Use Marker Groups Wolf 2002
Piru 2003
Day 2006
Zaca 2007
Gap 2008
La Brea 2009
Mission Pine Basin Camp South Los Padres National Forest
- Camp Type: Wilderness Trail Camp
- Topo Map Link: Big Pine Mountain
- Elevation: 5440 feet
- Wilderness Area: San Rafael
- County: Santa Barbara County
- Ranger District: Santa Lucia Ranger District
- Longitude: -119.7466134
- Latitude: 34.70802291
- Water Sources: Seasonal at best.
- Length of Stay: 14 Days
- Reservations: Wilderness Trail Camp
Recent Water Reports:
| Date | Surveyor | Water Report |
| 03-09-2024 | Jonathan Rocque | Flowing |
| 04-30-2023 | Addison Jerlow | Trickle |
| 02-05-2022 | Stephen S | Dry |
| 02-25-2021 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
| 05-25-2020 | Bingo Wathen | Dry |
| 05-05-2020 | Tony G. | Trickle |
| 04-04-2020 | SKIPP | Flowing |
| 09-29-2019 | MSchless | Dry |
| 02-25-2018 | Bastien | Dry |
| 12-30-2017 | Shaddus Maximus | Dry |
| 04-16-2016 | Los Padres Forest Association | Stagnant |
| 05-02-2015 | Hike Los Padres | Dry |
| 03-28-2015 | Paul Cronshaw | Dry |
| 03-01-2015 | Los Padres Forest Association | Trickle |
| 02-15-2015 | Los Padres Forest Association | Trickle |
| 09-27-2014 | Los Padres Forest Association |
Description:
Mission Pine Basin is a lovely large flat geographic feature atop the San Rafael Mountains set at the junction of the Fall Canyon, Santa Cruz and Mission Pine Trails. The camp is a little hard to find as it is off the trail on the far north west side of the basin. Water is very unreliable at camp with most years having 9months of no water at the camp. That being said, there is water that can be found down Fall Canyon at some of the reliable springs. Local lore explains that this area was named Mission Pine after the pine trees from this area being used in the Santa Barbara Mission. The story goes that the enslaved Chumash were forced to carry pine trees from Mission Pine the 30miles to the Santa Barbara Mission.
Mission Pine is quite spectacular with pine trees, large views and plenty of room to explore. It is also wild with bear sitings being pretty regular. Most of the Basin was burned in the 2007 Zaca Fire but there are still some large trees remaining and many young saplings working at replacing the old burned ones.
Survey Photos:
Los Padres Forest Association - 03-01-2015
Mission Pine Camp showing one of the hazard trees
Los Padres Forest Association - 03-01-2015
First light reveals about 2inches of fresh snow in camp
Los Padres Forest Association - 03-01-2015
Camp sign
Los Padres Forest Association - 03-01-2015
Snowy MPB
Paul Cronshaw - 03-28-2015
Large dead pine in center of camp.
Paul Cronshaw - 03-28-2015
Downed trees block the entrance to camp from the basin
Paul Cronshaw - 03-28-2015
Campsite with rock fire ring and benches
Paul Cronshaw - 03-28-2015
Downed trees have destroyed the stock corral
Paul Cronshaw - 03-28-2015
Overview of camp
Paul Cronshaw - 03-28-2015
Mission Pine Basin
Addison Jerlow - 04-30-2023
propped up the camp sign
Addison Jerlow - 04-30-2023
nice meadow with shade
Addison Jerlow - 04-30-2023
cleaned up camp area
Submitted Camp Reports
Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 03-09-2024 - by Jonathan RocqueLink: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 03-09-2024 Surveyor Name: Jonathan Rocque Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: All creeks were flowing through camp Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 04-30-2023 - by Addison Jerlow
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 04-30-2023 Surveyor Name: Addison Jerlow Camp Description: The trail from the Mission Pine Basin/Santa Cruz Trail junction to the camp proper was recently brushed and the path easy enough to follow if you know where you're headed. Lots of green grass and no flowers yet, looks like the snow just melted this week. Camp was cleaned up and in good shape with post-Zaca Ponderosa Pines starting to provide a bit of shade. Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: 2 to 12 in deeps pools, flowing in spots. Near camp, on trail to camp, and at junction to camp. Weather Conditions: low 80s in the day, 40s at night Images:
propped up the camp sign
nice meadow with shade
cleaned up camp area - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 02-05-2022 - by Stephen S
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 02-05-2022 Surveyor Name: Stephen S Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 02-25-2021 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 02-25-2021 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: One of the best camps around with plenty of room to explore and hear the wind whistle through the pines. We checked out the Fall Canyon Trail and it wasn't pretty. WE DO NOT SUGGEST TAKING THE FALL CANYON TRAIL at the moment. Seems most people are camping at the trail junction rather than the actual camp, which was damaged by downed trees and hazardous snage.Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: No water at camp but was able to find water about a mile down Fall Canyon. Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 05-25-2020 - by Bingo Wathen
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 05-25-2020 Surveyor Name: Bingo Wathen Camp Description: Stopped for lunch in the shade on the way from Big Pine to MPS. Found a trickle of a creek about 1.5 miles east of camp and was able to refill on water. I wouldn't count on it flowing for much longer. Trail east of the Basin is in bad shape. Easy to get lost. Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 05-05-2020 - by Tony G.
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 05-05-2020 Surveyor Name: Tony G. Camp Description: Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: The only drinkable water in the basin is on the west end. I found one smallish pool approximately 6-12 inches deep by 20 feet long, clear but not flowing, filtered it just in case. A few more days and it will be gone. Weather Conditions: high 85-90, low upper 40's and windy - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 04-04-2020 - by SKIPP
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 04-04-2020 Surveyor Name: SKIPP Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: The creek or wash near the camp was flowing well. More rain came the next day. Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 09-29-2019 - by MSchless
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 09-29-2019 Surveyor Name: MSchless Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: 60s and Windy at Noon - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 02-25-2018 - by Bastien
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 02-25-2018 Surveyor Name: Bastien Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 12-30-2017 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 12-30-2017 Surveyor Name: Shaddus Maximus Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 04-16-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 04-16-2016 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: "mission pine basin did have some water just south of the old camp" Water Source: Stagnant Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 05-02-2015 - by Hike Los Padres
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 05-02-2015 Surveyor Name: Hike Los Padres Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 03-28-2015 - by Paul Cronshaw
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 03-28-2015 Surveyor Name: Paul Cronshaw Camp Description: This campsite still shows the devastation from the 2007 Zaca Fire. Â There are a lot of downed trees and a couple of standing "widow makers". Choose a campsite carefully. There is a firepit and several primitive benches on rocks. The stock corral has been destroyed by several fallen fire-scarred pines. The entrance to the camp from the basin has been blocked by 4 large pines, but markers show the way around these obstacles Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Dry around the camp and at the willow pool near Fall Canyon Junction Weather Conditions: Sunny, Temp mid 70s Images:
Large dead pine in center of camp.
Downed trees block the entrance to camp from the basin
Campsite with rock fire ring and benches
Downed trees have destroyed the stock corral
Overview of camp - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 03-01-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 03-01-2015 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: There was water in the small creek south of the camp. There was no water in the creek near the trail junction. Â There are a few hazard trees near camp that need to be removed. Â Most of the new pines are about waist to shoulder high. Â They are growing back quickly. Â Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Images:
Mission Pine Camp showing one of the hazard trees
First light reveals about 2inches of fresh snow in camp
Camp sign
Snowy MPB - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 02-15-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 02-15-2015 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Water flowing in drainage near camp. Â Not much flow but there is something drinkable and wet. Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Mission Pine Basin Camp Survey - 09-27-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Mission Pine Basin Camp Date: 09-27-2014 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Water Source: Water Source Details: No water at Mission Pine Basin, but there was a small pool near the campsite a third of the way down Fall Canyon. Weather Conditions:
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Survey / Report Form Last Updated: Monday, January 4, 2016
