Current Conditions
Forest-Wide Alerts & Closure Orders
The Forest-Wide Alerts page has information on fire restrictions and closures, trail, road and area restrictions and closures, and special closures. Please review these to be well informed and prepared for your next visit to the forest.
For major wildfires, follow for updates on InciWeb.
Recreation Sites & Opportunities
The Recreation page shows the status (open/closed) for each recreation site, such as campgrounds, day use areas, trails, and roads. You can also explore by kinds of Recreation Opportunities offered in the Los Padres National Forest such as hiking, hunting, picnicking, water activities, etc.
Please practice Responsible Recreation & Know Before You Go.
Know Before You Go!
The Forest Offices page shows office hours, phone numbers, and locations.
Identify emergency resources before your trip. In remote and rural locations, emergency response times are longer than in urban settings. There can be little to no cell reception in many parts of the forest.
Campfire Permits are required for the use of campfires, charcoal fires, or portable gas stoves outside of designated recreation sites. These are free and are available online through CAL FIRE and at Forest Service offices. Remember to check for fire restrictions before you go! Campfires must be attended by a responsible person at all times and completely extinguished after use. Explosives, fireworks, including sparklers and so-called safe and sane fireworks, are prohibited in national forests.
Check the weather and road conditions for your area and be prepared for changing conditions: National Weather Service & Caltrans QuickMap
Be aware that there may be day use fees, passes, or permits required at specific sites.
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Contact Information
- Monterey Ranger District Office contact info: 831-385-5434 (Open Mon - Fri from 8:00am to 4:30pm)
- Big Sur Visitor Center: 831-667-2315 (Open daily 9:00am to 4:00pm)
- Contact www.recreation.gov to make or cancel a camping reservation or call 1-877-444-6777
- Parks Management Company: www.campone.com or email: customerservice@pmcparks.com
Know Before You Go!
- Highway 1 is now open from Cambria to Carmel, however motorists are strongly encouraged to check the Caltrans website for the latest conditions before traveling to Big Sur.
- Recreation Sites Page: shows the current status of Campgrounds, Day Use Areas, Trails, and Roads.
- Adventure Passes & America the Beautiful Passes are not required anywhere on the Monterey Ranger District. Passes may be required on other districts within the Los Padres.
- Campgrounds and Day Use Areas: All managed by the Parks Management Company (PMC) for the Forest Service. Please check each site to see the specific fee.
- Trailheads: Parking at all trailheads is free except at Pine Ridge Trail parking at the Big Sur Station: $10/night self-pay at the parking lot or, you can purchase a pass at the Big Sur Station.
- Campfire Permits: Campfire Permits are required for the use of campfires, charcoal fires, or portable gas stoves outside of designated recreation sites. These are free and are available online through CAL FIRE and at Forest Service offices. Remember to check for fire restrictions before you go! Campfires must be attended by a responsible person at all times and completely extinguished after use. Explosives, fireworks, including sparklers and so-called safe and sane fireworks, are prohibited in national forests.
Forest Orders on the Monterey Ranger District
- Storm Damage Closure: Closure of developed recreation sites, roads, and trails in the Monterey Ranger District impacted by storm damage and some roads restricted to non-motorized use.
- Road Camping Prohibited- Nacimiento-Ferguson: For public safety, camping is not allowed within 300 feet of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road (Forest Road No. 22S01), from its intersection with State Highway 1 then east for 12 miles.
- Road Use Restriction - Sycamore Cyn Rd to Pfeiffer Beach: Prohibits being on Sycamore Canyon Road (Forest Road No. 19S05), except within a motor vehicle from its intersection with State Highway 1 then continuing west for approximately two and a half miles to its terminus at Pfeiffer Beach Day Use Area.
- San Carpoforo Beach Prohibition of Overnight Camping and Campfires: Prohibits overnight camping and building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire on San Carpoforo Beach
Ventana Wilderness
- Contact the Monterey Ranger District office or Big Sur Visitor Center for information about open trails. Due to Hwy 1 conditions and other district road closures, there may be limited access to trails in the Ventana Wilderness.
California State Park Information
- For more California State Park information and updates on current conditions, please visit: California State Parks
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Limekiln State Park
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Contact Information
- Santa Lucia Ranger District Office contact info: 805-925-9538 (Open Mon - Fri from 8:00am to 4:30pm)
- Contact www.recreation.gov to make or cancel a camping reservation or call 1-877-444-6777
- Parks Management Company: www.campone.com or email: customerservice@pmcparks.com
Know Before You Go!
- Recreation Sites Page: shows the current status of Campgrounds, Day Use Areas, Trails, and Roads.
- Fees: Some campgrounds, day use areas, and trailheads are managed by the Forest Service, and some are managed by Parks Management Company (PMC) for the Forest Service. Please check each site to see if there is a fee required and/or an Adventure Pass required.
- Campfire Permits: Campfire Permits are required for the use of campfires, charcoal fires, or portable gas stoves outside of designated recreation sites. These are free and are available online through CAL FIRE and at Forest Service offices. Remember to check for fire restrictions before you go! Campfires must be attended by a responsible person at all times and completely extinguished after use. Explosives, fireworks, including sparklers and so-called safe and sane fireworks, are prohibited in national forests.
Forest Orders on the Santa Lucia Ranger District
- Special Closure - Lake Fire Post-Burn Public Safety: Closure of developed recreation sites, roads, and trails in the Santa Lucia Ranger District impacted by the Lake Fire in 2024.
- Gifford Fire Closure: Closure of developed recreation sites, roads, and trails in the Santa Lucia Ranger District impacted by the Gifford Fire in 2025.
- West Cuesta Fire Use Restrictions: Prohibits building, maintaining, attending, or using a wood or charcoal campfire, or cooking fire, on National Forest System lands within the West Cuesta Fire Use Restriction Area.
Adventure Pass & America the Beautiful Pass Information
- Some fee sites not managed by Parks Management Company (PMC) require an “Adventure Pass” or “America the Beautiful Interagency Visitor Pass”
- Adventure passes (Day Passes for $5 or Annual Passes for $30) are available at:
- Santa Lucia Ranger District Office
- Any Southern California Big 5 Sporting Goods Store
- America the Beautiful passes are available:
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Contact Information
- Santa Barbara Ranger District Office contact info: 805-967-3481 (Open Mon - Fri from 8:00am to 4:30pm)
- Contact www.recreation.gov to make or cancel a camping reservation or call 1-877-444-6777
- Parks Management Company: www.campone.com or email: customerservice@pmcparks.com
Know Before You Go!
- Hwy 154 is open! Check the Caltrans website for Hwy 154 updates.
- Recreation Sites Page: shows the current status of Campgrounds, Day Use Areas, Trails, and Roads.
- Day Use Fees: The parking fee at day use areas and trailheads in the Lower Santa Ynez Recreation area is $10 a day. This recreation area includes sites on Paradise Road and River Road and is managed by the Parks Management Company (PMC) for the Forest Service.
- Campfire Permits: Campfire Permits are required for the use of campfires, charcoal fires, or portable gas stoves outside of designated recreation sites. These are free and are available online through CAL FIRE and at Forest Service offices. Remember to check for fire restrictions before you go! Campfires must be attended by a responsible person at all times and completely extinguished after use. Explosives, fireworks, including sparklers and so-called safe and sane fireworks, are prohibited in national forests.
Forest Orders on the Santa Barbara Ranger District
- Special Closure - Storm Damage Recovery: Closure of developed recreation sites, roads, and trails in the Santa Barbara Ranger District impacted by storm damage and some roads restricted to non-motorized use
- Santa Barbara Front Country Fire Use Restrictions: Campfires are prohibited on National Forest System lands in the Santa Barbara Front Country due to increasing fire danger and extreme fire weather events occurring year-round.
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Contact Information
- Ojai Ranger District Office contact info: 805-646-4348 (Open Mon - Fri from 8:00 am to 4:30pm)
- Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center contact info: 805-640-9060 (Open Sat & Sun from 9:00am to 3:00pm) (Operated by the Los Padres Forest Association)
- Contact www.recreation.gov to make or cancel a camping reservation or call 1-877-444-6777
- Parks Management Company: www.campone.com or email: customerservice@pmcparks.com
Know Before You Go!
- Check the Caltrans website for Hwy 150 / Hwy 33 / Hwy 126 updates.
- Recreation Sites Page: shows the current status of Campgrounds, Day Use Areas, Trails, and Roads.
- Campgrounds are managed by the Parks Management Company (PMC) for the Forest Service.
- The only Day Use Fee site is the Piedra Blanca Trailhead which requires an “Adventure Pass” or “America the Beautiful Interagency Visitor Pass”.
- Campfire Permits: Campfire Permits are required for the use of campfires, charcoal fires, or portable gas stoves outside of designated recreation sites. These are free and are available online through CAL FIRE and at Forest Service offices. Remember to check for fire restrictions before you go! Campfires must be attended by a responsible person at all times and completely extinguished after use. Explosives, fireworks, including sparklers and so-called safe and sane fireworks, are prohibited in national forests.
Forest Orders on the Ojai Ranger District
- Sespe Condor Sanctuary Closure: Prohibits entry by the public to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary to support ongoing Condor recovery efforts. This special closure order supports the overall survivorship and sustained population increase of the California Condor species.
- Occupancy and Use: Camping stay limits on Los Padres National Forest.
Adventure Pass & America the Beautiful Pass Information
- Fee sites (the Piedra Blanca Trailhead) require an “Adventure Pass” or “America the Beautiful Interagency Visitor Pass” (aka National Parks Pass because it is also valid at National Parks).
- Adventure passes (Day Passes for $5 or Annual Passes for $30) are available at:
- Ojai Ranger District Office
- Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center through Los Padres Forest Association (Open Sat & Sun from 9:00am to 3:00pm)
- Any Southern California Big 5 Sporting Goods Store
- America the Beautiful passes
Other Nearby Recreation Opportunities
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Above the clouds on Mt. Pinos
Contact Information
- Mt. Pinos Ranger District Office contact info: 661-245-3731
- Contact www.recreation.gov to make or cancel a camping reservation or call 1-877-444-6777
- Parks Management Company: www.campone.com or email: customerservice@pmcparks.com
Know Before You Go!
- Check the Caltrans website for Hwy 33 and I-5 updates.
- Check the Kern County Roads website for Cuddy Valley Road / Mt. Pinos Road updates.
- Recreation Sites Page: shows the current status of Campgrounds, Day Use Areas, Trails, and Roads.
- Campgrounds run by Parks Management Company (PMC) for the Forest Service:
- Pay per night and make reservations at www.recreation.gov: Ballinger Campground, Reyes Creek Campground, Mt. Pinos Campground, McGill Campground, and Chuchupate Campground
- Campgrounds run by the Forest Service:
- Campgrounds that require an Adventure Pass or America the Beautiful Pass and do not need reservations: Pine Springs Campground, Half Moon Campground, Kings Campground, Gold Hill Camping Area, Dutchman Campground, Valle Vista Campground, Aliso Campground
- Campgrounds that are free and do not need reservations: Toad Springs Campground, Marian Campground, Caballo Campground, Chula Vista Campground
- Trailheads: There are no day use fees at trailheads.
- Snow play: During winter months, when snow and amenities are present, additional areas may require the Adventure Pass or America the Beautiful Pass. Please check requirements for specific sites.
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Mt. Pinos Snowplay Area Map
- Campfire Permits: Campfire Permits are required for the use of campfires, charcoal fires, or portable gas stoves outside of designated recreation sites. These are free and are available online through CAL FIRE and at Forest Service offices. Remember to check for fire restrictions before you go! Campfires must be attended by a responsible person at all times and completely extinguished after use. Explosives, fireworks, including sparklers and so-called safe and sane fireworks, are prohibited in national forests.
Forest Orders on the Mt. Pinos Ranger District
- Dry Canyon Area, Roads and Trails, And Wilderness Closure: Closure of developed recreation sites, roads, and trails in the Mt. Pinos Ranger District.
Adventure Pass & America the Beautiful Pass Information
- An Adventure Pass (Day Passes for $5 or Annual Passes for $30) is needed for parking at snow play areas during winter months, approximately December 1 through April 30.
- Adventure passes are available for purchase at any Southern California Big 5 Sporting Goods Store.
- Adventure Passes and for purchase at the Mt. Pinos Ranger District Office or online through USGS.gov.
- America the Beautiful Passes are available online through USGS.gov, rec.gov, or at National Park Entrance Stations or Visitor Centers.