There sure are a lot of wild oats in the meadows this summer. Don’t forget your gaiters….
Hi Friends,
It’s been a busy summer here on the Los Padres. The heat puts a damper on things, but we’ve still been able to get out on Piedra Blanca Trail, Matilija Trail, Santa Paula Canyon Trail and more across the forest. We also spend lots of time planning the fast-approaching fall trail maintenance season. It’s going to be a great one this year. In the meantime, we have an upcoming backcountry project on Mission Pine Trail, an ongoing battle against graffiti and trash in Santa Paula Canyon, and lots of forest updates to share. Read on for the details….
LPFA
SANTA PAULA CANYON FUNDRAISER
LPFA and the Santa Paula Canyon Crew have been hard at work cleaning up trash and graffiti in Santa Paula Canyon this summer. We’ve led one large scale clean-up, multiple smaller cleanups with graffiti removal, and installed trash cans at the trailhead that get emptied twice a week. We also have plans to begin tabling at the trailhead to help educate visitors on responsible, sustainable recreation in the canyon. We need help funding this initiative! We are halfway to our $1000 goal. Please consider donating to fund future projects to keep Santa Paula Canyon clean!
LPFA and the Santa Paula Canyon Crew at our cleanup event earlier this month. The canyon is now 240lbs of trash lighter! Photo, Caleb G.
MISSION PINE VOLUNTEER WEEKEND
Looking for a long weekend getaway to the Los Padres high country? We’ve got you covered. Join LPFA August 1 – 3 on the Mission Pine Trail! We will be leading crosscut and brushing work on the Mission Pine Trail between McKinley Saddle and Mission Pine Spring Camp. This will be a dispersed car-camping project based out of McKinley Saddle. We don’t get to drive up there very often, so don’t miss out! Details are still taking shape, but sign up below and we’ll follow up over email leading up to the project….
- The Los Padres National Forest welcomed a new Forest Supervisor, Dr. Kimberly Winter, earlier this month. Dr. Winter comes to Los Padres from the U.S. Forest Service’s National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she served as director of Conservation Education. After several months of different acting supervisors, we are happy to see the position filled and look forward to working with Supervisor Winter to improve and sustain recreation opportunities across the forest.
- The Madre Fire, which started on July 2nd and burned over 80,000 acres, has wrapped up. Currently the largest of the season in California, the fire started just north of Highway 166 and burned a small section of the Los Padres, but mainly burned the Carrizo Plains Ecological Reserve and Carrizo Plain National Monument. The National Monument remains closed to visitors at this time.
- Cal-Trans is moving forward with their plan to close Highway 33 to the public for a safety and drainage improvement project. Dates have been announced for three extended weekend closures: Aug 15-18, Aug 22-25, Sept 19-22. The worst part about this news is that construction is expected to continue on and off through Winter 2028-29…..
- A-Zone South Hunting Season kicks off on August 8th and lasts until September 21st. This is the main deer hunting season in the Los Padres and includes the Monterey Ranger District as well as the southern Los Padres west of Highway 33 and south and west of the Sespe. Please read up on the regulations and view the A-Zone map if you’re heading into the forest this season. And if you’re visiting the Los Padres for something other than hunting during that window, expect increased hunter activity in the area.
- The Monterey Chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA) is raising funds to replace the roof of the Chews Ridge Fire Lookout that was damaged last winter. This is one of the last active fire lookouts on the Central Coast and still plays a crucial role in wildfire detection. Consider helping out the FFLA and the Los Padres get the tower back into working order!
Still lots of life in the Santa Barbara frontcountry! Hope you’re finding some time to enjoy the forest in the cooler parts of the day….