Los Padres National Forest
 

Recreation

The Los Padres National Forest features mountains, streams, rivers and beaches. Weather can vary from one end of the forest to the other. Altitude reaches almost 9,000 feet.

Accessible Recreation Opportunities

A continuing goal of the Los Padres National Forest is to make the recreational opportunities accessible to persons with disabilities. Although many of these areas already have wheelchair-accessible campsites, restrooms and trails, we are continuing to make more sites accessible.

The Forest Service has adopted the universal design approach to site accessibility which takes into consideration the differing physical capabilities of visitors. Areas by Ranger District that are currently accessible are listed here. (Not all locations/facilities are 100% accessible.) Because we are continually adding new accessible sites, please call ahead to the Ranger District for more information.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

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Recreation Conditions Report

 Area Name Status Area Conditions
15E05- Howards Bypass Trail Open to Visitor
15E07- Powerline Trail Open to Visitor
15E09- Benchmark Open to Visitor
15E10- Quail Open to Visitor
15E11- Garcia Ridge Open to Visitor
16E02- Las Chiches Cut Off Open to Visitor
16E04- Queen Bee Open to Visitor
16E08- Las Chiches Open to Visitor
16E09- Pine Mountain Open to Visitor
16E16- Mare Springs Open to Visitor
16E21- Burnout Open to Visitor
16E22- McGinnis Creek Open to Visitor
16E23- Navajo Bypass Open to Visitor
16E24- Tower Trail Open to Visitor
17E05- Logan Ridge Open to Visitor
17E06- Shaw Ridge Open to Visitor
17E07- Los Machos Open to Visitor
17E08- Paradise Open to Visitor
17E09- Branch Creek Open to Visitor
17E10- Big Rocks Open to Visitor
17E11- Jack Springs Open to Visitor
17E12- Twin Rocks Open to Visitor
18E02- La Canada Trail Open to Visitor
18E05- La Panza-Bypass Open to Visitor
18W01 - Buck Creek Open to Visitor Access Thru Halfmoon/Los Alamos Road
20W35 - Stonehouse Closed to Visitor
22W10 - Cedar Creek / Fishbowl Loop Open to Visitor
30W02- Kerry Canyon Closed to Visitor
Alder Creek Camp Open to Visitor
Aliso Park Campground Open to Visitor
American Canyon Seasonal Campground Closed to Visitor The American Canyon Campground is only open during deer season
Arroyo Seco Campground Open to Visitor
Baja Campground Open to Visitor
Ballinger Campground Open to Visitor
Ballinger Canyon Open to Visitor
Barrel Springs Campground Closed to Visitor
Bates Canyon Campground Open to Visitor
Big Caliente Day Use Open to Visitor
Big Falls Open to Visitor
Bottchers Gap Campround Open to Visitor
Brookshire Campground Open to Visitor
Buck Spring Campground Open to Visitor
Buckhorn Ridge OHV Area Open to Visitor
Buckhorn Road Open to Visitor
Caballo Campground Open to Visitor
Cachuma Campground Closed to Visitor
Campgrounds (Monterey)   
Campgrounds (Mt. Pinos)   
Campgrounds (Ojai)   
Campo Alto Campground Open to Visitor
Camuesa Road Open to Visitor
Catway Day Use Open to Visitor
Cerro Alto Campground Open to Visitor
Cerro Alto Loop Open to Visitor
Cerro Alto Trail Open to Visitor
China Camp Campground Open to Visitor
Chuchupate Campground Open to Visitor
Chula Vista Campground Open to Visitor
Chumash Wilderness Open to Visitor
Colson Canyon Camp Open to Visitor
Cumbre Day Use Open to Visitor
Davy Brown Open to Visitor
Davy Brown Campground Open to Visitor
Davy Brown Creek Open to Visitor Catch and release, artificial lures and barbless hooks only.
Deer Park Open to Visitor Access thru Ballinger Canyon
Divide Peak Road Open to Visitor
Dome Springs Campground Open to Visitor
Dutchman Campground Open to Visitor
Escondido Campground Closed to Visitor Temporarily closed due to wet weather/impending storm
Falls Day Use Open to Visitor
Figueroa Campground Open to Visitor
Figueroa Lookout Day Use Open to Visitor
Fremont Campground Open to Visitor
Friis Campground Open to Visitor
Garcia Wilderness Open to Visitor
Halfmoon Campground Open to Visitor
Hardluck Campground Closed to Visitor CLOSED Indefinitely.
Hi Mountain Campground Open to Visitor 4 Wheel Drive vehicle is recommended.
Holiday Group Campground Open to Visitor
Horseshoe Campground Open to Visitor
Jacinto Reyes National Scenic Byway Open to Visitor
Kings Campground Open to Visitor
La Cumbre Peak Day Use Open to Visitor
La Jolla Open to Visitor
La Panza Campground Open to Visitor
Lazy Campground Closed to Visitor
Little Falls Open to Visitor
Los Prietos Campground Open to Visitor
Lower Oso Day Use Open to Visitor
Machesna Mountain Wilderness Open to Visitor
Marian Campground Open to Visitor
McGill Campground Closed to Visitor McGill Campground is closed for the winter. It will reopen in May/June 2012
McKinley Open to Visitor
Middle Lion Campground Open to Visitor
Middle Santa Ynez Campground Closed to Visitor
Mill Creek Day Use Open to Visitor
Miranda Pine Campground Open to Visitor
Mono Campground Closed to Visitor
Mt. Pinos Campground Closed to Visitor Mt. Pinos Campground is closed for the season. It will reopen in May/June 2012
Munch Canyon Open to Visitor
Nacimiento Camp Campground Open to Visitor
Navajo Campground Open to Visitor Closes during wet Weather. Please contact the Santa Lucia Ranger District for more information (805)925-9538
Nettle Springs Campground Open to Visitor
Nineteen Oaks Open to Visitor
Nira Campground Open to Visitor
Nordhoff Ridge Open to Visitor
Off-Highway Vehicles (Mt. Pinos)    If you are planning a camping trip to include some OHV activities, you will find a variety of camping opportunities, ranging from developed campgrounds to secluded sites with few or no facilities, scattered throughout the Mt. Pinos District. During some seasons certain campgrounds are used heavily because they are located near designated OHV routes. Ballinger and Goldhill campgrounds are the most popular. Facilities at Ballinger Campground include: restrooms; campsites with tables and fire rings, and trails to accommodate all levels of riders. There is no garbage service, so you must pack out what you pack in. Facilities at the Goldhill area include restrooms an garbage service only.
Off-Highway Vehicles (Santa Lucia) Open to Visitor If you are planning a camping trip with your OHV activities, you will find a variety of camping opportunities scattered throughout the Santa Lucia Ranger District. They range from fully developed sites in campgrounds to dispersed sites with few or no facilities. During some seasons, staging areas at Turkey Flat and Navajo Flat are most popular for picnicking and camping because they offer easy access to several trails. They provide restrooms, stoves and tables but no water or garbage service.
Ojai Ranger District   
Ozena Campground Closed to Visitor CLOSED Indefinitely
P-Bar Flat Campground Closed to Visitor
Paradise Campground Open to Visitor
Pfeiffer Beach Day Use Open to Visitor
Pine Mountain Campground Open to Visitor
Pine Springs Campground Open to Visitor
Pino Alto Day Use Open to Visitor
Plaskett Creek Campground Open to Visitor
Plaskett Creek Group Campground Open to Visitor
Ponderosa Campground Open to Visitor
Potrero Seco Closed to Visitor Closed due to winter storm damage.
Pozo - La Panza OHV Area Open to Visitor
Rancho Nuevo Campground Open to Visitor
Red Rock Open to Visitor
Red Rock Day Use Open to Visitor
Reyes Creek Campground Open to Visitor
Reyes Peak Campground Open to Visitor
Rivers and Streams (Santa Lucia)   
Rock Camp Campground Open to Visitor
Rock Front OHV Area Open to Visitor
Rose Valley Campground Open to Visitor
Sage Hill Campground Open to Visitor
Salmon Creek Open to Visitor
San Rafael Wilderness Open to Visitor
Sand Dollar Beach Day Use Open to Visitor
Sandstone Day Use Open to Visitor
Santa Barbara Ranger District   
Santa Lucia Wilderness Open to Visitor
Sulphur Springs Open to Visitor
Sunset Valley Open to Visitor
Thorn Meadows Campground Open to Visitor
Tinta Campground Open to Visitor
Toad Springs Campground Open to Visitor
Trails (Santa Lucia)   
Upper Oso Campground Open to Visitor
Valle Vista Campground Open to Visitor
Wagon Flat Campground Open to Visitor
Wheeler Gorge Campground Open to Visitor
Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail Open to Visitor
Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center Open to Visitor Open weekends, 9am to 3pm.
White Oaks Campground Open to Visitor
White Rock Open to Visitor
White Rock Day Use Open to Visitor
Wilderness Areas (Santa Lucia) Open to Visitor
Willow Creek Beach Day Use Open to Visitor
Willow Springs Open to Visitor
Willow Spur Open to Visitor
Zaca Peak Open to Visitor

Spotlights

Davy Brown Campground

Davy Brown Campground

Cradled in the beautiful Sunset Valley of Los Padres National Forest, along the serene and peaceful Davy Brown Creek, sets Davy Brown Campground.  Davy Brown Campground is the home of 13 scenic and picturesque campsites. The soothing sounds of the running creek can be heard from all campsites, making this campground a favorite for those planning a tranquil and relaxing get-away.  Each campsite is equipped with fire rings, pedestal barbeques and a picnic table along with two sets of vault bathrooms spaced strategically throughout the campground.  Davy Brown Campground can accommodate up to 25 foot trailers and RVs, although hook-ups are not available. While this campground offers limited accessibility for people with disabilities, new accessible restrooms are scheduled to be constructed in late 2011. Three dumpsters are located on Figueroa Mountain Road for convenient trash disposal, although none are available at this site. In the spring, Davy Brown Campground is a popular area for “catch and release”, “barbless hooks” and “artificial lures only” fishing.  On hot summer days, the creek provides relief as visitors bask in the water holes located along the creek.  It is also a birders delight as it houses such birds as king-fishers, juncos, stellar jays, white-breasted nuthatches, warblers and many more. Migrating birds, such as the exquisite western tanager are often seen from spring to August.  Davy Brown Campground is the starting point for several trails, including the spectacular Davy Brown Trail/Fir Canyon Trail. Two miles further are the Lower Manzana and Upper Manzana Trailheads, entry points to the majestic San Rafael Wilderness.  From mid August to late September, this campground is very popular with hunters during the annual deer season. Hot summer months also bring out gnats and deer flies, so don’t forget your insect repellant. Potable water is not available. An Adventure Pass is required.

Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center

The Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center which is located 8 miles north of Ojai on Highway 33, is the first dedicated Visitor Center in the almost 100 year history of the Los Padres National Forest. Since opening in June 2001, the center has served over 15,000 visitors.

The Visitor Center provides public information about Los Padres National Forest and also sells maps, trail guides, forest-related books, Adventure Passes and other items.

Trained staff can help guide you to the many and varied recreational and educational experiences available in the forest and can also help with extended backcountry trip planning for the local wilderness areas.

The Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center also serves as a hub for interpretive and educational activities and programs. These include membership functions and presentations about the resources and issues of Los Padres National Forest. One of the more popular programs is the Introduction to Backpacking course.

The Visitor Center has a kitchen, classroom, library, audiovisual equipment, large parking area, outside picnic areas, and tools/equipment storage and serves as a staging area for forest projects in the southern section of the Los Padres National Forest.

For information about scheduled hours of operation and current programs, call 805-646-4348.