen Van Draanen

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	11-19-2018
Surveyor Name:	Arlen Van Draanen
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Low flow
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 05-16-2018 - by IGTOFT

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	05-16-2018
Surveyor Name:	IGTOFT
Camp Description:	Marginal camp, no table. Beautiful location.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	70s/40s

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 04-22-2018 - by Matt Inman-Ojai Valley School

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	04-22-2018
Surveyor Name:	Matt Inman-Ojai Valley School
Camp Description:	Seems to be a less frequented camp. Nice and shady.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Water accessible and flowing moderately.
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 03-26-2018 - by Andrew Toborowski

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	03-26-2018
Surveyor Name:	Andrew Toborowski
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	No lack of water!
Weather Conditions:	Sunny. 70F Day / 48F Night
Images:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 01-13-2018 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	01-13-2018
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Abel is still there.  Table continues its slow but steady demise.  All the usual Abel'centricies are still there: old toilet, tons of sycamore leafs, pieces of concrete, sign, downed oaks, poison oak.Â
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Water flowing nicely.
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 10-04-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	10-04-2017
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Pretty good campsite. Broken picnic table can still be used while hikers are seated on the ground.  Decent grass for horses after a rare September rain.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Low flow near camp. Wet downstream for about a mile. Abel Canyon Creek had a trickle as well.
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 04-01-2016 - by Katie Mendenhall

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	04-01-2016
Surveyor Name:	Katie Mendenhall
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Sisquoc River had lots of water
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 05-07-2015 - by James Wapotich

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	05-07-2015
Surveyor Name:	James Wapotich
Camp Description:	camp features a grated stove in a fire ring and broken down picnic table
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Good water at Abel Camp
Weather Conditions:

Abel Canyon Camp Survey - 02-15-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Abel Canyon Camp
Date:	02-15-2014
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	There is a large downed oak just upstream from camp.  It has been there for a few years.  More than one VWR sawyer has this tree on their hit list.  It's just hard to get out there.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Water was flowing in the creek but was pretty stanky
Weather Conditions:	Dry and hot for February
Images:

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