It’s been over a month since the last rain and the creeks are still going strong. Get after it. Photo, BrianD
Hi Friends,
It’s been a warm and dry January. Not uncommon for the Los Padres, but this one has felt a bit longer than usual. Thanks to the rain late last year and the warm sunny days this past month, it looks like spring is in full swing out in the forest — early season wildflowers, tons of water flowing, and fields of bright green grass. Backpacking season is upon us, and LPFA has lots of trail time ahead. We’ll see you out there….
LPFA
HikeLosPadres Super Bowl FUNdraiser
When planning your upcoming LP adventures, no tool is more useful than HikeLosPadres.com. It has a page for every trail, camp and spring in the Los Padres, as well as years of user-submitted reports on trail conditions, camp conditions and water availability, with an interactive map to tie it all together. We love this site, and refer to it often. But, it’s now over 10 years old and in need of a makeover. So, we’re raising funds to help update the site and create a comprehensive, yet user-friendly website to better support forest users in their Los Padres endeavors. Want to help out and win some LP-prizes in the process? Check out LPFA’s HLP Super Bowl Fundraiser.
Green meadows with Grey Pines and white rocks seem to scream springtime Los Padres. Where’s your favorite springtime LP spot? Photo TylerG
- Saturday, Feb 7th – Join us on the Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail! We put in some great work last weekend and are heading back to finish the job. Meet at the trailhead at 8:30am Saturday morning. Learn more and sign up here!
- Sunday, Feb 15th – Join LPFA and Alan Coles on the Pothole Trail! Alan will be leading several day trips throughout the spring to maintain the Agua Blanca and Pothole Trails. They’re always a blast, and in one of our favorite corners of the LP. Sign up here to get on the list for the upcoming trail days! Tentative dates are: Feb 15 & 28; Mar 15 & 28; Apr 12
- March, 2026 – LPFA will be hosting another volunteer Working Vacation on the Santa Barbara Canyon Trail to touch up our Heartbreak Hill reroute. This beautiful canyon sits between Cuyama Valley and Madulce Peak and is one of the most “Los Padres” places out there. We’re still working out the exact dates, but look out for an announcement soon! Stay tuned….
- April 11 – 19, 2026 – The dates have arrived for LPFA’s Pine Mountain Lodge Working Vacation! Join us for a volunteer Working Vacation at this backcountry camp as we work the Piedra Blanca Trail from Pine Mountain Lodge Camp towards Haddock Camp. We are absolutely stoked for this project, you don’t want to miss this one…. Sign up here!
Warm January days sure made for some all-time clear views. With patience and some squinting you can see all eight Channel Islands from high up in the southern LP….