Recreation
Forest Order - Special Closure - Public Health and Safety
Forest order 05-07-00-24-01 is in effect January 27, 2024 through August 31, 2024
Forest Closure Order 05-07-00-24-01
Open and closed areas, roads, trails, campgrounds, day use areas, and OHV riding areas by ranger district
- Monterey Ranger District
- Santa Lucia Ranger District
- Santa Barbara Ranger District
- Mt. Pinos Ranger District
- Ojai Ranger District
Fire restrictions are in effect in the Santa Barbara front country
This prohibition will remain in effect through Feb 26, 2026.
Fire Restrictions lifted forest-wide except for the Santa Barbara front country (Forest Order 5-07-54-22-04)
December 20, 2023
The recent rainfall across Los Padres National Forest has provided sufficient moisture to reduce fire restrictions on the forest effective immediately.
Under the reduced fire restrictions, campfires and charcoal barbeques will be allowed in all areas of the Forest. A California Campfire Permit is required to build a campfire outside of a designated Campfire Use Site. California Campfire Permits are available for free download from Readyforwildfire.org. A list of Campfire Use Sites is available at all Forest offices and on the Los Padres website.
Visitors who construct wood or charcoal fires outside of designated Campfire Use Sites also must clear all flammable material for a minimum of five feet in all directions; have a shovel available for preparing and extinguishing the fire; have a responsible person in attendance at all times; and extinguish the fire with water, using the “drown, stir and feel” method.
The following restrictions will remain in effect:
- Spark arresters are required on all off-highway vehicles, chainsaws, and other internal combustion engines and equipment.
- A permit is required for all welding, grinding, cutting, or use of explosives.
- Tracer ammunition is prohibited at all times.
- Fireworks are always prohibited in Los Padres National Forest.
- Recreational target shooting is prohibited in all areas of Los Padres National Forest except for the Winchester Canyon Gun Club and the Ojai Valley Gun Club that operate under special use permits.
- Campfires are always prohibited on National Forest System lands in the Santa Barbara Front Country from Gaviota to the Santa Barbara/Ventura County line.
Visitors are encouraged to call the Forest Supervisor’s Office or the local Ranger Station for more information on conditions and restrictions.
Target Shooting
Target shooting is currently prohibited in Los Padres National Forest.
Firearms Prohibition Forest Order: Effective February 15, 2023 through December 31, 2024
Current Recreation Conditions
Area Name | Status | Area Conditions |
---|---|---|
Alder Creek Trail - 20W11 | Open | Dough Flat Rd is open to a locked gate three miles from the trailhead. Park near the locked gate |
Aliso Canyon Trail | Unreachable | The Sagehill gate is locked for the winter season, so there is currently no access to the Aliso Trail. Check with the SB Ranger District for updates (805) 724-0079 |
Aliso Park Campground | Open | |
Arroyo Seco Campground | Closed | |
Arroyo Seco Trailhead | Closed | |
Ballinger Campground | Open | |
Ballinger Canyon OHV Day Use Riding Area | Open | |
Buckhorn Road | Closed | |
Catway Day Use | Closed | Closed due to wet weather |
Cerro Alto Campground | Open | |
China Camp Campground | Closed | At mile post 10.6 at the Forest Service boundary, Tassajara Rd to the end of the road (Zen Center) is closed by Monterey County due to hazardous conditions and storm damage. No access to China Camp. Campground is closed |
Chorro Grande - 23W05 | Open | |
Cold Springs Trails - West Fork | Open | |
Cold Springs Trial - East Fork | Open | |
Davy Brown Campground | Open | |
Divide Peak OHV Trailhead | Open | |
Dough Flat Trailhead - Alder Creek Trail | Open | Dough Flat Rd is open to a locked gate three miles down from the trailhead. Park near the gate |
Figueroa Campground | Open | |
First Crossing Day Use Picnic Area | Open | |
Frazier Mountain Trailhead - 20W03 | Closed | Closed for the winter season |
Fremont Campground | Closed | Closed for the winter season. Will reopen in March or April 2024 |
Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca (Reyes Creek TH) | Open | Open. Park at the trailhead located in the back of the Reyes Creek Campground |
Hi Mountain Campground | Closed | Hi Mtn Road is temporarily closed by SLO County and the FS - no access to Hi Mtn CG at this time |
Holiday Group Campground | Open | |
Jesusita Trail | Open | |
Kirk Creek Campground | Closed | Feb 6, 2024 - Closed due to storm damage |
Los Prietos Campground | Closed | |
Manzana Creek to Manzana Schoolhouse WEST (Lower) | Open | |
Manzana Trailhead EAST (Upper) Nira | Open | |
Memorial Park Campground | Open | |
Middle Lion Campground | Closed | |
Miranda Pine Campground | Open | |
Monterey Ranger District Office (Ranger Station) | Open | |
Mt. Pinos Ranger District Office | Open | |
Nacimiento Campground | Closed | |
Navajo Flat OHV Staging Area and campsites | Open | |
Nineteen Oaks Camp on the Santa Cruz Trail | Closed | Currently no access to trailhead due to the closusre of the First Crossing gate |
Nira Campground | Open | |
Nordhoff Ridge Road | Closed | |
North Fork Matilija - 23W07 | Closed | |
Paradise Campground | Open | |
Pfeiffer Beach Day Use | Closed | As of March 1, 2024, Pfeiffer Beach Day Use Area is temporarily closed due to high water levels on Sycamore Cyn Rd from recent storms |
Piedra Blanca Trailhead (Rose Valley Area) Ojai | Open | |
Pine Mountain Campground | Closed | Closed 12/15/23 for the winter season. Will re-opoen in early in May 2024 |
Pine Ridge Trail from China Camp | Closed | The Pine Ridge trail is inaccessible from China Camp TH due to the Tassajara Rd Closure by Monterey County from mile post 10.6 (FS boundary) to the end of the road at the Zen Center |
Pine Ridge Trailhead from Big Sur | Open | Due to a significant landslide, the Pine Ridge Trail is impassable between Barlow Flat and Sykes Camp. The trail is only open to Ventana, Terrace Creek and Barlow Flat camps. Stock bypass is closed in the winter and may be impassable during high waters |
Plaskett Creek Campground | Open | |
Ponderosa Campground | Closed | |
Potrero John - 23W06 | Open | |
Pozo - La Panza OHV Area | Open | Re-opened March 8, 2024 |
Red Rock | Closed | River Rd is closed due to wet weather and high water crossings - no access to Red Rock |
Red Rock Trailhead | Closed | River Rd is closed due to wet weather and high water crossings - no access to Red Rock |
Reyes Creek Campground | Open | |
Rockfront OHV Area | Open | Rockfront OHV Area re-opened March 15, 2024. Paradise, Twin Rocks and the Big Rocks Trail are still closed. Repairs to these trails are still ongoing. Paradise CG is inaccessible due to the closure of Paradise Trail |
Romero Canyon trail | Open | Frontside of Romero Canyon Trail is closed. Backside portion of trail is open |
Rose Valley Campground | Open | Open |
Rose Valley Falls Trail | Open | Trail is open. Park outside of the Rose Valley Campground |
Sage Hill Group Campground | Closed | Closed for the winter season. Will re-open in March or April 2024 |
Salmon Creek Trail | Open | |
San Ysidro Trail | Open | San Ysidro Trail is open to where the single track trail begins. The single track trail is closed |
Sand Dollar Beach Day Use | Open | Trail to the beach is closed due to storm damage |
Santa Barbara Ranger District | Open | |
Santa Barbara Ranger District Office (Los Prietos) | Open | |
Santa Cruz Trail - Upper Oso Trailhead | Closed | No access due to the closure of the First Crossing gate |
Santa Lucia Ranger District Office(Ranger Station) | Open | |
Santa Paula Canyon (Last Chance) - 21W11 / 21W09 | Open | |
Supervisor's Office in Solvang (Headquarters) | Open | |
Tunnel Trail | Open | The frontside of Tunnel Trail is open. The backside is closed |
Turkey Flat OHV Campground/Staging Area/Trailhead | Open | |
Upper Oso Campground | Closed | |
Upper OsoTrailhead | Closed | |
Vicente Flat Trail | Open | |
West Camino Cielo Rd - Santa Barbara RD | Closed | Closed for the winter season. Will re-open in April 2024 |
Wheeler Gorge Campground | Open | |
Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center | Open | Open Saturday and Sunday 9:00am - 3:00pm |
White Oaks Campground | Closed | Tassajara Rd is closed by Monterey County at mile post 10.6 (FS boundary) to the end of the road at the Zen Center. No access to the While Oaks. The campground is closed |
Zaca Ridge Rd/Catway Rd - 8N02 | Closed |