Los Padres Volunteer Season!

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Looking down on the Pothole Trail reroute. Designed and constructed by LPFA and open for footsteps on May 17th.

Hi Friends,

We’re in the heart of the busy season here in the Los Padres. And as usual, there is PLENTY of work to do. We’ve been out on the Pothole Trail, Figueroa Mountain, the Santa Barbara frontcountry and Ojai backcountry getting the trails in shape and planning projects while the weather allows. And we could use some help keeping the momentum going! Check out our string of upcoming volunteer projects below….

LPFA

From left to right: Sawyers from LPFA and MPRD tackle downed tree after downed tree with Tour de Los Padres volunteers on the Boulder Canyon Trail, photo BenV; Surveys are crucial to planning trail work! 5 new downed trees with LPFA’s name on them on the Reyes Peak Trail….; Grubbing stumps is paying yourself forward trailwork-style. No stump left behind on the Pothole Trail reroute….

SB Canyon Mini-Working Vacation, May 8 – 11

LPFA is heading to Santa Barbara Canyon for a Working Vacation May 8 – 11! We’ll be working the first 3 miles of trail to get them stock passable for projects further up the canyon that will touch up on our Heartbreak Hill Reroute, as well as continue past Madulce Camp to the Buckhorn Road. May is a great time to be out here at the base of the Sierra Madre Mountains enjoying the end-of-season flowers, flowing creeks, and gentle breezes. Hope to see you out there!

SB Cyn SIGNUP!
  • The Montecito Trails Foundation will be hosting a volunteer day with LPFA on the San Ysidro Trail this Friday, May 1st! We’ll be working the upper section from East Camino Cielo down. Check out the details and sign up here….
  • LPFA is hosting a volunteer day on Potrero John Trail this Saturday, May 2nd! We love this canyon, and chances are you will (or do) as well. Right off Hwy 33 above Ojai with great water and views of Pine Mountain. Join us for the day as we complete brushing the trail to Potrero John Camp.
  • Runners for Public Lands is hosting a Santa Cruz Trail Day with LPFA this Saturday, May 2nd! We will be cleaning up the trail between the trailhead and 19 Oaks Camp. Come out and join us for the day! Details here.
  • LPFA is hosting an overnight volunteer trip on Pine Mountain, June 18 – 21! Join us for a long weekend camping on top of Haddock Peak and working on the Reyes Peak Trail. June is a GREAT time to be up above 5,000 feet in the LP. Get above the fog and enjoy the views and coastal breeze, all while giving back to the trails. Check out the details!
  • Not a volunteer project BUT, the seasonal Motor Vehicle Use Closures end on Friday! This means Pine Mountain Road will be OPEN to cars until next winter. Grade Valley Road, Dough Flat Road, Goldhill Road and Alamo Mountain Road openings have been delayed until at least May 8th due to extensive repairs needed following December debris flows. We’re hoping they open up soon. And make sure to call the Forest Service to confirm before you head out for your LP adventure….

If you can’t join the volunteer projects but want to help out, consider donating to keep these projects going. Every donation helps LPFA’s work to keep trails open and accessible for all. THANK YOU for the support!

For the Trails!

We love the look of a freshly cut trail. From the Pothole Trail, nearing the finish line….

LPFA April Forest Update

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

The higher elevation destinations are waking up and looking for visitors…. photo, AddisonJ

Hello Friends,

It’s been a fast-paced spring in the Los Padres. In many corners of the forest, it seems we’ve skipped straight from January to June. There’s still good water flowing, even in ephemeral creeks, but it’s definitely slowing. And the foxtails and late season wildflowers are out in full force. Also out and making headlines are our local southern pacific rattlesnakes. More on that below, as well as news from around the Forest. 

With spring coming to an early close, we hope you find the time to get out and explore that trail, road, creek or peak that’s been on your Los Padres list this year. And we hope to see you soon on one of LPFA’s many upcoming projects….

Team LPFA

They sure blend in well, don’t they? And that’s exactly what they want to do: stay hidden and have nothing to do with us as we walk on by….

Rattlesnake Bites

There have been seven reported rattlesnake bites in southern California this spring, two of which resulted in fatalities. Three of those bites occurred in the Los Padres: Rose Valley, Cold Spring Trail, and Buena Vista Trail. Why does it seem like there have been more bites than usual this spring?

  • Spring came early this year. With lots of early season precip followed by unusually high temperatures from January – March, snakes seemed to leave their dens earlier than usual.
  • Unusually warm temperatures may have encouraged more people to get outside and enjoy the trails, increasing the likelihood of bites.
  • More people are using headphones while hiking, running, and biking, limiting their situational awareness and ability to hear the warning rattle.

To learn more about rattlesnakes and how to act around them, check out this excellent presentation by Dr. Emily Taylor of Central Coast Snake Services. If you’re curious about the experience of a rattlesnake bite, we have an interview with a hiker who was bitten in the Sespe a few years back. Remember to stay aware of your surroundings and treat snakes with respect while out on the trails. And if you do get bit: stay calm, don’t move, and call for help.

And the News Continues….

  • Authorities are investigating the suspicious death of a hiker found near Sykes Hot Springs in the Ventana Wilderness on April 9th. The Pine Ridge Trail was closed for one day while recovery efforts were under way, but is now considered safe and reopened to the public. This is an ongoing investigation, and the public is encouraged to contact Detective R. Geng at 831-755-3700 or submit a tip through the Monterey County Sheriff’s website.
  • A hiker’s dog went missing near Cienega Camp on the Big Sur Trail following the hiker’s rescue by Big Sur Fire on Friday, April 10th. If you or a friend will be in the area soon, please keep an eye (and ear) out for Ruger, the friendly missing pup.
  • Condors in Big Sur are doing well! The Ventana Wildlife Society says the central coast Condor population stands at 114 individuals, 20 birds higher since the 2020 Dolan Fire that had a major effect on the population. Breeding season is underway and the largest threat to the population is still lead poisoning from ammunition. Spread the word about non-lead ammunition!
  • Seasonal Gates across the Los Padres are set to open on May 1st. Due to the dry winter, a few gates have already opened for the season: Santa Barbara Canyon Road, First Crossing, and the roads around Tecuya Ridge. Make sure to call the District Office to ensure gates are open before you make your way to your favorite trailhead….
  • The LPFA Trail Crew and our awesome volunteers have been busy the past few weeks working a variety of trails across the Los Padres. This weekend alone we’re working Boulder Canyon, Chorro Grande and continuing work in condor country along the Pothole Trail. As always, we take trail requests. If you have a trail you’d like to see worked or know of any downed trees or landslides blocking the trails, please let us know: INFO@LPForest.org.

Did we mention there’s still lots of water out there? photo, IanJ

Reyes Peak Trail Overnight: May 7 – 10

LPFA will be leading a 4-day backcountry project on the Reyes Peak Trail on Pine Mountain in the Sespe Wilderness! This is sure to be a great one. Conifer forest, panoramic views, and the rare opportunity to camp with water up high on Haddock Peak. Get the details and sign up below!

Reyes Peak Signup!
  • April 16– This month’s Trail Talk at the Santa Barbara Public Library with biologist John Storrer on More Mesa: Trails, Natural Resources, and Conservation.
  • April 18 – State Trails Day in the City of Santa Barbara will take place at Parma Park from 8:30am – 1pm! Check out the details and make sure to RSVP….
  • April 19 – LPFA will have a booth at the Ojai Earth Day at Libbey Park from 1 – 5pm. Stop by and say hi!
  • April 22 – LPFA will be partnering with the Ojai Ranger District to lead a trash and micro trash cleanup of Tar Creek this Earth Day! The plan is to meet at 9am and work until around 2pm. It’s not too often we get to head to this locale. If you’re free next Wednesday, make sure you sign up!
  • April 23 – LPFA will be leading a day project on the Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail! We’re putting the finishing touches on this family-friendly Ojai-area trail. We’ll meet at the trailhead at 8:30am. Sign on up and see you out there….
  • April 23 – The Forest Service is hosting a memorial cleanup event to celebrate Patrick Lieske, a Forest Service Biologist who passed away in 2024. The event will be from 9am – 1pm located at the Glass Factory on East Camino Cielo and focus on cleaning up micro trash, shooting trash, and roadside trash. Email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to sign up and get the details!
  • May 2 – Join LPFA on Potrero John Trail for the day! We’ll be leading a day trip to brush the trail up near Potrero John Camp. This is a wonderfully scenic canyon below Haddock Peak. Don’t miss out! Get the details here.
  • May 2 – LPFA will be partnering with the Runners for Public Lands for a clean up of the Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area between First Crossing and Red Rock! We’ll be out there cleaning up trash and enjoying the river from 9am to 1pm. Sign up here to join the party.

Really. Still tons and tons of water. Get after it…. photo, IanJ

LPFA Spring Volunteering & Forest 411

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Most of the high elevation LP got snow last week, some places more than others. A light dusting near San Rafael Mountain…. photo, JasonnB

Hello Friends,

We’re calling it — spring has SPRUNG! And LPFA has tons of projects coming up across the forest. It’s been a busy few weeks dodging rain but we were fortunately still able to continue work on most of our trail projects, including work on Pothole, North Cold Spring, Wheeler Gorge, Tunnel and a number of trails across the SB Frontcountry. We’re looking forward to the upcoming spring weather and hope you can join us on some of our upcoming projects. Read on for volunteer opportunities and lots of news happening across the Los Padres….

LPFA

And in the lower elevations? Water, water everywhere…. photos, AddisonJ

  • Saturday, Feb 28 – LPFA will be continuing work on the Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail! We’re working on some much needed erosion control near the trailhead. Meet at the trailhead at 8:30am Saturday morning. Learn more and sign up here!
  • Saturday, Feb 28 – Alan Coles will be leading another project on the Pothole Trail! We’ll be brushing, building tread, and enjoying views of condors soaring overhead. Don’t forget to look up! We’ll meet at 8am at Temescal Station near Lake Piru. Check out the details and sign up here.
  • Saturday, Mar 7 – LPFA and the Santa Paula Canyon Crew are hosting a cleanup of Santa Paula Canyon! Join us in keeping this beautiful canyon trash and graffiti free. We’ll be meeting at Steckel Park at 8am Saturday morning, and hiking about 6 miles round trip to the Punchbowl and back. It’s a great time of year to enjoy the canyon, come on out! Get the details and sign up here.

From left: volunteers return from a day building the Pothole Trail Reroute, photo AlanC; thank you to those who joined us on San Ysidro Trail earlier this month!; the LPFA Trail Crew cutting a corner the right way on the Pothole Trail Reroute, photo AndrewJ

  • Saturday, Mar 14 & 21 – LPFA will be spending TWO DAYS brushing the Potrero John Trail off of Hwy 33 above Rose Valley! We try not to pick favorites, but this canyon makes that difficult. Jagged rock formations, a perennial creek, bigcone douglas-fir and views up toward Haddock Peak make for an incredibly scenic day of trail workin’. Get more info and sign up here!
  • April 11 – 19, 2026 – Join LPFA on our spring Working Vacation on the Piedra Blanca Trail! We’ll be spending 10 days at Pine Mountain Lodge Camp working the trail between there and Haddock Camp. There’s lots to do! And it’s a great place to be in spring. If you can’t make the whole trip, that’s OK! Sign up here and we’ll work out the details closer to the project.

Perks of working the Pothole Trail Reroute include daily Condor flyovers…. photo, LPFATrailCrew

  • The public comment period for an amendment establishing interim direction for Oil & Gas Leasing Management in the Los Padres ends on February 26th. You can view the amendment on the Forest Service website and submit a comment here.
  • The Los Padres is currently over 125% of annual rainfall and trending to make it over 150% by the end of the season. We’re still well away from the wettest year ever, but it’s great to see so much water across the forest, and the rest of the state.
  • The Los Padres National Forest is hiring temporary Forestry Technician staff on all 5 districts. If you’re considering a career in the Forest Service, these are excellent entry-level positions.
  • The Los Padres National Forest is soliciting public input as it develops its California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation grant applications. There is a public comment virtual meeting on Thursday, February 26th from 5 – 7pm.
  • Thank you to those who supported LPFA’s Super Bowl Square Fundraiser for HikeLosPadres! We’re looking forward to getting started on some much needed updates to this LP website.
  • Congratulations to the Ventana Wilderness Alliance for restoring the Marble Peak Trail! It’s great to see restored access deep within the Los Padres. Make sure to add this trail to your next LP adventure….
  • California State Parks and the California Natural Resources Agency have launched a statewide California Trails Survey to guide the next update of the California Recreational Trails Plan, last updated in 2011. This plan directly influences trail funding and priorities in Santa Barbara County and across California. Fill out the survey!
  • In case you missed it, the Wheeler Gorge Campground has reopened with two new bridges to restore passage for aquatic organisms on 13 miles of creeks in Ventura County!
  • Highway 1 through Big Sur has once again reopened following a brief closure during the rain the last two weeks. Thru-access from San Simeon to Monterey, including all those scenic Los Padres trailheads, is back open for business.

The LPFA Trail Crew is beginning restoration in the Gifford Fire burn scar this week. This will be the Crew’s 6th BAER project on the LPNF.

HikeLosPadres & LPFA

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

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.

Support a SUPER – HikeLosPadres!

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….

HikeLosPadres, Volunteering & Forest 411

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Hello Friends,

Lots has happened in the Los Padres over the past month, and we have a ton of GOOD NEWS to share! We have updates on several no-longer-closed roads, Wheeler Gorge Campground, and exciting upcoming projects. But first, it’s Super Bowl Season, and LPFA is hosting a Super Bowl Square Fundraiser for the beloved HikeLosPadres.com.

How does it work? Choose a square on the board and donate $20 for a chance to win one of four Los Padres-themed prize packages. Follow this link to learn more and join the game. How does it affect the Los Padres? All proceeds raised will go directly toward a much needed revamp of HikeLosPadres. If you’ve used this site before, you know it has an extraordinary amount of valuable data on water availability, camp and trail conditions, and intel on planning your next LP adventure. This revamp will update the user experience, trail map feature, and gps & layering data that have become a bit clunky since it was first launched in 2013. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for HLP 2.0. Help us turn this dream to reality!

Team LPFA & HLP

Some rare and coveted LP-themed items are up for grabs in these prize packages. Join the fundraiser for a chance to win!

SAN YSIDRO TRAIL

VOLUNTEER DAY 

SUNDAY, FEB 8

LPFA is teaming up with the Backpacking Barista’s and the Montecito Trails Foundation for a Super Bowl Sunday project on the San Ysidro Trail! Join us on Sunday, February 8th from 8am – 12pm. LPFA hosts a Super Bowl project each year, with the goal of getting you out on the trail in the morning and returning in time to still make that Super Bowl party. And this year’s project will be the superest one yet: all volunteers will get to enjoy quality craft coffee on trail, courtesy of the Backpacking Baristas. We’ll also be giving away a few squares for our HLP Super Bowl Fundraiser to those who join…. Don’t miss this one folks. Sign on up and join the party!

SUPER – SAN YSIDRO SUNDAY SIGNUP!

AND WHILE WE HAVE YOU….

Agua Blanca Trail Maintenance, Jan 24

Alan Coles will be leading frequent projects on the Agua Blanca Trail starting Saturday, January 24th! This trail near Lake Piru features one of the most scenic creeks the Los Padres has to offer. It’s a great place to be this time of year, and an even better place to work some trail. If you’re interested in joining, email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org. If you can’t make the 24th, but are interested in more projects on Agua Blanca this spring, sign up below!

Agua Blanca, PLEASE!

Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail, Jan 31

Join LPFA at the Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail on Saturday, January 31st from 8:30am to 2:30pm. This lovely local (to the Ojai-area) trail gives first time and returning hikers a nice slice of Los Padres. It’s right on Matilija Creek, shaded by oaks and sycamores, and like many LP trails, could use a little TLC. We’ll be fixing a few steps and filling ruts from the recent storms and we need some help! Sign up below….

WHEELER FOR THE WIN!

The Pothole Trail Reroute is coming along nicely…. More volunteer projects soon!

  • Highway 1 through the Big Sur Coast has reopened after 3 years of closure following the January 2023 storms. HURRAH! It is great to see access restored to this iconic stretch of the Los Padres. If you’re planning a trip there sometime soon, make sure to stop by and say “Hi” to LPFA at Big Sur Station on your way….
  • A community meeting for the Plaskett Ridge Road Designated Dispersed Camping System Pilot Project will be held at the Pacific Valley School in Big Sur this Thursday, January 22nd from 4 – 6pm.  The intent of this pilot project is to address impacts associated with visitor use along Plaskett Ridge Road while maintaining dispersed camping opportunities in a semi-primitive motorized setting. Attend if you’re interested in joining the conversation! 
  • After being closed for 3 weeks due to damage and debris flow from the storms around New Years, Figueroa Mountain Road and Sunset Valley Road have been cleared and reopened to the public. Get on out there! The Manzana is calling….
  • Matilija Road, which has been closed to the public since January 2023, is now expected to be closed at least until the end of 2026. Ventura County is working on a permanent solution to the failing road.
  • The Wheeler Gorge Campground has REOPENED! Over the past 6 months, LPNF staff worked with South Coast Habitat Restoration to remove four Arizona crossings in the campground and replace them with two clear span bridges to provide access to 13.3 miles of stream habitat (Cannon, NF Matilija and Bear Creeks) to migrating aquatic biota. Bear and Cannon Creeks in particular, are prime spawning grounds for Southern CA steelhead.

Los Padres – It’s New Years!

Posted on by Bryan Conant

The LPFA works hard to ensure that trails like the Lost Valley Trail don’t actually become lost or cause people to get lost….

What’s your favorite trail? 

Where do you like to go most in the Los Padres? 

Have you been there lately? If not, how come? If so, how’s it doing?

Hello Friends – HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Los Padres Forest is enormous. There are endless new spots to explore, yet we also want to keep visiting all the familiar places we love over and oveer again. The Los Padres is a bit overwhelming, there just never seems to be enough time to check out all the names that grace the maps and it’s even harder to stay on top of all the trail maintenance needs. One year a trail is in excellent condition, the next year it is not. It’s never ending. There are so many challenges involved with caring for the Los Padres. This is what forest stewardship is all about, it’s committing to the long-term care of the forest.

It’s our collective responsibility, all of us, to be stewards of the Los Padres. We’re up! It’s our time right now, just as it was for the people who cared for the forest before us and as it will be for the next generation to come. It’s on us, all of us, to do the best we can to leave the forest better than we found it. Each visit you take into the forest, leave it better than you found it. Each month, each year, each decade – let’s leave the forest better than we found it. Can we collectively do that? 100% of course we can, let’s pledge together to make sure that happens. 

Of course, ‘better’ is subjective. We all might have different ideas about what’s better for the forest. It’s a big topic and one that we at the LPFA think about and consider daily. 

That being said, what parts of the forest are struggling in your opinion? Is there a trail, campground or road that’s not up to snuff? Do you have concerns over larger forest issues? 

Below is a suggestion box of sorts where you can vent or share ideas about forest concerns or recommendations. No concern is too small and no suggestion too big. Please share your views either anonymously or with a name attached. 

Unfortunately, there aren’t any forest genies that we’re aware of who have the power to grant three forest wishes. We can’t make any promises that your suggestions will happen but it doesn’t hurt to share your opinions and we’ll see what happens from there. 

Remember, we’re all forest stewards and we’ve pledged to leave the forest better than we found it. 

Multiple Generations of Forest Stewards

LPFA Suggestion Box

Some of our amazing trail volunteers doing what they do best by helping keep the trails passable! These pine trees fell across the Boulder Canyon Trail due to natural causes, most likely age and wind. If these trees aren’t cleared from the trail corridor then trail users need to find other ways to get around the trees. This usually results in user-created trails that can be damaging to the environment and either not safe or not very much fun to hike or ride. It’s essential to keep the trails open.

Lake Fire Trail Work

Thanks to multiple grants and many private donations, the LPFA Trail Crew & volunteers restored over 11 miles of trail damaged by the 2024 Lake Fire. This includes fan favorites like Davy Brown. 

SB Cyn Reroute

We finally completed a decades old dream of rerouting the dreaded Heartbreak Hill section of the Santa Barbara Cyn Trail. Thanks to the MPRD, Zaca Fire restoration funding and all the volunteers who helped. 

San Ysidro Trail

The Trail Crew spent much of the summer helping Montecito Trails Foundation reopen the San Ysidro Trail, which had been closed since 2023 due to storm damage. This was a feather in our cap for sure. 

Condor Trail

2025 was a big year for the CT. Not only were we able to maintain many miles of the CT but we also got to see Addison set the Condor Trail FKT. If you haven’t seen the talk, check it out here! 

Wheeler Gorge

Another great year at the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center highlighted by our annual Open House and of course the resurrection of the U.S.A.’s Smallest Post Office. Come visit us sometime soon! 

Alder Creek – Sespe

It took a couple years but we were able to complete trail restoration from Dough Flat to Sespe Saddle along the Alder Creek Trail. Thanks to everyone who contributed including SCE and the LPNF. 

Big Sur Station

Once again, thanks to the guidance of Tim, Big Sur Station was open 360+ days in 2025 helping to provide information for forest and coastal visitors. We also reprinted our excellent Big Sur Visitors Map.  

Graffiti & Cleanups

Unfortunately, 2025 was a banner year for forest cleanups and graffiti removal. Wish that wasn’t the case but we continued cleanups across the forest including at Lizards Mouth and Santa Paula Canyon. 

Some 2025 Numbers to be Proud of:

  • 10,226 hours contributed by LPFA volunteers. 
  • 718 volunteers helped. 
  • 284 days where the LPFA hosted boots-on-the-ground field work within the LPNF. 
  • 1,172 person days the LPFA Trail Crew (thank you Jason, Andrew, Tom, Tristan, Mike, Shane, Peter, Daniel, Soren & Taj) spent working in the LPNF. 
  • Over 60 miles of trails maintained and restored. 
  • Over 26,000 total hours contributed in support of the Los Padres National Forest. 

Trail Work Completed on the Following Trails

Agua Blanca, Alder Creek, Aliso, Apache Canyon, Arroyo Quemado, Blue Canyon, Blue Canyon Connector, Boulder Canyon, Chorro Grande, Cold Spring, Cozy Dell, Davy Brown, Deal Canyon, Gene Marshall – Piedra Blanca, Horn Canyon, Howard Creek, La Jolla, Lion Canyon, Lizards Mouth, Manzana, Matilija, Mission Pine, Munch Canyon, Munch Connector, Pothole, Raspberry Spring, Rattlesnake, Reyes Peak, Romero Canyon, Rose-Lion Connector, San Ysidro, Santa Barbara Canyon, Sunset Valley, Sweetwater, Tunnel, Tunnel Connector, West Fork Cold Spring, White Rock, Willow Springs, Willow Spur 

2025 has been a great year for the LPFA and we really appreciate all the help from our volunteers, Forest Service staff and the companies and organizations who help support our efforts through grants and donations. They say it takes a village and we are so blessed to have such a great group of friends within our village. Pretty cheesy, we know, but it’s true. 

2026 should be even better with forest support projects scheduled up & down and side to side across the Los Padres Forest. We hope you can join us in the forest in 2026 and of course any donations are greatly appreciated as well! 

Thank You!

Most of the Los Padres will be over our annual average rainfall totals by the end of this upcoming series of storms! We still have 3+ months of potential rain ahead of us too! We’re witnessing an amazing winter, potentially one for the record books. Hopefully there are enough breaks in between storms to allow for views like this one of Madulce Peak in the Dick Smith Wilderness. Stay safe out there friends and have a Happy New Year!

‘Tis the Season for Los Padres Calendars!

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

IT’S LOS PADRES CALENDAR SEASON!

The 2026 Los Padres calendars have arrived and are selling fast. Make sure to get yours before they’re gone! They feature stunning photos from across the forest and are sure to keep your Los Padres stoke-levels high all year long. And the best part is, 100% of proceeds support trail maintenance in the Los Padres Forest. Make sure to pick one up (or more!) for yourself and your friends. They’re a great stocking stuffer for the LP-lovers in your life. You can order them online, stop by your local Oxnard or San Luis Obispo REI, or join LPFA this Saturday, December 20th from 12 – 2pm at the Ventura Patagonia! We’ll be out front selling calendars, sharing hot chocolate, wrapping gifts and talking trails….

I’ll Take a Calendar!
  • Saturday, December 20th – Join us from 8:30am – 2:30pm on the Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail! We’ll meet at the trailhead. This is a great trail close to Ojai and in need of some love. We’ll be doing a variety of maintenance, from brushing to clearing drains to building steps. Email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to sign up!
  • Sunday, December 28th – LPFA will be working the Howard Creek Trail! Join us from 8:00am – 2:30pm for a fun day of brushing this great multi-use trail a little ways up the 33 from Ojai. We’ll meet at the Cozy Dell Trailhead and carpool up to Howard Creek. Email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to sign up!
  • January 17 – 24th – LPFA will be leading a backcountry project on the Piedra Blanca Trail based out of Piedra Blanca Camp! This is an incredible trail outside of Ojai in the Rose Valley area. Volunteers are welcome to join for as long as they can. The goal of this week is to make the trail stock-passable to Pine Mountain Lodge in preparation for our spring Working Vacation! Details are still taking shape for this one, but sign on up and we’ll work them out in a few weeks!
  • The remainder of seasonal gates shut for the winter on December 15th. These include Pine Mountain Road, Dough Flat Road and Cherry Creek Road on the Ojai Ranger District. While there is no vehicle access, it can be a great time to explore these areas on foot or bike and likely have them all to yourself….

All smiles last week on the Pothole Trail Reroute Working Vacation. THANK YOU LPFA Trail Volunteers and SCE for all your help and support! New trail coming your way soon….

LPFA: For the Trails!

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Hi Friends, 

We hope everyone enjoyed a few days off last week, and found the time to get out and explore the forest. Some pristine November days were to be had out there, especially in the Sespe Wilderness. As I’m sure you’re aware by now from the dozens of emails filling your inbox, today is GivingTuesday, a big day for fundraising in the non-profit community. And at LPFA, a HUGE day to support the trails in the Los Padres Forest.

This year, our goal is to raise $15,000 for maintenance and repair of the Condor Trail in Ventura County. We’re halfway there. But we need your help to make it happen. What will this fund exactly? It will fund a full 10-day backcountry Working Vacation on the upper reaches of the Piedra Blanca Trail. An overgrown, washed out, and downed tree-covered trail in need of the LPFA trail maintenance special. It will also fund several smaller volunteer projects above and below this section of trail, to ensure we can gain access to the sections most in need of work. By the end of 2026, you’ll be able to get from Piedra Blanca Trailhead to the top of Pine Mountain without crawling, ducking, or pack-hoisting, but we need support to make that happen!

We say Condor Trail, not Piedra Blanca Trail, because this project is part of a larger mission: to restore the trails of this essential Los Padres route from Lake Piru to Highway 33. This isn’t a one off project, but a multi-year initiative, and we’re in the home stretch. Since 2022, LPFA has maintained the Pothole Trail, Agua Blanca Trail, Alder Creek Trail, Sespe River Trail, Piedra Blanca Trail, Reyes Peak Trail and Boulder Canyon Trail. Over 30 miles of trail restored to standard. 30 miles of trail open and accessible for the public to enjoy. 30 miles of trail free of brush, downed trees and poison oak, and waiting for your footsteps.

This GivingTuesday, please consider supporting the trails that support you. With a gift to LPFA, you will ensure these trails stay maintained, open and accessible for the public to enjoy.

For the trails, 

LPFA 

Support the Trails!

Los Padres Fire Restrictions Lifted!

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Doesn’t get much better than a warm campfire with friends on a cold night in the Los Padres….

Hello Friends,

We bring good news for backcountry travelers: Fire Restrictions have been lifted across the Los Padres Forest. Thanks to the storms last week, backcountry season has arrived earlier than usual this year and campfires are now allowed. Just in time for dropping nighttime temperatures and the long, cold, and star-filled nights that accompany this time of year ~ Hurrah!

Make sure to do your research before planning trips and look out for any superseding orders that disallow campfires (ie the Santa Barbara Frontcountry and West Cuesta Ridge). And please remember to be fire-safe and grab a free campfire permit to keep on you while out in the forest. With all this rain, the forest is looking more like early spring than November right now. Backcountry season is NOW!

LPFA

LPFA volunteer trail crews keep our trails open and ready to enjoy! On the Alder Creek Trail, part of the Ventura County Condor Trail. Photo, Brandy L.

We’re here for the trails. The veins of the Los Padres that transport us from our daily life back to the places that feed our being. Places where life is stiller, clearer and breathtaking. Sespe Creek, Pine Mountain, Alder Creek. Places where water flows, birds sing, and trees older than us stand tall and proud. We need the trails. And they need us. They need care, footsteps, and support. 

At LPFA, we know that trails don’t maintain themselves. We’ve seen too many disappear from lack of vital funding to maintain them. We’ve spent too much time crawling in the brush, following a bear path we thought was the trail, fighting through wild rose, whitethorn ceanothus and poison oak, only to find the next section of trail in worse shape than the last. We’re here to ensure our trails stay open and accessible for all to enjoy. To ensure our trails provide more Type 1 fun, than Type 2 or 3. To ensure these veins of the backcountry keep pumping and providing the pathways for us to return to the forest, time and time again. 

This GivingTuesday, show your support for the trails that support you.

For the Trails!

Is in November or February? Here’s to the trails that take us home….

LPFA x Piedra Blanca Trail

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Nothing quite like a sun-soaked view down the Piedra Blanca Trail.  photo, Jeri H.

LPFA x Piedra Blanca Trail

Does a trail get much more inviting than this? Piedra Blanca magic. photo, Jeri H.

A major goal for LPFA in 2026 will be continuing work on the Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca Trail. This trail is not only part of the Condor Trail, but is one of only two National Recreation Trails (NRT) in the Los Padres Forest and sits high on the short list of the most iconic LP trails. NRTs are designated at the federal level and must demonstrate that they represent their region, support a diverse community, and are one of the best trails in the country. 

You’d be hard pressed to find a trail more representative of the Los Padres than the Piedra Blanca Trail. In just over 16 miles, it passes through a Wild & Scenic River, otherworldly rock formations, rich chaparral diversity, towering mixed conifer forest, and unobstructed panoramic views. But, this trail needs some serious work. The middle section is thick with brush, bramble, and downed trees, as well as several slides and washouts with consequential falls. We’ve been chipping away at the brush over the past few years, and now it’s time to finish the job. With your support this GivingTuesday, LPFA will get this nationally-recognized gem of an LP trail back into hiking shape!

Support the Piedra Blanca Trail!

And While We Have You….

The time to order your 2026 Los Padres Calendar is NOW! Each year, LPFA puts together a calendar featuring all the sights, seasons, and stunning diversity of the Los Padres Forest. It’s a great way to experience the beauty of the Los Padres every single day. And even better, all proceeds from calendar sales go directly toward trail maintenance in the Los Padres Forest. So next time you’re hiking a well-groomed trail, thank yourself for picking that Los Padres calendar for only $20…..

Calendar, PLEASE!

In case you missed it, a recording of LPFA’s Condor Trail Talk is now on the LPFA YouTube page! What a great night this was. Thank you to all our donors and supporters who made it happen. So good to see so many folks come out in support of the Condor Trail. This talk features an hour long, photo-filled slideshow of Addison Jerlow’s FKT thru-hike of the trail in March 2025, followed by a Q&A with Addison and the author of the Condor Trail Guidebook, Brian Sarvis.

To the Condor Trail!

LPFA’s fall Working Vacation is right around the corner! Join us December 5 – 14th for a car camping Working Vacation on the Pothole Trail near Lake Piru. This project has been in the works for some time now, and we are absolutely thrilled to be breaking ground on a reroute of the lower Pothole Trail! Come out and help make it happen. Haven’t volunteered before? No problem! We’ll train you on the job. There’s nothing better than workin’ trail all day, then sitting back while LPFA provides some cold drinks and dinner for you and all the new friends you made on the way.

To the Pothole Trail!

Lots of water flowing in the forest. And it’s only November….