Visitor Centers

The Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center is located 8 miles north of Ojai on Highway 33 and 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.

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 center has a 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, visit the Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) website.