Pens Camp South Los Padres National Forest

Submitted Camp Reports

Pens Camp Survey - 04-26-2022 - by Ojai Valley School Lower Campus

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	04-26-2022
Surveyor Name:	Ojai Valley School Lower Campus
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Smaller camp but still room for three tents after we did some restoration work. Reliable water. Beware there is no tread or sign of there ever having been a trail from the Loma Pelona into camp once you descend out of the grass. We crawled and tunneled at .75 miles/hr.
Weather Conditions:

Pens Camp Survey - 04-01-2022 - by Addison Jerlow

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	04-01-2022
Surveyor Name:	Addison Jerlow
Camp Description:	Camp is in great shape with good water in the creek.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	strong flow 6-12 inches deep
Weather Conditions:	upper 60s, low 40s

Pens Camp Survey - 03-19-2022 - by Silvio G

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	03-19-2022
Surveyor Name:	Silvio G
Camp Description:	The Indian-Poplar Trail from Bluff Camp to Pens is in good shape except for a few large trees that have fallen across the trail and the usual ceanothus that likes to reach across the trail.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Good water flowing at a quick rate.
Weather Conditions:	Warm during the day and cool, but not too cold at night.

Pens Camp Survey - 02-06-2022 - by Stephen S

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	02-06-2022
Surveyor Name:	Stephen S
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Pens Camp Survey - 04-11-2021 - by LPFA

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	04-11-2021
Surveyor Name:	LPFA
Camp Description:	What a wonderful backcountry camp, complete with a grill and backcountry box stove. Spent 2 nights here and enjoyed perfect weather, nice soft and flat campground for our tents, and excellent water. Enough water to soak and bathe in nature with birds providing the soundtrack. A really unique rocky face opposing the camp as a backdrop. Spent a few hours with my crew cleaning out some poison oak from the camp and the pathway down to the creek.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Good Flow, Enough to Bathe
Weather Conditions:	Sunny 45/80 F
Images:	A place to rest your head Pancakes! Pens Camp Hiking in to Pens Camp via Poplar Trail

Pens Camp Survey - 01-13-2021 - by John O'Connell

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	01-13-2021
Surveyor Name:	John O'Connell
Camp Description:	Water looks great and the camp looks good too!
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Pens Camp Survey - 11-16-2020 - by rich scholl

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	11-16-2020
Surveyor Name:	rich scholl
Camp Description:	trail tread in good shape from bluff camp, ceanothus closing in but passable
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	small pools with subsurface flow
Weather Conditions:	70 day, 30 night
Images:

Pens Camp Survey - 05-31-2020 - by Addison Jerlow

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	05-31-2020
Surveyor Name:	Addison Jerlow
Camp Description:	really great camp. only room for one tent but ground is level and a ways above the creek so you have a nice view and less condensation.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	good flow. 6-10 inches deep
Weather Conditions:

Pens Camp Survey - 10-26-2018 - by Conor W

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	10-26-2018
Surveyor Name:	Conor W
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Stagnant
Water Source Details:	Small scattered pools towards Poplar and down Indian Creek from Pens
Weather Conditions:

Pens Camp Survey - 04-26-2018 - by Matt Inman-Ojai Valley School

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	04-26-2018
Surveyor Name:	Matt Inman-Ojai Valley School
Camp Description:	A relatively small camp but worth the effort to visit. There is no easy way to get to this remote and beautiful area...significant trail work is necessary.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Indian Creek was flowing clean and clear with 6" of water.
Weather Conditions:

Pens Camp Survey - 03-28-2018 - by Shaddus Maximus

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	03-28-2018
Surveyor Name:	Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Pens Camp Survey - 05-28-2016 - by James Wapotich

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	05-28-2016
Surveyor Name:	James Wapotich
Camp Description:	Barely a trickle at Pens, better water upstream towards Poplar along the trail. No water at Poplar.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Pens Camp Survey - 02-28-2016 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	02-28-2016
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Creek is flowing nicely past camp.  Doesn't look like camp has seen much recent use.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Pens Camp Survey - 02-28-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	02-28-2016
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	Water was pretty silted but flowing nicely.  I waited for the other group on this day but then had to keep going.  Sorry we didn't meet up.  Pretty camp.  The pencil that used to say "INDIAN CAN" is no longer on the metal post at camp.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	mid-70's and perfect!
Images:	Them there Pens Camp.

Pens Camp Survey - 09-27-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	09-27-2015
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:	No water at Pens.  Dry as can be.
Water Source:	Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	Sunny, low 80's

Pens Camp Survey - 02-14-2015 - by Shaddus Maximus

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	02-14-2015
Surveyor Name:	Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Decent flow in Indian Creek right next to Pens camp.
Weather Conditions:
Images:

Pens Camp Survey - 06-04-1994 - by M. Jones

Link:	Pens Camp
Date:	06-04-1994
Surveyor Name:	M. Jones
Camp Description:	Prior to the Zaca Fire burning over 240,207 acres in 2007 Indian Creek contained one of the largest trout populations in the LPNF (personal observation). Historical highlight: This camp was so named because of some barbed wire stock pens that were there at one time. They were possibly used by Jose Moraga who operated a mine at the narrows of Indian Creek, but it is more likely that they were used by the Clark and Canet Company which maintained a cattle range on Loma Pelona just to the east of this area. (Source; A Campers Guide to the Tri-County Area. Robert Burtness, 1981).
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	The headwaters of Indian Creek typically contains cold, clean water all year.
Weather Conditions:	75* and sunny
Images:

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