You can catch the Sespe River Trail from Ojai and the other two trails from Maricopa. directions Driving Directions file_download GPX/KML 2.8 mi Distance 1 hrs 17 min Time terrain 1,060 ft Elev Gain Overview This is a easy one way trail in Sespe Condor Sanctuary. I visited Fishbowls, Cedar Creek, Stonehouse, Piru Creek, Alamo Mountain, Snowy Creek Trail, and Buck Creek Trail. Free-flowing values and impacts Sespe Creek is free-flowing without past or present diversions. Willett Hot Springs are also located in the Sespe Wilderness . A faint, unmaintained trail climbs past an old miners' cabin at McDonald Camp, then over a saddle at nearly 6,000 feet, to reach the Little Mutau campsite. Alder Creek Trail #2 4/20 943. CHAPTER 1 Introduction to the Southern Los Padres CHAPTER 2 About This Guide PART I SANTA BARBARA AND WESTERN MT. . Dough Flat: 34.480807, -118.916874. There are three main trails you can take to get to Sespe Hot Springs. It is 16.8 miles one way to the hot springs. The creek remains free from major habitat modifications and is noteworty for its lack of dams. 366: Route 90 Dough Flat to Shady Camp via Alder Creek 20W11. My plan was a giant 7-day loop starting and ending at Piedras Blancas but I ended up bailing out on day 5. The system of thermal spring seeps can be accessed only on foot or horseback through three routes. The vehicle for that trip was a Honda Civic. Decade First decade authorized. It looks like Dough Flat to Sespe is 11 miles. Little Caliente Hot Springs; Lizard's Mouth; The Playgrounds; Alder Creek Trail; Aliso Canyon Trail; Devil's Canyon Trail; Gibraltar Dam and the Mercury Mine; Indian Creek Trail; Little Pine Mountain and 19 Oaks; Red Rock; . Upper Sespe River Trail. Moderately difficult hike. The most accessible hike to Willett Hot Springs is the Sespe River Trail, which begins at the Piedra Blanca trailhead. The hot springs are accessible on foot or by horseback only. was planning on going from johnson ridge trail to sespe hot springs to piedra blancas and up the gene marshall peidra blanca trail, but only if it rains becuase its dry up the gmpb trail. At the end of this long hike is a 100-degree hot spring- great for soaking in after the trek. Worked with FS trail crew, then YACC (youth conservation corp crew), and last with Volunteers. Upper Sespe River Trail. Each hot spring requires either a short walk or . Since this trail is in the wilderness, only hikers and equestrians are permitted. 5. About 20 minutes later you reach another parking lot, the Dough Flat trailhead and also the Alder Creek trailhead. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 16 min to complete. Although this hike is long, it is a scenic journey following the Sespe Creek all the way to the springs. Near-by Alder Creek has an adventurous descent, but its been a long while and 2 biblical floods since I went through there. It brings back many fond memories of 5 day hitche s at Cow Springs ,Alder Creek camp, and Shady to Cottrell Flats. The Sespe River Trail follows its namesake, Sespe Creek, for approximately 20 miles round trip to the hot springs. Once we got home from that trip, we started to learn more about this route and I managed to . It is 7.5 miles one way to the hot springs. . This is a hot spring hiker's dream. It is primarily within the southern Los Padres National Forest . 378: Route 92 Agua Blanca 19W10. It was an incredible 30-something mile hike and one of my earliest backpacking trips. was planning on going from johnson ridge trail to sespe hot springs to piedra blancas and up the gene marshall peidra blanca trail, but only if it rains becuase its dry up the gmpb trail. we spend two nights at the Alder Creek Camp and day hike to the Sespe Hotsprings. Bushwack a short distance down the path on the left (north) that leads to the head of a gorge. The Alder Creek trail takes you down to the Sespe Creek. Native: Rose Snapdragon . The trail will take about 5-7 hours of hiking round trip, as the elevation gain is moderate. The Alder Creek trail takes you down to the Sespe Creek. There are 6 private trips. It is one of the last wild rivers in Southern California. Or you can take the trail to Alder Creek and Shady Camp. The entire length of the trail has ten crossings of the Sespe River. If . Rate this Hike Public Tracks There are no published trips for this hike. Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventura. We've covered hot springs as far north as Mammoth Lakes and as far south as the border with Mexico. Willet Hot Spring and camp: 34.575822, -119.050937. The trail will take about 5-7 hours of hiking round trip, as the elevation gain is moderate. Wednesday, May . Some of the volunteers on Alder Creek were Mike Rose, Roger Berry with his lama, Carol Day, Boy Scouts, Tony Alvus. Take the left trail (northeast), which leaves Sespe Creek and ascends a steep hill, before an even steeper drop down to Alder Creek Camp at 5 miles. 2nd day trip to sespe hot springs 8 miles round trip. Santa Cruz Trail, Gridley Trail, Camuesa Connector Trail, Cold Spring Trail, Hot Springs Trail, Romero Trail, San Ysidro Trail, Baron Trail . PINOS RANGER DISTRICTS CHAPTER 3 Western Santa Ynez Mountains Gaviota Peak via Gaviota Hot Springs Broadcast Peak via Tequepis Trail Lizard''s Mouth The Playground CHAPTER 4 Santa Ynez Recreation Area Snyder Trail and Knapp''s Castle Aliso Nature Trail Upper Oso Canyon to Nineteen . Pine Mt Trail 6/20 942. Sespe Hot Springs is located on the Trail #21 and 2 miles north of Coltrell. The second way to Sespe Hot Springs is Alder Creek Trail. . At the end of this hot springs hiking adventure hot springs hike is a 100-degree geothermal hot spring reward. Use caution when travelling during the wet season due to the potential of flash flooding. Take the Sespe River, Johnson Ridge, or Alder Creek Trail. You can also go down Alder Creek and take the Sespe back to Tar Creek or Devil's Gate. The first trail called Sespe River Trail is the longest at 16.8 miles and winds it's way through Los Padres Forest and is considered a moderately difficult hike. The tar Creek trail head is on a rough road, so we will need a Truck . Location: From Ojai, California it is about 30 miles to the traillhead. This day we say goodbye to established trails and start finding our own route down through the boulders of Sespe Gorge. Monday, May 22: Hike to the Sespe Hot Springs; Tuesday, May 23: Start down into the Sespe Gorge. You take the left fork and travel downstream for about a mile. The 11-mile Alder Creek Trail from Dough Flat to Sespe Hot Springs is exceptionally mouthwatering. Alder Creek Indian Cave and Sespe Hot springs Hike from Dough Flat To ALder Creek cave and camp 8 miles first day. Activities Near Ecotopia Ojai Hot Springs Just a little reminder of how things can get during a flood year, if this El Nino happens. The trail follows an old roadbed and for the first 1.1 miles it is broad, firm and relatively smooth. The last way to the hot spring is Johnson Ridge Trail It is 9.5 miles one way. These are all completely undeveloped and free to visit, which makes it especially important to leave no trace and do your part to keep them clean. In 2011, Anna, Kevin and I spent three days exploring Sespe Gorge in the Los Padres' Sespe Wilderness. (20) Trails are currently available in the Sespe Wilderness Agua Blanca Trail - 12.44 Miles 19W10 Sespe Ojai Ranger District Ventura County Alder Creek Trail - 5.95 Miles 20W11 Sespe Ojai Ranger District Ventura County Buck Creek Trail - 11.10 Miles 18W01 Sespe Mt. Some of the volunteers on Alder Creek were Mike Rose, Roger Berry with his lama, Carol Day, Boy Scouts, Tony Alvus. Descend five miles along Little Mutau Creek to finish the loop. About a quarter mile past the spring, the trail arrives at a signed intersection. Choose between the moderate, 16.8-mile Sespe River Trail; the 7.5-mile Alder Creek Trail; and the difficult, 9.5-mile Johnson Ridge Trail. The Hot Springs can only be accessed from the Sespe Hot Springs Campground where multiple Trailheads are located. There are 3 ways to access the hot springs: 1. Alder Creek trail to Sespe Hot Springs. Three Hiking Trails are Sespe Hot Springs which is 16.8 miles long, Sespe River Trail that is 7.5 miles long, the Alder Creek trail that is 9.5 miles long. At the trailhead you enter the Sespe Wilderness. Continue northward here until a Montecito Trails Foundation sign (0.45 mile, 850', 257415E 3815691N) directs you to the right (east) off the road to follow a small stretch of trail that then curves right to rejoin the road rather quickly and then cross Hot Springs Creek (0.5 mile, 860', 257448E 3815684N). At a Glance General Information It can be seen on the USGS 1:24K topographic map Devils Heart Peak, CA . Samon Peak Trail 9/15 661. Welcome to our round-up of the 12 publicly accessible natural hot springs in Southern California! The story goes that the bear was captured at Mount Pinos in an expedition financed by William Randolph Hearst, In 1889 the expedition left Santa Paula to cheering crowds. There are numerous campsites near Willett Hot Springs. Alder Creek Trail 12/15 659. 45. . Description The Tar Creek Trail runs from Dough Flat Rd (6N16) north-west to Tar Creek, which flows year-round. It is rated moderately difficult to hike. Alder Creek Trail 4/20 940. Sawyer Hollow Camp - Lake Georgetown . A large colony of these can be found near the Gaviota Hot Springs. The Alder Creek Trail (20W11) starts from the Dough Flat trailhead, 2.5 miles north is the first trail junction. Sespe River Trail - Length 16.8 miles one way. Madulce Trail 6/20 945. The bill would also protect important and threatened wilderness characteristics around popular rock climbing areas in the Sespe Gorge along Highway 33. Piedra Blanca to Sespe Hot Springs. I've forgotten where they made camp, but it was somewhere in the Mutah Meadows or Lockwood Valley. These are some of the most spectacular trails across the Los Padres but they are in such bad shape at the moment. Go left toward Alder Creek. Sycamore Canyon 180701020705 Alder Creek Sycamore Creek 180701020703 Sespe Creek . . Basics: This scenic 20+ mile (roundtrip) hike follows Sespe Creek through one of Southern California's most interesting and rugged wilderness areas. There's very little legacy with regard to this trail designation, but it was for a time, anyway the label given that small bit of trail east of the Devils Gate (20W14) drop-in near Hot Springs/Sespe confluence that heads over the hump and down to Alder Creek (between Alder Creek and Shady camps). Deep Creek Hot Springs . . The trail is moderately difficult hike. Sespe River Trail to Willett Hot Springs. Anyway, Willet has, or had, a piped spring for water, just a little uphill from the cabins. About 20 minutes later you reach another parking lot, the Dough Flat trailhead and also the Alder Creek trailhead. There you will find Alder Creek Camp (at 34 o 34.61'N 118 o 56.39'W , elevation 2530ft and 6.4mi from the trailhead), a nice, big shady camp on a bench on the right bank of . It brings back many fond memories of 5 day hitche s at Cow Springs ,Alder Creek camp, and Shady to Cottrell Flats. The shortest of the three is via Alder Creek Trail, a 7.5-mile trek through the wilderness that heads at Dough Flat in the Sespe Oil Fields. Length 37.3 kmElevation gain 1,347 mRoute type Out & back Matt Kettmann. Such knowledge is key when exploring the remote and unforgiving Sespe Wilderness, where ancient Chumash spirits flow . Deep Creek from 0.125 miles downstream of the Rainbow Dam site in Section 33, T 2 N, R 2 W, San Bernardino Meridian, to the upper limit of the Mojave Dam flood zone in Section 17, T 3 N, R 3 W, San Bernardino Meridian. Plus, at 250 pounds the guy wasn't exactly the model of fitness. -Stillman. The next trail junction is 2.7 miles. The next mile down to the stream is much narrower and in some places is very rocky or partially washed out. There are no planned Sespe Coltrell Flat 6/20 . Wesweswes and I chatted about it, and se Cross the riverbed and head down-stream (east) on the old road. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Piedra Blanca to Sespe Hot Springs. DIFFICULTY RATING: Moderate; elevation, 2,225 to 3,700 feet. Hughes' body was found near Sespe Hot Springs in the Los Padres National Forest, and Rudd said there . Set up camp. The metal sign, like a number of Forest Service signs, was burned in the 2006 Day Fire. The trail to the right is the Bucksnort Trail (19W18), which ends at Ant Camp at the junction with the Agua Blanca Trail (19W10). Or you can make your way over to the Sespe Hot Springs from Shady Camp. Long trips through the San Rafael wilderness to Mission Pine Basin or over Hurricane Deck; sprints up Alder Creek to McDonald Cabin; one day death marches up Santa Paula Canyon to Bluff camp and back; shake down cruises out of Dough Flat to Sespe Hot Springs and Alder Sespe; snow shoe trips in the Sierra Nevada; dashes through the Grand Canyon . . At about 10.5 miles from Dough Flat, Sespe River Trail arrives at Johnson Ridge Trail and the turn off for Sespe Hot Springs. East Trail and West Trail Loop - Lost Maples State Natural Area; 2008. Days 4 Sespe Trail Middle Narrows 11/15 . The springs can be reached via the Sespe River Trail (16.8 miles each way); the Johnson Ridge Trail (9.5 miles each way); and the Alder Creek Trail (7.5 miles each way). From Highway 33 take Rose Valley Road to the Piedra Blanca Trailhead. At about the 6-mile mark from Dough Flat, Alder Creek Trail passes Dripping Springs, a fairly reliable spring that feeds a small side creek and offers some relief to hikers. Upper Sespe 5/20 941. A short bushwhack away from the lazy-flowing Sespe leads into Hot Springs Canyon and a sulfur-scented nirvana. Numerous trails access the WSR corridor from the north, south, east, and west. March 26 - April 3: Alder Creek Working Vacation - Sespe, LPFA April 22 - May 2: Red Reef Working Vacation - Ladybug Camp, LPFA May 14-23: Indian Creek Working Vacation - Meadow Camp, LPFA . Cow Springs Campground, California Cow Springs Campground is a locale located in Ventura County, CA at N34.55805 W118.90899 (NAD83) and at an elevation of 3579 ft MSL. Cow Springs is the first camp along the way. . About mile past this camp, there is a signed trail junction. Route 89 Johnston Ridge 20W12 and Sespe Hot Springs. The state flag with the grizzly bear named Monarch is shown against a backdrop of trees and the mountains of Los Padres National Forest by Wheeler Gorge Campground in Ojai. 45. . The body, found Saturday by two fishermen, lay in ice cold water about 7 miles south-east of the hot springs, the Sheriff's Department said. After originating above 5,000 feet in the Sierra Madre Mountains in the northwest corner of the Ojai Ranger District, about 75 percent of the Sespe Creek watershed is characterized by numerous rugged slopes and canyon walls of the southern Pine Mountains. But struggle ensued on the last few miles, when we ventured off-trail toward a hidden meadow shaded by black oaks known only to lifelong backcountry wizards like Coyote Dave, who grew up in nearby Fillmore. Camp 2nd night at alder creek and hike out the 3rd day 8 miles back to Dough Flat trailhead . 1969 Sespe River Flood pictures. Beantown. One day Janet and I were bikepacking some remote trails in the Los Padres National Forest and we met a couple who told us they were hiking the Condor Trail. The plan we came up with was to hike to Cow Spring Camp, about 3 miles from the trailhead . So I finally got some free time to do a bigger trip. Given the circumstances, somewhere remote would be good. Updated March 19, 2021. Elevation of the Sespe Hot Springs is 2,600 feet. Sespe Hot Springs - Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest; Sykes Hot Springs - Ventana Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest . I want to do 2 nights out for my first backpacking trip, but I'm not sure what a reasonable distance for this is. Two hiking and equestrian trails (Forest Trails 22W04 and 20W30) parallel Sespe Creek for part of the length of the WSR corridor. Ortega Trail 12/15 682. The Sespe River Trail follows its namesake, Sespe Creek, for approximately 20 miles round trip to the hot springs. Beantown. The main trail turns left up Alder Creek, but we will stay with the Sespe River. Sespe Wilderness Trip; Sisquoc Loop with Hurricane Deck on the last day; If you were in a really bad way during this section, you can follow an unnamed tributary back down to the Sespe approximately at the confluence with Timber Creek or use the Red Reef trail to scoot over the Sespe for some water. Near-by Alder Creek has an adventurous descent, but its been a long while and 2 biblical floods since I went through there. Enjoy this trail following Sespe Creek through a Southern California scenic wilderness. 2015-10-17. We decided that these were not for us. The drive to Dough Flat is possible only in the driest weather and the hike down the gorge to Tar Creek Camp requires swimming skills. "The boys took the Mutah trail into the back country: up the Little Sespe oil field road to Tar Creek, and then by way of Squat Flat and Bucksnort to Alder Creek and the Sespe Hot Springs. From here, you enter the Sespe Wilderness and the Sespe Condor Sanctuary. . 379: Route 93 Buck Creek 20W01 18W01 and 19W05. There are three rugged trails leading to the springs. The most accessible hike to Willett Hot Springs is the Sespe River Trail, which begins at the Piedra Blanca trailhead. March 12, 2019. I don't care what kind of shape someone is in, that's a long hike. 182: . I could split this halfway at Alder Creek but that makes it a 3 night trip and I don't want to be too far out of range if I need to get back quick. We'd love to schedule one more week-long project working the GMPB in spring 2020 and host a 10-day Working Vacation in fall 2020 working the Alder Creek Trail from Cow Springs to the Sespe Creek. There is along the Sespe River Trail. The last time I was on this idiosyncratic road, in December, 1986, Jon B. and I backpacked a loop to Sespe Hot Springs, Alder-Sespe confluence, up the Alder Creek narrows to Shady Camp and out. Pinos Ranger District Ventura County Hike north 2.5 miles to the first trail junction, and then turn left toward Alder Creek. After arriving at the Piedra Blanca Trailhead, which is approximately thirty miles outside of Ojai, California, hikers hoping to soak in the Willett Hot Springs must hike 9.5 miles along the Sespe River Trail. They grow in marshes and around hot springs in other parts of the county as well. It is a 20 mile hike to the hot springs . The second trail called Johnson Ridge Trail is the second option at 9.5 miles one way. 382: Continue to Sespe Creek, the last undammed river in SoCal, and follow it downstream to Alder Creek. Route 40 Indian Creek Trail Lower 27W12 and Lower 26W08. 2018 hiking trail guidelines show the shortest trail to be the Alder Creek Trail - length 7.5 miles one way. Located northeast of Los Angeles, due north from the eastern edge of Lake Arrowhead, . Sespe Hot Spring: 34.594545, -118.998812. Getting to Sespe Hot Springs isn't an easy task, but it's definitely worth your time and energy. Poplar Creek 180701020705 Hot Springs Canyon . The 17-mile trail to Sespe Hot Springs starts at Lion Camp at 3,000 feet, 20 miles northeast of Ojai on Rose Valley Road, and meanders down through a broad canyon. The right fork is a trail that drops down along Alder Creek from Mutau Flat and a trail system to the north. In the summer months, water is normally very low and there is not much shade so it can be very hot. Little Caliente Hot Springs; Lizard's Mouth; The Playgrounds; Alder Creek Trail; Aliso Canyon Trail; Devil's Canyon Trail; Gibraltar Dam and the Mercury Mine; Indian Creek Trail; . Holcomb Creek from 100 yards downstream of the Road 3N12 crossing to the confluence with Deep Creek. Alder Creek; Alder Creek Camp[site] Big Spring; Black Mountain; Buck Creek; Cobblestone Mountain; Dome Mountain; Dutchman Camp[ground] Little Mutau Camp[ground] McDonald Peak; Sespe Hot Springs; Sewart Peak; Snow Creek; Snowy Peak; Twin Pine Camp[ground] White Mountain; Anacapa Islands (West, Middle, and East) . Devils Gate 6/20 944. . Worked with FS trail crew, then YACC (youth conservation corp crew), and last with Volunteers. Trail Canyon 180701020505 Piru Creek Trough Canyon 180701020303 Salt Creek Trust Me Canyon 180701020507 Fish Creek Tule Canyon 180701020304 Ruby Canyon Hot Springs Canyon Trail 12/15 681. Enjoy this 37.3-km out-and-back trail near Fillmore, California. Chorro Springs; Deal Trail . This trip was in the Sespe Wilderness. I just returned from a 5-day trip with 2 of those days a whole lotta type 2 fun. Routes 26 and 27 Overall . There's very little legacy with regard to this trail designation, but it was for a time, anyway the label given that small bit of trail east of the Devils Gate (20W14) drop-in near Hot Springs/Sespe confluence that heads over the hump and down to Alder Creek (between Alder Creek and Shady camps). The name Sespe can be traced to a Chumash Indian village, called Cepsey, Sek-pe or S'eqpe' ("Kneecap") in the Chumash language in 1791. These were seen on the Alder Creek Trail heading down to the Sespe. Sespe Hot Springs. -Stillman. Sespe Hot Springs, Los Padres National Forest. Other features found on this map include: Angeles National Forest, Carpinteria, Chumash Wilderness, Dick Smith Wilderness . 373: Route 91 Bucksnort Trail 19W18. From the Piedra Blanca trailhead this same intersection is about 13.75 miles, which is why some people will choose Squaw Flat Road and the overgrown trail through Alder Creek drainage in order to save a few miles. Native: Gumplant: Grindelia camporum: Saw this one in a xeroscape garden although we have seen them . The spot is in the middle of the Condor refuge near Pigeon Flat, close to the west fork of the Sespe Creek and Alder Creek. The drive to Dough Flat is possible only in the driest weather and the hike down the gorge to Tar Creek Camp requires swimming skills.