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Lost Valley Camp South Los Padres National Forest

  • Camp Type: Wilderness Trail Camp
  • Topo Map Link: Bald Mountain
  • Elevation: 1925 feet
  • Wilderness Area: San Rafael
  • County: Santa Barbara County
  • Ranger District: Santa Lucia Ranger District
  • Longitude: -119.9243509
  • Latitude: 34.7665654
  • Water Sources: Water is available seasonally (about January-June) from Manzana Creek.
  • Length of Stay: 14 Days
  • Reservations: Wilderness Trail Camp

Recent Water Reports:

Date Surveyor Water Report
12-08-2023Adam DonaldFlowing
12-03-2023Anonymous SurveyorFlowing
04-09-2023Troop 37 - Jonathan RocqueFlowing
11-26-2022Bob The HikerDry
06-13-2022M. DavidsonTrickle
04-22-2022Ojai Valley School Lower CampusDry
07-18-2021Stan AtchisonStagnant
06-07-2021Savage GuydFlowing
03-14-2021Troop 37 - Jonathan RocqueFlowing
01-19-2021Antonio CalderonDry
01-11-2021Patrick MorganDry
12-26-2020Anonymous SurveyorDry
12-07-2020Claira CDry
11-21-2020Stephen SDry
07-31-2020Paul CronshawFlowing
05-24-2020Brad PittFlowing
04-03-2020Shinn FamilyFlowing
12-29-2019Shaddus MaximusFlowing
11-11-2019Paul CronshawFlowing
09-30-2019MSchlessFlowing
05-11-2019Anonymous SurveyorFlowing
05-04-2019Bradley PirmanFlowing
03-10-2019SoniaFlowing
11-20-2018Paul CronshawDry
01-27-2018AndrewFlowing
12-31-2017Shaddus Maximus Trickle
10-14-2017Forrest Trickle
04-02-2017M SchlessFlowing
01-15-2017Coyote DaveFlowing
01-01-2017Shaddus MaximusTrickle
03-30-2016Katie MendenhallFlowing
02-03-2016Los Padres Forest AssociationFlowing
11-27-2015Daniel J. HallDry
10-04-2015Jasonn BeckstrandDry
07-19-2015James WapotichDry
07-12-2015Jeaninne LittleTrickle
06-18-2015Los Padres Forest AssociationTrickle
05-02-2015Paul CronshawFlowing
12-17-2014Los Padres Forest AssociationFlowing
11-26-2014Paul "The Beeman" CronshawDry
Photo: Paul Cronshaw (1); Sonia (2)
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Survey This Camp

Description:

Lost Valley Camp is located in the San Rafael Wilderness at the junction of the Lost Valley Trail (29W14) and the Manzana Trail (30W13), near the mouth of Lost Valley Canyon. Situated in a grove of live oak and grey pines, this is a large camp with multiple picnic tables, fires rings, and room to spread out. The Lost Valley Trail started out as a road to cross the Hurricane Deck and proceed up the Sisquoc River to its headwaters, but environmentalists stopped the construction just a short distance before it reached what is now the Hurricane Deck Trail. The creek down this canyon drains a large area of the Hurricane Deck into Manzana Creek. This camp is a great place to start you next adventure into the San Rafael Wilderness Area. 

Recent Uploads:

Survey Photos:


  • Paul "The Beeman" Cronshaw - 11-26-2014
    Entrance to Lost Valley Campsites

  • Paul "The Beeman" Cronshaw - 11-26-2014
    View of the two campsites with respective metal grated fire rings

  • Paul Cronshaw - 05-02-2015
    Lost Valley Camp

  • Katie Mendenhall - 03-30-2016

  • Sonia - 03-10-2019

  • Shinn Family - 04-03-2020
    Watering hole about 3 minute walk before camp

  • Antonio Calderon - 01-19-2021

Submitted Camp Reports

Lost Valley Camp Survey - 12-08-2023 - by Adam Donald
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 12-08-2023
Surveyor Name:Adam Donald
Camp Description:Main camp and overflow camp are both in good condition
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:The river is low but flowing steadily
Weather Conditions:60s, clear and windy
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 12-03-2023 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 12-03-2023
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:Spacious campsite not far from start of Nira parking lot (1 mile).  Water is flowing but at low level pace.  
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 04-09-2023 - by Troop 37 - Jonathan Rocque
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 04-09-2023
Surveyor Name:Troop 37 - Jonathan Rocque
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Manzana Creek is flowing like crazy
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 11-26-2022 - by Bob The Hiker
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 11-26-2022
Surveyor Name:Bob The Hiker
Camp Description:
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:Stream Bed is dry
Weather Conditions:67 Degrees in Day / 36 at Night
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 06-13-2022 - by M. Davidson
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 06-13-2022
Surveyor Name:M. Davidson
Camp Description:I had intended to hike from Nira to Mansfield camp on the Sisquoc river, and then return on the Manzana trail. Manzana creek was bone dry from Lost Valley camp to at least a mile beyond Fish Creek camp, which was as far as I got before deciding to turn back. I guessed that there was also no water at Manzana Narrows camp, where I intended to stay the first night, and I was already low on water. Apparently June is probably way too late to do overnight hikes in this area, at least without packing water. Also, the flies were unbearable. Bring plenty of insect repellent if you go into this area in the summer. 
Otherwise, Lost Valley camp was in good condition. It's a nice camp with 2 picnic tables.
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:There were some pools about 6 inches deep, and just enough flowing water over a small rock lip to fill a small pot
Weather Conditions:Clear and probably at least 90 deg. F
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 04-22-2022 - by Ojai Valley School Lower Campus
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 04-22-2022
Surveyor Name:Ojai Valley School Lower Campus
Camp Description:
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:No water visible in the immediate area.
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 07-18-2021 - by Stan Atchison
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 07-18-2021
Surveyor Name:Stan Atchison
Camp Description:Hiked through on my way to Fish Camp. Picnic tables are in good shape. Nice shade.
Water Source:Stagnant
Water Source Details:Some stagnant pools in the creek west of the campsite
Weather Conditions:Low 90's and muggy. Monsoonal moisture in the air. Thunder in the distance.
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 06-07-2021 - by Savage Guyd
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 06-07-2021
Surveyor Name:Savage Guyd
Camp Description:LOTS of frogs in and around the campground at night
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:More than a trickle, a couple of inches deep, beginning to stagnate in some areas
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 03-14-2021 - by Troop 37 - Jonathan Rocque
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 03-14-2021
Surveyor Name:Troop 37 - Jonathan Rocque
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Creek was flowing well and also flowing at the first crossing from the trailhead. Depth at the trailhead crossing was may 8 - 12 inches
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 01-19-2021 - by Antonio Calderon
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 01-19-2021
Surveyor Name:Antonio Calderon
Camp Description:
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Lost Valley Camp Survey - 01-11-2021 - by Patrick Morgan
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 01-11-2021
Surveyor Name:Patrick Morgan
Camp Description:Beautiful camp site, but no water
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:Very little water anywhere below Ray's
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 12-26-2020 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 12-26-2020
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:some stagnant pools of water here and there, but not reliable
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 12-07-2020 - by Claira C
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 12-07-2020
Surveyor Name:Claira C
Camp Description:
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:A few very small stagnant pools of water, past the camp
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 11-21-2020 - by Stephen S
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 11-21-2020
Surveyor Name:Stephen S
Camp Description:
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:Creek next to campsites was dry.
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 07-31-2020 - by Paul Cronshaw
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 07-31-2020
Surveyor Name:Paul Cronshaw
Camp Description:One of the tables has been moved to rock fire ring across from main camp.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Clean, flowing water with shallow pools
Weather Conditions:70s and Sunny
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 05-24-2020 - by Brad Pitt
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 05-24-2020
Surveyor Name:Brad Pitt
Camp Description:Good water flow, nice camp.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Nice camp, super close to the trail head at Nira.
Weather Conditions:80s.
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 04-03-2020 - by Shinn Family
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 04-03-2020
Surveyor Name:Shinn Family
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Watering hole about 3 minute walk before camp
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 12-29-2019 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 12-29-2019
Surveyor Name:Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Plenty of flowing water in the Manzana at Lost Valley now!
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 11-11-2019 - by Paul Cronshaw
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 11-11-2019
Surveyor Name:Paul Cronshaw
Camp Description:Camp in good condition. Has a shovel.  Campsite #2 rock ring needs to be reformatted. 
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Clean, flowing water with shallow pools
Weather Conditions:70s and Sunny
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 09-30-2019 - by MSchless
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 09-30-2019
Surveyor Name:MSchless
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Super weak flow
Weather Conditions:70s
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 05-11-2019 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 05-11-2019
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 05-04-2019 - by Bradley Pirman
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 05-04-2019
Surveyor Name:Bradley Pirman
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 03-10-2019 - by Sonia
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 03-10-2019
Surveyor Name:Sonia
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Creek full, clear and fast - beautiful!
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Lost Valley Camp Survey - 11-20-2018 - by Paul Cronshaw
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 11-20-2018
Surveyor Name:Paul Cronshaw
Camp Description: I brought in a new shovel to replace the one that went missing months ago.
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:70s and Sunny
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 01-27-2018 - by Andrew
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 01-27-2018
Surveyor Name:Andrew
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:Below freezing at night
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 12-31-2017 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 12-31-2017
Surveyor Name:Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:Good clear pools right there at the camp.
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 10-14-2017 - by Forrest
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 10-14-2017
Surveyor Name:Forrest
Camp Description:Camp is in good shape. Water is pump-able but I would pump and boil just to be sure. Right upstream from Lost Valley the water is flowing a bit more, it's less stagnant at least. Still only ankle deep though
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:Some stagnant-ish pools right below camp. Upstream is a tad more flowing but overall it's pretty low.
Weather Conditions:weather was fine. High 30's in the early AM and mid 80s by noon.
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 04-02-2017 - by M Schless
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 04-02-2017
Surveyor Name:M Schless
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 01-15-2017 - by Coyote Dave
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 01-15-2017
Surveyor Name:Coyote Dave
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Manzana was fllowing nicely
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 01-01-2017 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 01-01-2017
Surveyor Name:Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 03-30-2016 - by Katie Mendenhall
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 03-30-2016
Surveyor Name:Katie Mendenhall
Camp Description:Camp is in good condition.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Lots of water in Manzana Creek
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Lost Valley Camp Survey - 02-03-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 02-03-2016
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:Recent rains have caused the Manzana to flow.  Also got a report from Potrero Camp that there is running water down there as well.



Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 11-27-2015 - by Daniel J. Hall
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 11-27-2015
Surveyor Name:Daniel J. Hall
Camp Description:
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 10-04-2015 - by Jasonn Beckstrand
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 10-04-2015
Surveyor Name:Jasonn Beckstrand
Camp Description:
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:No water at camp. no water upstream. No water until Manzana Narrows
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 07-19-2015 - by James Wapotich
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 07-19-2015
Surveyor Name:James Wapotich
Camp Description:
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:no water, however there is good flowing water less than 1/8 mile upstream from the camp
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 07-12-2015 - by Jeaninne Little
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 07-12-2015
Surveyor Name:Jeaninne Little
Camp Description:Camp is in good condition. You may need to walk up stream a little for water, but it is still there.a nice quick hike to the campsite.
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:water is mostly clear, somewhere between a trickle and flowing
Weather Conditions:It was pretty hot during the day.
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 06-18-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 06-18-2015
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:As reported by Dan McCaslin on a recent Noozhawk article:

https://www.noozhawk.com/article/dan_mccaslin_manzana_camp_backpacking_fiasco
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 05-02-2015 - by Paul Cronshaw
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 05-02-2015
Surveyor Name:Paul Cronshaw
Camp Description:The two fire rings and tables were in good condition.  We cleaned out the closest fire pit. There is one shovel. If you stand under the large oak tree, watch of ticks dropping out of the tree.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:3-6 inches depth
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Lost Valley Camp
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 12-17-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 12-17-2014
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:The Manzana is now flowing again.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Lost Valley Camp Survey - 11-26-2014 - by Paul "The Beeman" Cronshaw
Link: Lost Valley Camp
Date: 11-26-2014
Surveyor Name:Paul "The Beeman" Cronshaw
Camp Description:Two wooden tables. Two grated fire rings. One rock fire ring across trail under oak tree. No fire shovel. A great overnight campsite for a family with young children, approximately one  mile from Nira Trailhead.  
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:Sunny and unseasonably warm for November
Images:

Entrance to Lost Valley Campsites

View of the two campsites with respective metal grated fire rings

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Last Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2023

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