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

• San Clemente Trail
• Tunnel/Rattlesnake Connector…
• Matias Potrero Trail
• Manzana Trail West (Lower)
• Foothill 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

• Happy Hollow Camp
• The Pines Camp
• Divide Camp
• Wheeler Gorge Campground
• Mt Pinos Campground

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

• Yellowjacket OHV Trail
• Ballinger Route 14 OHV…
• Howards Hill OHV Trail
• Ballinger Route 22 OHV…
• Ballinger Route 28 OHV…

View All O.H.V. Trails →

206 Dirt Roads

• Conder Obs - Forest Rd…
• Buckhorn - Forest Rd…
• Alomo - Forest Rd 32S23
• Three Sisters - Forest…
• Sutton Road - Forest…

View All 206 Roads →

111 Peaks

• Bald Mountian
• Avenales
• Shell Peak
• Slide Mountain
• Frazier Mountain

View All 111 Peaks →

174 Springs

• Oak Springs
• Juan Fernandez Spring
• Agua Caliente Spring
• Lower Lion Spring
• King David 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:

Mormon Camp Survey - 05-29-2024 - by Jeremy K

Link:	Mormon Camp
Date:	05-29-2024
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy K
Camp Description:	The trail is in decent condition. Thank you to whom ever hangs the flags and builds the trail markers.  The trail at Mormon Camp does have a 10 foot drop down to the river.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

South Fork Camp - Sisquoc Survey - 05-29-2024 - by Jeremy K

Link:	South Fork Camp - Sisquoc
Date:	05-29-2024
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy K
Camp Description:	The camp is in great condition. Water is flowing
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Happy Hunting Ground Camp Survey - 05-29-2024 - by Jeremy K

Link:	Happy Hunting Ground Camp
Date:	05-29-2024
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy K
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Manzana Narrows Camp Survey - 05-29-2024 - by Jeremy K

Link:	Manzana Narrows Camp
Date:	05-29-2024
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy K
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Sycamore Camp Survey - 05-29-2024 - by Jeremy K

Link:	Sycamore Camp
Date:	05-29-2024
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy K
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Manzana Schoolhouse Camp Survey - 05-29-2024 - by Jeremy K

Link:	Manzana Schoolhouse Camp
Date:	05-29-2024
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy K
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

White Ledge Camp - San Rafael Wilderness Survey - 05-29-2024 - by Jeremy K

Link:	White Ledge Camp - San Rafael Wilderness
Date:	05-29-2024
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy K
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Lonnie Davis Camp Survey - 05-29-2024 - by Jeremy Koellish

Link:	Lonnie Davis Camp
Date:	05-29-2024
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy Koellish
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

Alcove Camp Survey - 05-29-2024 - by Jeremy Koellish

Link:	Alcove Camp
Date:	05-29-2024
Surveyor Name:	Jeremy Koellish
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:
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

Santa Cruz Trail Survey - 05-27-2024 - by Clancy

Link:	Santa Cruz Trail
Date:	05-27-2024
Surveyor Name:	Clancy
Trail description:	We hiked the entire SC trail from Mission Pine Basin down to Upper Oso. Starting at the top, the trail is easy to follow and clear to where it drops off and starts to switchback. From here down to the creek it is fairly easy to follow for the most part with a few tricky sections. Lots and lots of pushing through waist to shoulder high brush. From Coche Creek to Santa Cruz Station the trail is pretty easy to follow with plenty of ducking, pushing through, and occasionally crawling through brush. Quite a bit of poison oak in places especially around creek crossings. From SC station to the 40 mile walk is great. The 40 mile walk is generally pretty good. One small washout. The dry grass was slippery and not that fun to walk on though. From the creek at the end of the wall to Alexander Saddle was slower going. Lots of down brush and poison oak. Similar to the upper sections of the trail but more concentrated. One bit of route finding tricky bit on the grassy hillside near Little Pine Spring. From Alexander Saddle down to Upper Oso is in really nice shape except for lots of grass and a couple slides. The slides are fairly easily passed but would not be recommended for those afraid of heights or not confident in their footing.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work

Blue Canyon Trail Survey - 05-26-2024 - by Piper

Link:	Blue Canyon Trail
Date:	05-26-2024
Surveyor Name:	Piper
Trail description:	The hill near the junction with Cold Spring and Forbush was in better condition than I expected after the heavy storms this winter. It had a few sketchy sections but was not too death-defying to walk up hill. Could be a little difficult going down hill. Definitely needs work to be safe. Only hiked between Forbush and Cottam so I can't say how the rest of the trail looks.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	The hill near the junction with Cold Spring and Forbush needs work

Madulce Trail Survey - 05-24-2024 - by Clancy

Link:	Madulce Trail
Date:	05-24-2024
Surveyor Name:	Clancy
Trail description:	Hard to find the trail from Madulce Camp. We found the trail 1/10th of a mile later and from there was generally easy to follow up to Buckhorn Rd. Some pushing through brush was needed. Amazing view from the ridge.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work

Santa Barbara Canyon Trail Survey - 05-24-2024 - by Clancy

Link:	Santa Barbara Canyon Trail
Date:	05-24-2024
Surveyor Name:	Clancy
Trail description:	Generally pretty good by LPF backcountry standards these days. Some downed trees and occasional pushing through brush. Easy to follow for the most part. A little tricky at some of the stream crossings to find the trail again. There is a picnic table on the creek before Chokecherry Canyon and going up Heart Break Hill.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work

Cold Spring Trail - North Survey - 05-24-2024 - by Piper

Link:	Cold Spring Trail - North
Date:	05-24-2024
Surveyor Name:	Piper
Trail description:	Hiked from Cold Spring trail to Little Caliente. The new high trail was in great condition. The whole trail was in good condition. Some poison oak. Little Caliente was a nice temperature and clean. There was a small cold seep with a collectable pool nearby to the hot spring. The dirt road the last mile to the hot spring from Mono was washed out by a creek that was flowing well. I could not tell if you can even get to Mono camp. Looked like a wall of brush in the way. I also continued to Big Caliente. The dirt road, Romero Camuesa, was washed out in numerous places. Some washouts were pretty sketchy for a hiker, probably very difficult for someone with a heavy bicycle.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Blue Canyon Connector Trail Survey - 05-24-2024 - by Piper

Link:	Blue Canyon Connector Trail
Date:	05-24-2024
Surveyor Name:	Piper
Trail description:	I had to climb down a large washout on Romero Camuesa road to get to the connector. In the washout debris was the forest service sign buried in dried mud. The trail was easy to follow once I saw flagging and crossed the river. When I got in view of Cottam the trail appeared to be cliffed out at the creek. I didn't walk close enough to verify but decided to turn back and just walk in the creek to Cottam.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Washed out at Romero Camuesa road. Appeared washed out at Cottam.

Manzana Trail West (Lower) Survey - 05-19-2024 - by Adam Donald

Link:	Manzana Trail West (Lower)
Date:	05-19-2024
Surveyor Name:	Adam Donald
Trail description:	It was a beautiful sunny day to walk across the river a bunch of times.  I hiked from the Schoolhouse out toward Nira, none of the crossings were more than about shin to knee deep.  The trail was in good shape and easy to follow except for a couple sections in the Davis property where I couldn't tell which side to be on so I walked in the water for a few hundred yards.  Still so many wildflowers in bloom.  Unfortunately also poison oak in many sections, but it is avoidable if you're careful.  Lots of people out enjoying their public lands.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Potrero Canyon Trail Survey - 05-18-2024 - by Adam Donald

Link:	Potrero Canyon Trail
Date:	05-18-2024
Surveyor Name:	Adam Donald
Trail description:	The trail has some annoying tall grass but is easy to follow.  The sections LPFA cleared brush out of look great.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow

Hurricane Deck Trail Survey - 05-18-2024 - by Adam Donald

Link:	Hurricane Deck Trail
Date:	05-18-2024
Surveyor Name:	Adam Donald
Trail description:	I hiked along the Deck about a mile to the east from the top of Potrero Trail.  The trail was nonexistent in much of this segment with a fair amount of bushwhacking, but the ridge is only about 30-40ft wide so if you stay high you can't get lost.  I then went back the way I came but continued down the west section of the Deck to Manzana Schoolhouse.  Huge props to the LPFA group that did so much work along this section of the trail.  Other than one last little section of brush remaining in the middle, it is super open and easy to follow.  The final switchbacks above Manzana Schoolhouse are full of poison oak, which made for slow going dodging around the plants.  I hope whoever tied pink flagging tape to poison oak down near the river crossing used gloves...
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Western segment is good, the rest not so much