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

• Kirk Creek Trail / Vicente…
• Hurricane Deck Trail
• Munch Canyon Connector…
• Marble Peak Trail
• San Ysidro 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

• Pelch Camp
• Colson Campground
• Manzana Schoolhouse Camp
• La Panza Campground
• Hartman 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

• Tinta OHV Trail
• Ballinger Route 39 OHV…
• Bear Canyon Loop OHV…
• Ballinger Route 53 OHV…
• Ballinger Route 54 OHV…

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206 Dirt Roads

• Church - Forest Rd 19S04
• Cachuma Mtn - Forest…
• Jolla - Forest Rd 32S09
• Buckhorn - Forest Rd…
• East Camino - Forest…

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111 Peaks

• McKinley Mountain
• Hopper Mountain
• Little Pines Mountain
• Chews Ridge
• Snowy Peak

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174 Springs

• Cold Spring - Ventana
• Quail Spring
• Balloon Spring
• Big Spring - Cuyama
• Blue Oak Spring

View All 174 Springs →

Latest Camp Reports

Please click on a report below to view the survey

Mono Campground Survey - 1-1-1936 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Mono Campground
Date:	1-1-1936
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:

Fish Creek Camp Survey - 04-28-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Fish Creek Camp
Date:	04-28-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Toilet is in good condition. No rock hopping. Need to get feet wet at the 2 crossings
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Rays Camp Survey - 04-28-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Rays Camp
Date:	04-28-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Camp is in good condition. Creek crossing is calf to thigh deep depending on the spot
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Manzana Camp Survey - 04-28-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Manzana Camp
Date:	04-28-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Good condition and plenty of water
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Manzana Narrows Camp Survey - 04-28-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Manzana Narrows Camp
Date:	04-28-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Camp and toilet are in good condition. Nice and quiet with only one other group. Plenty of water to swim in on a hot day
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lost Valley Camp Survey - 04-28-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lost Valley Camp
Date:	04-28-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Good condition and plenty of water
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Big Cone Spruce Camp Survey - 04-27-2024 - by Antoine

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Camp
Date:	04-27-2024
Surveyor Name:	Antoine
Camp Description:	Hiked from Manzana narrows. The trail is faint but findable at the beginning but I lost it around the two bends the canyon gets narrower. There is trees and branches everywhere around. The creek might be the easier way to go up. Once it is passed, the trail is again faint but easier follow. The trail that goes up to McKinley camp is very nice. Just two or three spots with one bush grown in the middle of it.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	The creek below the campground is flowing nicely
Weather Conditions:

Cross Camp Survey - 04-27-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Cross Camp
Date:	04-27-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

American Canyon Campground Survey - 04-26-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	American Canyon Campground
Date:	04-26-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Picnic benches and pit toilets remain operational. Loads of oak shade. LPFA has repaired American Canyon Trail slide so it is again passable from Machesna.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Clear flowing water, swimming holes are running
Weather Conditions:	Beautiful springtime 70s, low 50s at night, windy in the meadows but finding shelter around the next turn is easy here.

Manzana Schoolhouse Camp Survey - 04-21-2024 - by Turbo

Link:	Manzana Schoolhouse Camp
Date:	04-21-2024
Surveyor Name:	Turbo
Camp Description:	Camp is grassy and lumpy. Most fire rings have grass in them. Toilet needs some work-missing boards.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	1-3’
Weather Conditions:

Latest Trail Reports

Please click on a report below to view the survey

Rose Lion Trail Survey - 08-01-2024 - by Neal L

Link:	Rose Lion Trail
Date:	08-01-2024
Surveyor Name:	Neal L
Trail description:	This trail is in good shape and is easy to follow. There was some minor brush in a few sections, but otherwise just fine.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Manzana Trail East (Upper) Survey - 04-28-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Manzana Trail East (Upper)
Date:	04-28-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:	Trail is in great shape to the narrows thanks to the trail crews. 15 crossings are ankle to thigh deep.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Lion Canyon Trail Survey - 04-27-2024 - by Andy

Link:	Lion Canyon Trail
Date:	04-27-2024
Surveyor Name:	Andy
Trail description:	Went up to Topa Topa from Rose/Lion connector. Trail was in great condition with recent work above the campsites. There is an unmarked spring near the top (5000 ft), perfect timing for filtering and a break.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Lost Valley Trail San Rafael Wilderness Survey - 04-22-2024 - by Ian Evans

Link:	Lost Valley Trail San Rafael Wilderness
Date:	04-22-2024
Surveyor Name:	Ian Evans
Trail description:	I spent probably a quarter of the trail pushing through overgrown sections of the trail, coming from the east section of Hurricane Deck down the canyon. Chest to overheard high branches from both sides made it hard to navigate through, and it was particularly bad in rocky sections where you could stumble on unseen large rocks on the ground. There are some extremely sketchy, steep bypasses around eroded trail sections in the lower canyon. Loose rocks, loose dirt, bad news if you misstep. I was wearing long sleeves and pants with shoe gaiters, which made it bearable, if not fun. Vulture Spring was flowing at both the upper crossing (mind the poison oak) and lower down where the trail cuts back. Lost Valley Creek had decent flow at Twin Oaks, and all along the lower sections.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Significant bushwhacking required in many sections

Lost Valley Trail Ventana Wilderness Survey - 04-21-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Lost Valley Trail Ventana Wilderness
Date:	04-21-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:	I tried to hike on this trail from Escondido Camp to Fish Camp (so that I could pass by pothole slide waterfall, near Fish Camp). After hiking 1 mile from Escondido Camp and reaching the arroyo seco river, the trail became very difficult to follow. It was overgrown with bushes, poison oak, and obstructed by downed trees. At no point was there simply soil underfoot, we were hiking over grass and shrubs. At times I was not even sure I was following the original trail. After a half mile of that we turned back around. I think it would be fun to come back with some strong hikers and machetes and clear the way, but that was an effort I was not prepared for this time around.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Non existent

Manzana Trail West (Lower) Survey - 04-21-2024 - by Turbo

Link:	Manzana Trail West (Lower)
Date:	04-21-2024
Surveyor Name:	Turbo
Trail description:	Trail is in great shape. Flagging is pretty easy to follow. Trail is pretty well defined. No tick or snake sightings
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Manzana Trail West (Lower) Survey - 04-21-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Manzana Trail West (Lower)
Date:	04-21-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:	Most crossings were thigh deep or less. Trekking poles were helpful for the deeper crossings
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Manzana Trail East (Upper) Survey - 04-21-2024 - by Erin Carroll

Link:	Manzana Trail East (Upper)
Date:	04-21-2024
Surveyor Name:	Erin Carroll
Trail description:	South Fork to White Ledge can be a bit rough in some areas with a few downed trees, brushy sections, etc, but totally passable. White Ledge to Nira it is clear how much work LPFA has put into the trail. Bravo! My favorite section is White Ledge to Manzana Narrows. That is a special piece of trail. Some of the crossings are a little sketchy right now due to the strong water current.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Hurricane Deck Trail Survey - 04-21-2024 - by Ian Evans

Link:	Hurricane Deck Trail
Date:	04-21-2024
Surveyor Name:	Ian Evans
Trail description:	I took the Deck trail from White Ledge to Lost Valley, and had to do some significant bushwhacking in sections, most with head high closed-in growth. I had long sleeves and pants and shoe gaiters, which were pretty much required to not get shredded. Hiking poles are strongly recommended to push through the densest patches. I used a navigation app (Gaia) to make sure I was on the right track, which was occasionally very useful. The views were great when it opened up, but this trail isn't much fun right now.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	East section quite overgrown

Manzana Trail East (Upper) Survey - 04-21-2024 - by Ian Evans

Link:	Manzana Trail East (Upper)
Date:	04-21-2024
Surveyor Name:	Ian Evans
Trail description:	Erin Carroll's report is spot on, so not much to add. From Nira to Manzana Narrows your feet will get wet, and some crossings meant knee-high (or higher) rushing water. It's nice to see this much flow after the drought years.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow