Tag: Piedra Blanca Trail

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, Trail Updates and Forest Protections

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

There’s plenty of places to explore once the heat sets in! Head up high, know your water sources (check HLP), and follow the weather closely to find a cool window for a summer trip in the LP. Photo, Brian D.

Hi Friends, 

Well, the summer heat has arrived. Fire restrictions went into effect across the Los Padres Forest on June 18th and are set to last until January 31st, 2026. This means no open fires, campfires or charcoal fires are permitted outside of developed recreation sites or designated Campfire Use Sites, as well as no smoking. However, stoves are still permitted in the backcountry and you can grab your fire permit here.  

After two wet winters, this last one was a dry one with the LP receiving roughly only half of our normal rain amounts. Daily highs in the backcountry have been pushing 100 degrees recently, with nighttime lows sitting comfortably above 60. The Los Padres can be thoroughly enjoyed without a campfire this time of year. This is a great opportunity to check out the night sky, play games under headlamp, or head to bed early and get some rest after that long hot hike to camp. 

The view from the hike back down along your freshly cleared trail sure makes the hot hike up and day cutting brush worth it, right? …..right? Photo, Zach C.

PIEDRA BLANCA

LPFA volunteers wrapped up work on the Piedra Blanca Trail this month and boy is it looking GOOD! This was LPFA’s 6th trip on this section of trail in the past 2 years and we are happy to say the trail is now in great shape from Piedra Blanca Trailhead to Pine Mountain Lodge Camp. Thank you to all of the volunteers and donors who made these trips possible!  

These projects were almost entirely funded by individual donations. Please consider donating as we continue to navigate the ongoing restrictions on federal funding. Every dollar helps! And if you have a trail you want to see worked on, come on out and volunteer, get to know LPFA, and get trained to lead your own trail projects. Let’s make it happen. 

Donate to Clear Trails!

SANTA PAULA CANYON CLEANUP: JULY 5TH 

Nothing says 4th of July weekend like some time by the creek! Join LPFA and the Santa Paula Canyon Crew on July 5thfor a trash sweep of Santa Paula Canyon. We’ll be walking the length of the trail to the Punchbowl to remove graffiti and clean up any trash leftover from July 4th festivities. This is a great opportunity for those looking to spend a day hiking and giving back to one of the most impacted canyons in the forest. 

With swimming season in full swing, we’ve definitely seen increased visitation, and unfortunately increased trash and graffiti, at Santa Paula Canyon. Thanks to volunteers, this canyon gets swept every week or two. And two new trash cans at the trailhead are helping a TON. A positive presence in the canyon helps even more. Sign up below for a fun day of hiking, cleaning, and swimming in SPC! 

CLEAN UP THE CANYON!

Help us keep this LP gem clean and free of trash and graffiti!

BIG BUT NOT SO BEAUTIFUL 

At this point we’ve all heard about the One Big Beautiful Bill and what it may mean for public lands across the country. LPFA supports public access to the Los Padres Forest through trail maintenance, outreach and education. Because of that, we will not support the selling off of public lands. The Wilderness Society has made a map of National Forest and BLM lands that could be sold if the bill is passed (it has already passed the House!). If you zoom into the Los Padres, it includes almost all non-wilderness portions of the forest. 

Dark green shows portions of the LPNF that could be eligible for sale including large swaths of the Santa Barbara and Ojai Frontcountry, as well as Pine Mountain and the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Areas that could be up for sale include: 

  • the Santa Ynez Recreation Area
  • the Santa Barbara Frontcountry
  • the Ojai Frontcountry, 
  • Pine Mountain
  • Sierra Madre Mountains above Cuyama Valley
  • Alamo Mountain and Mount Pinos
  • Figueroa Mountain
  • West Cuesta Ridge
  • Timber Top

The List Goes On and On…..

We encourage those concerned to find their Senator and give them a call. Here is a list of the phone numbers of every Senator. Emails and petitions often get filtered out, but phone calls can make a huge difference in how your representatives vote. We know that Los Padres enthusiasts live across the country. Wherever you may be, give your Senator a call and help keep the Los Padres Forest open for all, forever. 

FOREST UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES 

  • Join the Santa Barbara Trails Council at Baron Ranch this Sunday, June 22nd for a day of trail work! They’ll be meeting at the Baron trailhead at 8:30am and working on the beloved Arroyo Quemado Trail (AQT). Click here for more info and the sign up link. 
  • Highway 33 is expected to be closed on and off for extended periods this summer/fall season. CalTrans has not provided any dates yet but we’ll be ready to share them once they do! 
  • A-Zone South Hunting Season is right around the corner here in the Los Padres. Archery season begins on July 12th, but the more popular General Season begins on August 9th and lasts until September 21st. Still a ways out but fast approaching! If you aren’t a hunter, try to plan your Los Padres adventures around this season, and remember to wear bright colors if you do head out into the forest…. 

Hard to believe it’s already been 351 days since the Lake Fire…..

LPFA x National Trails Day

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

It’s that time of year to starting taking your LP adventures to higher elevations. Cooler temps and panoramic views abound….

National Trails Day is June 7th this year, and LPFA has 3 projects going on to celebrate. This day is about getting outside, connecting with the Los Padres community, and giving back to the trails. We have you covered from Ojai to Santa Barbara, frontcountry to backcountry. Our busy spring trail work schedule slows down a bit as summer sets in. However, we’ll still be leading projects at the higher elevations of the Los Padres between the heatwaves, so look out for announcements for our Summer 2025 Trail Work Series in the coming weeks. Until then, we hope to see you at one of our National Trails Day celebrations! 

LPFA 

 Join LPFA for National Trails Day! 

Epic sunsets on our last overnight Piedra Blanca Trail project in February 2025. Photo, Jeri H.

Piedra Blanca Trail Overnight: June 6 – 8

Join LPFA as we continue maintenance on the Piedra Blanca Trail! We will be leading a 3 day backcountry trail maintenance project June 6 – 8 to finish brushing the final quarter mile of trail before Pine Mountain Lodge Camp. Come out and help us brush this trail, enjoy some epic views of the Sespe Wilderness, and take advantage of the cooler temps at higher elevations this time of year. Click the button below to sign up or get more info! 

Piedra Blanca Overnight!

LPFA Trail Crew admiring the great volunteer work on the North Fork Matilija Working Vacation. Photo, Andrew J.

Matilija Trail: June 7

Join LPFA for a day project to continue our work on the North Fork Matilija Trail! LPFA recently completed a 5-day Working Vacation on this trail, not to mention a year of work leading up to that trip. We are now closing in on getting the trail open to Middle Matilija Camp. RSVP to VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to get more details and come join the party! 

North Fork Matilija!

Hot Springs Trail: June 7

Join LPFA and our partners at the City of Santa Barbara Parks Department’s annual National Trails Day event! Volunteers of all experience levels are invited to learn about trail restoration while working on the historic Hot Springs Trail. Tools, instruction, and lunch will be provided! These events are always a blast. See you there…. 

Hot Springs Trail Day!

Forest 411 

After two wet winters, we finally hit a dry streak. Most of the water sources across the forest are still flowing, but they’re looking a lot lower now than they were at this point in 2023 and 2024. Make sure to check in on HikeLosPadres.combefore your next backpacking trip to estimate water likelihood, and don’t forget to leave a report for others when you get back!

Los Padres Trail Updates, Volunteering and Forest 411

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Anyone else taking advantage of these unseasonably warm and clear February days? From Arroyo Quemado Trail….

  • This past weekend LPFA volunteers led our 3rd project on the beloved Gene Marshall – Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail in the last year. We’ve been working up from Piedra Blanca Camp clearing the steep and overgrown section of trail to Pine Mountain Lodge. After last weekend we have cleared all but the final 200ft of trail below PML. So close! We’ll be back….
  • Another volunteer group spent the day finishing up clearing the Rose-Lion Connector Trail in support of the upcoming Coyote2Moon Trail Race. Thanks to Runners for Public Lands and all the volunteers who contributed nearly 250hrs towards the trail in February. The connector is looking tip top!
  • On Monday we cut out the dozen or so downed trees on lower Lion Canyon Trail and brushed a bit up towards East / West Lion Camps. The cherry on top of a trail maintenance-packed weekend! 
  • The LPFA Trail Crew recently completed a week-long project to clear brush along the upper 3.5 miles of the Arroyo Quemado Trail thanks to funding and support from the Santa Barbara County Trails Council. Head out and see the freshly worked trail yourself! It’s a seven-mile one-way hike from the trailhead at Baron Ranch to West Camino Cielo that offers extraordinary views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands!

Volunteer trail maintenance overnights aren’t all about the work! Volunteers recounting LP adventures over a glowing LP sunset, photo Marcus I.

IT’S TRAIL WORKIN’ SEASON!

All smiles while swamping ceanothus on last fall’s Alder Creek Working Vacation, photo Karen O.

ALDER CREEK WORKING VACATION, APRIL 12 – 20

LPFA is headed to the Alder Creek Trail in the Sespe Wilderness this April for a full-scale Working Vacation based out of Alder Creek Camp! We have led not one but TWO Working Vacations on this trail over the past two years and cannot wait to get back out there. If you haven’t joined an LPFA Working Vacation before, they are an absolute blast. Check out this post for a bit more of what to expect from a typical Working Vacation. Details are still taking shape and the exact dates may shift depending on the weather, but sign on up and we’ll work out the details closer to the event!

ALDER CREEK WORKING VACATION!!!

And a few more upcoming projects….

Agua Blanca Trail, Mar 9

Alan Coles has been chipping away at restoring the Agua Blanca Trail over the past year. Following the big storms in early 2023, the trail needed a ton of work. It is looking GREAT out there. Come on out and support this rugged corner of the Los Padres!

Agua Blanca for Me!

Alder Creek Overnight, Mar 11 – 13

Join LPFA on an overnight project at Alder Creek Camp to put the finishing touches on the trail that will make it stock passable for our April Working Vacation! We’ll be leading a small volunteer crew on the Alder Creek Trail.  A great project for those looking for a little wid-week LP action. Email us VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to get more info or sign up!

Alder Creek Overnight Please!

Santa Barbara Canyon, Mar 23 – 30

LPFA has been hard at work on rerouting the dreaded Heartbreak Hill section of the Santa Barbara Canyon Trail. We are so close to wrapping this one up. Join us the last week of March to put on the finishing touches. Dates for this project are still TBD, but sign up if you’re interested and we’ll finalize them over email in the coming weeks.

SB Canyon ALL THE WAY!

Forest 411

  • Fire Restrictions were lifted across the forest on Friday, February 21. This means that backcountry campfires are once again allowed. Hurrah! There are a few places with year round restrictions so make sure to read up on current orders before heading out into the forest. And as always, please make sure to have a valid California Campfire Permit, practice Leave No Trace Principles and don’t be an idiot: drown your fires!
  • The Los Padres National Forest is providing one more OHV public house on Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Santa Lucia Ranger Station located at 1616 Carlotti Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454.The goal of this open house is for interested parties to discuss and provide input into the development of the 2026 Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant applications.
  • The Los Padres National Forest has lost several staff members this month due to the recent federal layoffs. The Forest Service has worked hard to hire new staff over the past 2 years and this is a blow to the already under-resourced forest that is sure to affect everything from project approval timelines to forest access. We are saddened by the loss and our thoughts are with the affected staff and their families. LPFA will continue assisting the forest as much as we can while the Forest Service navigates the effects of these layoffs, as well as continue to seek out project funding and approvals to maintain access to the forest users. Wondering how you can help? Consider supporting our trail care fund or signing up to volunteer!
For the Forest!

It sure is looking like spring out there…. Sun is shinning, near the Ventana

Seasonal Gates and Upcoming LPFA Projects

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Snow fell lower than usual across many parts of the forest this past weekend. Did you get any sweet snow views? From winter 2024, Michael Blake

Hi Friends, 

We hope you enjoyed the rain, hail and snow this past weekend after a long, dry start to the winter season. This was an exciting, cold storm that saw some localized, heavy rain events and lower elevation snowfall across the forest. It’s great to see some moisture out there, let’s hope it continues. In the short term, temperatures are warming up into what looks like a perfect weekend for a hike or ride. Get out and enjoy. 

One upside to the slow start to the rainy season is that many of the seasonal gates remained open well past their usual closure window. Hopefully you enjoyed the late season access to some of those areas over the past two months. As of today, seasonal gates on the Mount Pinos Ranger District have closed for the season. Although gates are closing, it’s a great time to be out in the forest, and LPFA still has a ton going on. Read on for more info on gates and upcoming LPFA projects. 

SUPER-VOLUNTEER WEEKEND

Overnight trips are a blast. Here, volunteers return from LPFA’s latest Piedra Blanca trip earlier this month, photo Marianne H.

If you’re looking for an activity on Super Bowl Weekend, boy do we have you covered. We have FOUR projects occurring across the Los Padres for you to pick from, both day trips and overnights. Click on the links below for more info on each project and how to sign up. Hope to see you on one (or two?!) of them: 

  • Feb 6 – 9, Piedra Blanca Trail Overnight – Join LPFA for an overnight project at Pine Mountain Lodge Camp as we continue work on the Piedra Blanca Trail! This is a great spot to spend a night or two giving back to the trails. *Note: this trip has been postponed to Feb 20 – 23 due to weather. The signup link has been updated*
  • Feb 8, Matilija Trail – LPFA has been working tirelessly at getting the Matilija Trail reopened. We lead projects most Thursdays and Saturdays (including this week!). Come out and join the fun…. 
  • Feb 9, Rose-Lion Connector Trail – LPFA is partnering with Runners for Public Lands to work several Ojai-area trails in preparation for the Coyote2Moon Race this spring. First up is the Rose-Lion Connector, see you there! 
  • Feb 9, Agua Blanca Trail – Alan Coles has been leading some incredible projects on the Agua Blanca Trail. The next one is Feb 9, come and see what they’re all about! 

Not Super Bowl Weekend but….

LPFA and Los Padres trail legend Mike Smith will be heading back to Santa Barbara Canyon to continue work on the Heartbreak Hill Reroute. Cutting new trail in the wilderness DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN! Don’t miss this opportunity! Click the button below to get more info and sign up…. 

I’LL BE THERE!!!

GATE UPDATES

At this point, the seasonal gates have shut for the season. Knowing the status of gate closures is tricky and it can certainly ruin your weekend outing if you come across a locked gate you expected would be open. Some gates are opened/closed solely on established dates, other gates are opened/closed around storm systems and weather events – open during dry times and closed when rain is forecast. It’s really hard to know for sure if and when a gate will be open/closed. Best advice for any of you heading to the mountains is to do your homework ahead of time. Here are a few resources: 

  • The Forest Service has a page dedicated to road and campground closures. It may not be exactly up to date, especially during shoulder seasons, so give the Ranger Stations a call to confirm. Their phone numbers are also listed on the page.
  • HikeLosPadres.com has a page with status and location of the gates that often provide (or deny) the most access. If you have any updates or would like to see gates added, let us know INFO@LPForest.org.

Newly Closed Gates

  • Grade Valley Road (at Lockwood Valley Road: Grade Valley, Thorn Point, Johnston Ridge access)
  • Santa Barbara Canyon Road (at the Reyes Ranch: SB Canyon, Sierra Madre, Buckhorn Rd access)
  • Frazier Mountain Road (just past Chuchupate Ranger Station)

Smokey stands strong through this past snow event at Chuchupate Station, photo MPRD

It’s not all about snow this time of year. There’s plenty of fun to be had down in the valleys too….

LPFA Trail Days: Piedra Blanca Trail, Jan 17 – 20

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Nothing quite like a Los Padres January sunset…. Piedra Blanca TH

Happy New Year Friends, 

For better or worse, the Los Padres has seen a dry, dry start to the winter season. While we’re all hoping for wet weather soon, we can’t just sit around and wait. So, we’re taking advantage of this unseasonably warm January to lead an overnight trail maintenance trip on the Piedra Blanca Trail this MLK Weekend, January 17 – 20. 

Join LPFA at Piedra Blanca Camp as we continue some much-needed maintenance on the Piedra Blanca Trail! We spent 5 days here last May and got a TON of trail worked. We only have 1.2 miles left to reach our goal of Pine Mountain Lodge Camp. Come out and help us brush this trail and enjoy some epic views of the Sespe Wilderness on an iconic National Recreation Trail. Click below for more info and to sign up for this project. And scroll down a little further for more upcoming volunteer opportunities! 

Thanks everyone, hope to see you out there….. 

Piedra Blanca, SIGN ME UP!!!

How it started vs. how it’s going. Don’t you love a wilderness highway? Credits from left: Danny T. & Jeff N. on Piedra Blanca Trail, May 2024

MORE VOLUNTEER OPPORUNITIES

Agua Blanca Trail, Sunday Jan 12

Meet at 8am at the Temescal Fire Station at Lake Piru to join an Alan Coles Agua Blanca Trail Day. The focus on this trip is to repair some rough sections of the trail that were damaged by the flood in 2023. The hike will be 3 miles round-trip with several stream crossings. Email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to RSVP or get more info! 

Can’t make Sunday but wish you could? These projects are ongoing, so sign up below to stay on the list for future dates…. 

AGUA BLANCA SIGNUP!!!

Matilija Trail, Ongoing

LPFA is continuing work on the North Fork Matilija Trail. The road to this trail has been closed since January 2023 and we’re working the trail in preparation for a Summer 2025 reopening date. Email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to join us this Saturday, Jan 11 for our next project. 

These days are ongoing, twice a week. Sign up below to stay on the list for future projects!

We sure have a lot to do…. 

SB Frontcountry, Ongoing

LPFA will be out on the Tunnel Connector Trail at 8am TOMORROW, Jan 10 as part of our ongoing Santa Barbara Frontcountry Trail Projects. These have been a blast. Email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to sign up and get more details for tomorrow, there are still a few spots left! 

We lead weekly projects on a variety of trails in the SB Frontcountry. Sign up below to stay in the loop for trail projects each week! We take requests too…. 

Matilija Signup!
SB Frontcountry Signup!

Summer Trail Update and Volunteering!

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Grubbing is easy with twenty volunteers. Rancho Nuevo Trail looking epic as always on National Trails Day….

LPFA SUMMER TRAIL WORK UPDATE

LPFA had a successful final push through the end of spring with projects on the Mount Pinos and Ojai Ranger Districts. In May, volunteers braved the heat and rattlesnakes for 5 days to brush 2.3 miles of the Piedra Blanca Trail above Twin Forks Camp. For National Trails Day, LPFA spent 3 days working the Rancho Nuevo Trail and knocked out 1.5 miles of maintenance, including fixing one monster slide (see photo below) and clearing one giant downed oak. We then followed up on the Boulder Canyon Trail the next weekend and spent two days clearing 25 downed trees on the upper 1.5 miles of the trail. With temperatures warming, we’re grateful to be able to spend some time at higher elevations and in shady canyons while we continue working our awesome LP trails! 

We’ll be staying cool this summer by holding volunteer opportunities near some year-round LP watering holes, shady higher elevations, and cool coastal trails. There’s lot’s to do, but also lot’s of fun to be had. Check out these awesome opportunities to spend some time in the forest this season…. 

See you out there! 

Hurricane Hilary approaching last August from the Hurricane Deck Trail….

Hot Schoolhouse Summer

Manzana Schoolhouse Camp ~ July 12 – 15

LPFA made a big push to open up the western side of the Hurricane Deck Trail this past spring and we are SO CLOSE to punching through. Come help us knock out the last quarter mile of the Western Deck! We’ll be driving into Manzana Schoolhouse Camp for an extended weekend to complete work on the Deck and Schoolhouse Camp. We don’t get to do this very often so DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! And there is still tons of water out there for a Sisquoc Pool Party after each day of great work. 

Last time we drove to the Schoolhouse, we put on a new roof. If you haven’t seen it in person yet, what better way than to join LPFA on this return visit! To get more info or sign up click the link below or email us at VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org. 

Sign Me Up For The Deck!!!

And a few more volunteer events!!!

Matilija Trail: Saturday, July 6th!

After pivoting to Cozy Dell Trail due to access issues this spring, we are happy to announce we’ll be heading BACK TO MATILIJA! Join LPFA on Saturday, July 6th as we kick off our twice weekly events on the Matilija Trail this summer. There is still epic water in this canyon, a place that should always make the top of the “best of summer” spots in the LP. Click here or email us to sign up or get more info! 

Graffiti Removal: SB Frontcountry

It’s been a major bummer to see increasing amounts of graffiti across the Forest in recent years. We’re hoping to remove as much as we can this summer at locations like Lizards Mouth, West and East Camino Cielo and Romero Trail. But, WE COULD REALLY USE SOME HELP! We also LOVE donations to our Graffiti Removal Fund to help purchase materials required for environmentally-friendly graffiti removal… Sign up here or email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org. 

Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center

LPFA manages the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center up Highway 33 and summer is our busy season! We are looking for volunteers interested in helping with day to day operations at the center, building maintenance, or visitor contacts. We’re open weekends 9am – 3pm, but it would be great to be open more too! Email us at VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to ask how to get involved with Wheeler… 

SB Frontcountry: Ongoing Trail Maintenance

As the backcountry heat kicks in, LPFA will be leading more and more projects in the Santa Barbara Frontcountry. Come join us for a morning of trail maintenance on trails close to town including Rattlesnake, Cold Spring, and Tunnel. First up is Rattlesnake Trail on JULY 9th! Sign up here or email us to get on the list for updates as we schedule projects throughout the summer. 

We’d love to work as many trails as we can this summer. Donations help us do just that. Consider donating to our Trail Care Fund to keep us working all summer long…..

DONATE TO THE TRAILS!!!

Ocean? Fog? Both? Does it matter? Coastal views from high up in the Ventana

Forest 411

  • While summertime in the Los Padres can be a challenge, there’s plenty of great water across the forest this year and no shortage of trails and off-trails to explore even when the temperatures get into the red. That being said, remember that heat related illnesses are a major concern this time of year. Be prepared, know the signs and act quickly.
  • Speaking of heat, there have been a few wildfires bookending the Los Padres over the past few weeks. The Coast Fire up in Big Sur and the Post Fire down in Hungry Valley. The Post Fire (90% contained) is the bigger of the two and burned nearly 16,000 acres. Stay fire safe everyone.
  • Summertime is also deer hunting season here in the Los Padres. A-Zone South archery kicks off July 13 and general on August 10. We’ll share this information again in the coming weeks but as usual expect the forest to get very busy during the opening weekends of A-Zone.
  • “Poaching is a serious crime”. The Los Padres poachers who illegally obtained over 85 big game licenses and tags were found guilty and sentenced. More information is available here and here.
  • Patrick Lieske, who was one of our buddies with the Forest Service, tragically passed away in April due to an accidental drowning while crossing a fast flowing Santa Ynez River. Patrick was a biologist working on the Los Padres and helped us with quite a few projects over the years. Patrick had a tangible passion for the outdoors and for all the local critters who call the outdoors home. We’re going to miss Patrick, he was good for the forest and we truly appreciated all his help and shared wisdom over the years.

From left: Sawyers tackle one of many downed trees on Boulder Canyon; nothing like the walk back to camp on your freshly-brushed trail (Piedra Blanca, J. Nelson); brusher/swamper teams made quick work on Rancho Nuevo Trail

Forest Gates Opening & Volunteer Trail Work Updates

Posted on by Bryan Conant

When Los Padres eyes are smiling….. photo A. Jerlow

Hello Friends, 

It’s mid-May and we hope this email finds you well and busy planning your next forest adventure. The big news across the Los Padres at the moment is the opening of most of the seasonal gate closures. Many of the Forest Service dirt roads across the LP are closed during the winter in order to protect those roads and/or prevent vehicles from getting stuck. The gates usually close sometime in December and depending on the extent of needed repairs and when the snow melts, those gates swing open sometime in late-April to mid-May. That’s right now….. 

GOOD NEWS, the Forest Service has been busy working on road repairs over the past month and have reopened most of the seasonal gate closures across the forest ~ yay! Some of the fan favorites that have reopened include Pine Mtn, Grade Valley, Bates and all the usual OHV gates in the Pinos District. Unfortunately, not all the gates have reopened and we’ve listed some of the gates that remain closed within this email. Sometimes information spreads slowly across the forest and we always encourage folks to contact your local District Office or check in with us to confirm if the gates are open or if you have any questions.

It’s starting to warm up but there’s still tons of water and it’s about as good as it gets in the forest right now! As always, if you are looking for trail conditions or more information from the forest, check out HikeLosPadres.com or the LPFA social media feeds. Hope to see you out there!  

Fresh off two Working Vacations in the San Rafael and Sespe Wildernesses, up next is a three-day trail project in the Dick Smith as part of National Trails Day. We’ll be car-camping at Rancho Nuevo Campground and working up-canyon from there restoring the trail as we go. If you’ve not been to this corner of the forest, it’s spectacular and should be epic this time of year after all the rains. Come one, come all, camp both nights or come for the day! We’d love the help if you feel like giving back to the trails – #NationalTrailsDay. To sign up click the link below….. 

Rancho Nuevo Volunteer – YES!

Did you know that the Gene Marshall – Piedra Blanca Trail is one of only two federally desigated National Recreation Trails within the Los Padres NF? We’re doing our best to keep it open for people to enjoy. photo J. Nelson.

• As mentioned above, the LPFA just wrapped up a two-week Working Vacation in the San Rafael Wilderness along the Manzana Trail. We were able to complete 4 miles of trail restoration over that time thanks to a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the HUGE efforts of the 31 volunteers who helped along the way. We made a short IG reel showing some of the work and vacation from our time in the SB Backcountry. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out which is more fun! Thanks everyone….. 

• Meanwhile, the LPFA Trail Crew has continued our work on the nearby Sweetwater Trail, which is also in the San Rafael. We were able to knock out another 1.25 miles of trail over the past 10 days and will hopefully connect the dots with previous work later this season. Thanks again to NFWF for the funding support and RPL for the water huffing. 

• We also just completed a 5-day volunteer project on the Gene Marshall – Piedra Blanca Trail in the Sespe Wilderness. While it was hot, we were able to do 2.5 miles of trail restoration up towards Pine Mtn Lodge. This was 100% funded by private donations from forest users like yourself and we’re hoping to push on up to PML on an upcoming cooler weekend. Stay tuned! Thanks to the 25 volunteers who helped in the Sespe including T111, you are all welcome back anytime! 

• We also continue with our regular frontcountry volunteer trail projects in both Ojai as well as Santa Barbara, keep an eye out for those. As always, we take requests too. If there is a trail you love and would like to see given some TLC, let us know and we’ll get the ball rolling and hopefully some boots on the ground to help. Thanks everyone…. 

Donate to the Trails

TRAIL VOLUNTEERS: Piedra Blanca Trail

Posted on by Addison Jerlow

Piedra Blanca Trail Project

May 8 – 12, 2024

Sunset on Piedra Blanca, Nick D.

Hello Friends, 

LPFA and our wonderful volunteers have spent A LOT of time in the San Rafael Wilderness this season. No complaints here, it’s been incredible out there. But for our next project, we’re mixing it up and heading to the Sespe…. 

Join us at Piedra Blanca Camp ~ May 8 – 12 as we head back to the Sespe Wilderness for the second time this season! LPFA spent 5 days on the Piedra Blanca Trail in May 2023, knocking out 3.2 miles of maintenance from the trailhead to Twin Forks Camp. We’re excited to get back out there and keep working up toward Pine Mountain Lodge! Here’s what you need to know: 

  • LPFA will provide tools and some cold beverages for the trip. 
  • You’ll need to backpack in your own personal gear and food the 3.9 miles from the Piedra Blanca Trailhead to Piedra Blanca Camp. It’s a short and awesome hike across Sespe Creek and over the Piedra Blanca Formation. 
  • While we’d love people to come out for all 5 days, you are more than welcome to come for shorter stints too. Sign up and we’ll work out the details from there. 
  • Be sure to bring a bathing suit! There are awesome swimming holes near camp to cool off in at the end of the day. 
  • To sign up, please click the link below or email us at VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org with any questions. 

Thanks everyone, hope to see you out there…..

Piedra Blanca!? SIGN ME UP!!!

From top left: Area Map, Piedra Blanca Return, Dorsey C., Piedra Blanca Creek, Clancy T.

Los Padres National Trails WEEK & Forest Closure Revision

Posted on by Bryan Conant
Nothing better than the hike back after a hard day of trail work, Piedra Blanca Working Vacation, May 2023 – photo Dorsey C.

Hello Friends,

We hope this email finds you rested and ready for an adventurous weekend in the Los Padres. We wanted to send out a quick reminder that tomorrow June 3 is National Trails Day (NTD). In case you were wondering, NTD is an annual day set aside to recognize the importance of trails and provide ways for the public to give back to the trails we all use and love.

While a day of celebrating trails is great, doesn’t a week sound even better? Sure does… so with that in mind, we’re extending NTD out through June 10 ~ let’s call it National Trails Week! Over the next week (NTW) there will be an assortment of trail projects across the Los Padres that you can chip in and help with. We’ve listed a few in the green bubble within this email. We hope to see you at some, or all, of these trail events over the coming days and thanks again for helping the trails!

FOREST 411

• The Forest Service issued a new revised Forest Closure Order last week which officially opens more of the trails and road access to the forest. Check it out here.

• Included within the list of newly reopened trails is a portion of the Santa Cruz Trail between Upper Oso and 19 Oaks. The LPFA Trail Crew and Volunteers have been kicking butt throughout May clearing slides and restoring the Santa Cruz Trail. You can read more about it here.

In addition to  Santa Cruz here is a list of trails we’ve worked over the past couple weeks and some in the queue for the coming weeks ahead:

NATIONAL TRAILS WEEK

June 3: Santa Paula Canyon

Join the LPFA and LPNF as we spend NTD helping to restore the Santa Paula Canyon Trail. Click here to sign up of for more details.

June 6: Santa Cruz Trail

LPFA will be continuing our trail work up the Santa Cruz this Tuesday June 6. Click here for more…..

June 10: SB Frontcountry

Join the fun as a consortium of folks will spend Saturday 6/10 working on Cold Spring and Buena Vista Trails. Click here to find out more.

June 3: Deal Trail

The MPRD is hosting a NTD project on the spectacular Deal Trail near Ozena. Email Mark for to sign up.

June 3: Baron Ranch Weeding

The SB County Trails Council will be hosting an invasive weed removal day at Baron, click here to sign up.

June 4: West Fork Cold Spring

Sage will be leading a trail day on West Fork, check it out here.

June 10: Big Sur Trail

The Ventana Wilderness Alliance is back at it, this time on the Big Sur Trail. All hands on deck, click here to donate yours.

Some more Piedra Blanca teamwork – thanks to all the volunteers who helped! – photo Delia Sander