Lots of snakes. The second trail called Johnson Ridge Trail is the second option at 9.5 miles one way. Turn north on A Street/Goodenough Road and drive 14.1 miles to Dough Flat Trailhead. Water flowing entire distance, but low for late February. 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. CHAPTER 1 Introduction to the Southern Los Padres CHAPTER 2 About This Guide PART I SANTA BARBARA AND WESTERN MT. Past the junction you will findShady Camp (2440 feet) at 17.5 miles. We saw 7 snakes over the whole trip, none of them were rattlesnakes but other backpackers we saw said they did see multiple rattlesnakes. The most accessible hike to Willett Hot Springs is the Sespe River Trail, which begins at the Piedra Blanca trailhead. Trail in good shape and easy to He's been out there for years. Im guessing the parks district heard about all the trash along the trail and did something because it was really clean out there this weekend. Unfortunately where the trail was below the high water line it is completely gone. 0, Big Sur Station Multi-Agency Visitor Center Alder Creek Camp - Ventura South Los Padres 2520 ft. Ventura County Ojai Ranger District Trail Camp Ant Camp South Los Padres 2700 ft. Ventura County Ojai Ranger District Trail Camp A landslide essentially wiped out the trail along the mountainside and there was no viable alternative route, in my estimation. (805) 623-0328, Monterey Ranger District Sespe is the best! SESPE WILDERNESS - More information on the Sespe Wilderness: www.wilderness.net, Maps: Tom Harrison - Sespe Wilderness Map or 7.5 minute USGS topographic maps (Devils Heart Peak). Continue west one mile to reach Cow Spring Camp. From the town of Fillmore in Ventura County, take A Street . Sespe Creek flowing well, but crossings are easy to do . 366: Route 90 Dough Flat to Shady Camp via Alder Creek 20W11. Lots of trash and horse poop. until the trail leaves the drainage bottom, approximately Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 16 min to complete. Willett Hot Springs can be visited as a long 19-mile day hike, or as a more reasonable overnight backpacking adventure. It is brushy on the last drop down to Alder at Shady Camp. Camping this area is hot during the day and cold at night through the am. Couldnt make it in. on official, secure websites. Very quite area away from the city infrastructures . Flowing out of a large southern California wilderness, Sespe Creek is a major tributary of the Santa Clara River in Ventura County. Following along the Sespe Creek Trail, there are several more campsites accessible a day's walk from the trailhead. The elevation gain at certain parts is extremely tiring and some parts of the trail are overgrown. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. This website was developed for adventurists, explorers and enthusiasts of both the Northern and Southern portions of the Los Padres National Forests. Water flowing intermittently with the deeper pools still holding especially near Bear and just upstream of Oak flat. Be advised, Willet is super popular and not much area to camp once you're at the spring. At about 10.5 miles from Dough Flat, Sespe River Trail arrives at Johnson Ridge Trail and the turn off for Sespe Hot Springs. The water spicketts at Willett Camp were dried up as well. 1. Enjoy your visit! . GPS is essential out here past Willett. The trail in from Dough Flat should be good for that possible resupply although the trailhead is 3 miles further away in winter. Find your route along the river and join the trail where it comes down to the river as well. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The sheep one can see today were relocated from the San Gabriel Mountains in the mid-1980s in an effort rebuild their population. Categories . san rafael swell recreation area camping / southern style hash browns in oven / southern style hash browns in oven At about 10.5 miles from Dough Flat, Sespe River Trail arrives at Johnson Ridge Trail and the turn off for Sespe Hot Springs. Sespe Creek starts in the mountains near Potrero Seco Camp, close to the border between Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, and flows south and east joining the Santa Clara River 55 miles later near Fillmore. So, armed with Brennen's directions we headed out for six days of adventure on the Sespe. Just now finished a 4 day & 3 night trip. Ojai, CA 93023 Major tributaries include the Lion Canyon, Hot Springs Canyon, Timber, West Fork Sespe and Little Sespe Creeks, although over 30 creeks and springs nourish it. curtis wayne wright jr wife. Lots of nice fall foliage and pretty valley views. Continuing towards Hot Springs Canyon, there are several more camps before you reach Willets. 1156. This is also the most difficult hike. Thank you for taking the time to visit Hike Los Padres. Trail is in great shape. Truly magical & a long haul so be prepared. pascal wager: definitive edition. Johnson Ridge Trail - Begins from the trailhead at Mutau Flat, extends for 9.5 miles, and is rated as difficult. Trail Distance 5.95 Miles Take Highway 126 to Fillmore. Overall great trip just wish we would have started a bit earlier to avoid the bit of night hiking we had to do. Sespe Hot Springs via Alder Creek Trail The most accessible hike to Willett Hot Springs is the Sespe River Trail, which begins at the Piedra Blanca trailhead. The trail from Piedra to Sespe is about 14 miles, from Dough to Sespe is about 11 miles. The general deer hunting season in Zone D13 starts this weekend October 12 and lasts through November 10. There is no real cold stream coming down to mix with the hot creek anymore so you are left with shallow hot water in the whole canyon, was all too hot to soak. Went to the first 2 creek crossings to find both completely dry.. Hike From Highway 33 take Rose Valley Road to the Piedra Blanca Trailhead. one mile from Alder Camp. I had doubts that they would find him as they were easy to spot from a mile away and a single person could easily hide from them. The Sespe River Trial proceeds down stream and is in excellent shape. Hiked to Willet two weekends in a row, water flowing through most parts of the Sesepe which was good to see. Lovely hike in with fall foliage, and the hot springs are hard to match in California. So if you are planning a trip to that part of the Forest be sure to plan on an extra 8miles of road hiking/biking before you get to the trailhead. Alder Creek. In the other vehicle(s) continue along the only open road for 5.5mi and 20min to the Dough Flat trailhead at 34 o 31.34'N 118 o 53.73'W. 2 important notes: Crossings were not too hard but did require your feet to get wet. You could probably take the first ridge down as well but the upper section looked a little sketcy to me.. From the Dough Flat Trailhead, you will enter the Sespe Wilderness within mile. Hike 2.5 miles north to the Bucksnort Trail Junction. Continue west one mile to reach Cow Spring Camp.Continue 3.2 miles down to Alder Creek Camp. My group accessed the Sespe Trail via the Alder Creek Trail, from Dough Flat trailhead. We brushed the trail coming up and out of the Alder Creek Drainage up through the steep uphill part of the trail. Trail is good from the PB trailhead to the Red Reef junction. Download the GPS track to help you find your way. Because the optimal way to walk the GMT is from north-to-south (the other direction involves a 3,000 foot ascent of the southern, sun exposed ramparts of the Pine Mountain ridge), we dropped a car Lion Campground where the Sespe Trail begins and then drove up the Maricopa Highway to the trailhead near Reyes Creek and Camp Scheideck. Both were in places where there has been historical slide damage: We were attempting to access sespe creek from dough flat trail head, but got turned around just after climbing out of alder creek on the sespe river trail. There was poison oak but I think lots is an exaggeration at least at the bottom. There are no downed objects or other navigation hazards. We found a small spring around the 6.5 mile mark, but that was the only water source we were able to find aside from the major springs. Sespe Middle Narrows 2/22 1158. Got stalked by a mountain lion who stomped around camp and grunted at us all night. I don't know why they send you that way. Summer is brutally hot and dry. anne boleyn ghost photo Nahimutang ni sa estado sa California, sa habagatan-kasadpang bahin sa nasod, 3,800 km sa kasadpan sa Washington, D.C. Adunay 823,318 ka molupyo. Off to the right (east and south) are Squaw Spring, Dough Flat, Pidgeon Flat, Cow Spring . 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. We started at around 1 pm and didnt get to camp until 7:30 (~23 min mile pace). Expect to see a lot more activity within D13 over the next month and in particular this long holiday weekend. After Bear Creek Camp crossings are thigh to hip deep, There were some washed out sections of trail that need a little work, but overall the trail was in good condition. . Alder Creek campsite is in good condition and shows signs of light use. The road is a combination of dirt, gravel and pavement. During wet weather, 4WD is strongly advised. Maybe an experienced individual could have found a way, but my group did not want to take the risk given the slope and apparent loose ground. 406 S Mildred Ave I approached the slide and decided it was too dangerous to cross. The landslide at Kerr Spring wasn't a problem. Pit toilet was open but pretty gross. Take I-5 north to CA 126 west; turn north in Fillmore on A Street-Goodenough Road for 141/2 jolting miles (high clearance or 4WD vehicle is recommended). Past the camp you will come to Kerr Spring, the first year-round water source, which is located .8 miles further from Bear Creek Camp on the south side of the river. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. follow. The Dough Flat parking area is adjacent to the public access corridor of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary. Expect to see a lot more activity within D13 over the next month and in particular this long holiday weekend. If there is no water there, continue downstream and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. Its here that youll want to leave Johnson Ridge Trail and continue to the right, upstream along the creek another half-mile to the hot springs. Another9.4 miles down the trail is Thacher Camp (2528 feet) which is sort of an overflow camp for Willet Camp and Hot Spring (2520 feet) (9.8 miles), as you continue on you will find Hartman Camp (2489 feet) (10.9 miles), and then Coltrell Flat Camp (2312 feet) (14 miles). River crossings from Coltrell to Sespe Camp are difficult. Day 2 headed back after a nice dip in the am and found a nice spot with beach like sand about 4 miles back from springs and a nice 6ft deep spot in the cold spring to beat the heat. What needs to be done now is several pools need to be dug out along the creek to allow the hot water to cool. Shady camp is in good condition and shows signs of light use. Mud covered and rocky. Many have crossed but I'm a chicken. Sespe River Trail is unshaded much of the way, so plan accordingly. Recorded time is mostly moving. I had to turn back about 6 miles in, as there was a very long narrow ledge with a steep drop I didnt think my pup and I would be able to make. the lupine and blue dicks). If you visit on the weekend, it's probably very busy at Willet. The Mosquito Flat trailhead is at 10,000 and you have to go over Mono Pass at 12,000. 373: Route 91 Bucksnort Trail 19W18. sba-den_15.JPG by Doc Searls 1 If I'm reading this right, the gray mountain to the right is the home to Oak Flat and the condor release point. 24 Jun . Add 2.5 miles or so to the hike because the access road may be closed getting to the trailhead. United States. Thank you to the Ventura county sheriffs for trying to take care of this bizarre situation! The trail is still in good shape but a bit hard to follow in spots but there are some trail markers. Trails were pretty clearly marked but we did a few times find ourselves going a wrong way and having to backtrack. It is one of the last wild rivers in Southern California. The road climbs its way out of the Matilija Creek drainage, and just as it starts to level out youll want to look for the turnoff to Rose Valley on your right. Getting from the start of Goodenough Road to the trailhead will take you about an hour. Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. We also headed out to fix the slide that occurs on the side of the mountain coming out of the saddle and down into the Sespe. Using a pickmatix, we worked to open up the footing and widen it to ensure safe passage. Instead of starting at Dough Flat, I wanted to start at the Piedra Blanca trailhead (Lions Camp)and then camp at Willett Hot Spring, then Sespe Hot Springs, then in the Sespe Narrows, and finally camp at the Tar Creek / Sespe confluence. Past the palm trees, the trail arrives at the hot springs. From downhill side. A very tough hike. But if you want to go the shortest route, the Ojai Ranger District suggests starting your hike at the Dough Flat Trailhead, north of the town of Fillmore. We've seen backpackers have to drop crosscountry down to the Sespe here as well in years past. Tar Creek forms part of the southern border of the Sespe Condor Sactuary and Dough Flat Rd forms part of its eastern boundary. The biggest issue was that the spur trail up to the hot springs was washed out and sketchy enough for them not to make it up to the hot spring - wow! I was not bitten on my legs where I wore pants, nor on my feet, which were bare while I sat in the shade. Sespe Camp and the Springs are a dream! Left Panel: View west . Where the trail has obviously been cleared it is wide open but where it has not been cleared a traveler needs to push aside some light brush to continue. Sespe Hot Springs - Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest; Sykes Hot Springs - Ventana Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest . . We found hot springs that were about 105 degrees which seems hot, but you get used to it. All trail campsites in the Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest A total of 29 Sespe Wilderness Camps are currently available. Unfortunately the rain has done little to tamp down the biting gnats, though they are only an issue at the canyon of sespe hot springs. I recommend starting early and packing layers! I hiked from Piedra Blanca to Willet on Saturday 2/11. Las Virgenis Creek. There was a lot of graffiti and vandalism at the trailhead. Once at the hot springs, we used some shovels others had left behind to dig out built up sediment and create some pools. ABH 611 Rock Springs Rd, Escondido, CA 92025, jw marriott mall of america room service menu, impairment rating payout calculator south carolina, can a handyman install a ceiling fan in texas, hillsborough county high school athletics, 15150 nacogdoches road, suite 100 san antonio, tx 78247, hand and foot card game rules for 4 players, what does the old woman say in gran torino, funerals at worthing crematorium tomorrow. Gate closed Saturday afternoon added 2.5ish miles to our hike to the hot springs (14.4 in) but gate was open when we returned Sunday- downloading this map recommended for places where trail easy to lose by river, hot springs really hot with two good size pools and a really nice palm oasis camp spot for many tents. dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. Ventura County mopakigbahin sa usa ka utlanan sa Santa Barbara County, Kern County, ug Los . Trail is in good condition besides rock slide after crossing bear creek camp. I know that the map says there's a bigger difference, but it's really about the same. Water crossings are about ankle to waist high. Starting from the parking lot at Piedra Blanca, the trail quickly drop down to the river crossing, after the crossing Lion Creek and Sespe Creek is the Gene Marshall Piedra Blanca trail junction. Continue 3.2 miles down to Alder Creek Camp. Despite the dry river, the terrain was beautiful. Photo by Anna Roth. 5.2 miles to the Sespe Hot Springs. This section of trail is just upstream from Kerr Spring and was reworked about 5-7 years ago. Usually rangers leave shovels by fire pits but I didnt see any along the way. and there is not much shade so it can be very hot. Cold water is just down stream a bit for filtering. A search began by helicopter of the areas of Tar Creek, Dough Flats, Devils Gate, The Sespe Hot Springs, and all surrounding trails. . Download the GPS track to help you find your way. Along the . The last 6 miles from there to the Sespe Hot Springs are slightly overgrown, lots of long grass obscuring the trail in sections, a good amount of poison oak along the trail, most of it can be avoided if you are careful. To learn more about gear visit the following: From the junction with the Alder Creek trail there is water found along the east fork of alder creek off and on until the junction with Alder creek then there is flowing water in alder creek until Shady Camp. Since this trail is in the wilderness, only hikers and equestrians are permitted. Be very cautious en route to trailhead. This hike is very difficult. Follow the road, being careful to stay on the main road, the side roads will take you to oil well pads. (Next time will be adding another day to break it up). Upper Sespe 2/22 1165. We did in 3 days staying at Sespe on the way there and Cow Springs on the way back. Sespe Creek is a stream, some 61 miles long in Ventura County. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. 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. All but one creek crossing were completely dry. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 13 h 26 min to complete. As long as youre prepared for elevation and give yourself enough time, its well worth the hike! I am covered in bites all over my arms, neck, and body which had been covered by my loose-fitting button-down shirt. Check out this 23.2-mile out-and-back trail near Fillmore, California. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. Blog Home Uncategorized dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. Day 1 made it all the way to Sespe hot springs which was rough. 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; hundred mile sections of the PCT in the Cascades; loops in Big Bend: I am proud to say I . There are seven more river crossings before Sespe Hot Springs. Pratt Trail 4/22 1162. To get to dough flat hang right not straight. 1616 N. Carlotti Dr. Be prepared, there is very little water this time of year. Instead of starting at Dough Flat, I wanted to start at the Piedra Blanca trailhead (Lions Camp)and then camp at Willett Hot Spring, then Sespe Hot Springs, then in the Sespe Narrows, and finally camp at the Tar Creek / Sespe confluence. From Sespe Camp, Johnson Ridge Trail continues another half-mile before starting its climb away from the creek. Overall beautiful and the water is clean. Suggested Time - 5 hours. The site has a picnic table, fire pit, and nearby outhouse, each with its own cement foundation harking back to the days of when it was a car camping destination. . Here a side trail crosses the creek and arrives at Willet Camp. An adventure pass is required to park or camp in this part of the National Forest. OVERVIEW Sespe Hot Springs at its source produces water upwards of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Devils Gate 2/21 Size 25 X 30 1030. SHORT TERM CLOSURE: This area is temporarily closed until March 14, 2023 due to extreme winter weather. This is a narrow, rough road that is traveled by large oil trucks. Difficulty: moderate from trailhead to Cow Spring Camp; difficult to Shady Camp turnoff. We parked at 7am on Friday and parking lot was 3/4 full. Matilija Gorge 2/21 Size 16 X 20 1028. (831) 667-2315 . Many Trails listed may be unmaintained, always plan ahead, check weather report, know your risks and level of ability. Any advice would be appreciated. But if you want to go the shortest route, the Ojai Ranger District suggests starting your hike at the Dough Flat Trailhead, north of the town of Fillmore. You need to be able to find some of the trails due to the water washed out some of it. Alder Creek is flowing well in most parts. we pick the challenging route to Pioneer Basin. Expect to get knee to thigh deep depending on height. Thirty-one miles (50 km) of Sespe Creek is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River and National Scenic Waterway, and is untouched by dams or concrete channels. 2. turn north on A Street/Goodenough Road to Squaw Flat Sespe Creek starts in the mountains near, At about 14.75 miles from Dough Flat, and 9.5 miles from the Piedra Blanca, Sespe River Trail arrives at the junction for, This article originally appeared section A of the March 29th, 2013 edition of the, Trail Quest: Gene Marshall-Piedra BlancaTrail, Los Padres National Forest (current conditions), USGS Online Current and Historical Topo Maps, USGS Topo Maps for Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties, Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers. Fillmore is in the gray mist at the bottom left. 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. ( Dough Flat Trailhead via Alder Creek Trail DIFFICULT 19.8 mi. The next designated camp along Sespe River Trail is Oak Flat, about 7 miles from the Piedra Blanca Trailhead. Native: Rose Snapdragon: Antirrhinum multiflorum: Tall hairy stems that often fall over and run horizontal. If you fall here it is very bad. Trespass Trail 2/22 1160. . This is a difficult one way trail to Sespe Hot Springs in Sespe Wilderness. The Dough Flat site is along the public access corridor of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in the Lo Padres National Forest, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Steady climb for the next 3.5/4 mi to peak before dropping into Alder Camp. Very little water. He followed us up there in his robe and stood there for awhile as we were setting up. Went only from Piedra Blanca Trailhead downstream to Oak Flat, with camp at Bear Creek, check of Kerr Spring and other off-trail hikes. Fairly cold still at night and in the morning but perfect during the day. Mutau Flat is a meadow in Ventura County and has an elevation of 4,806 feet. Watch out for crazy Pan, & Keep your food & personal belongings with you at all times. Condor Trail follows Sespe River Trail from Alder Creek Trail to Gene Marshal-Piedra Blanca Trail. At Willett Hot Spring there's a good repair near the foot of the side trail, but another hairy traverse higher up. There are minor rock falls here and there, and the traverse of a steep loose hillside a mile or so before Sycamore is more exciting than it used to be for a few feet. Hike north 2.5 Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Alder Creek Trail is not part of the sanctuary. Update 1-11: Rains have washed out the entry road about 10miles out. how far is kharkiv from the russian border? Fish Canyon to Fish Canyon Narrows and Cienaga Campground, The Pianobox Prospect via Fish Canyon Trail, Devil's Gateway Via Agua Blanca Creek and Pothole Trail, Pronghorn OHV Trail from Hungry Valley Road, Santa Paula Canyon and Punch Bowls Trail [CLOSED], Punchbowls via Santa Paula and Last Chance Trail [CLOSED], Sespe Hot Springs via Johnston Ridge Trail [CLOSED]. The entire length of the Sespe River Trail has ten crossings of the Sespe River. At the worst part of the slide people have walked to the uphill side to climb over a small dead tree and root ball. Overview United States California Los Padres National Forest Dough Flat Trailhead via Alder Creek Trail I said hello and he said hi and proceeded to stare into my soul with his creepy empty eyes. Not for people with acrophobia or vertigo. dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. For those interested in following the Condor Trail route through the southern Los Padres National Forest in a single, continuous hike, the Piedra Blanca trailhead can serve as a potential place for resupply support. He's creepy as hell. This year the water along Sespe Creek is low and so all of the crossings are fairly easy to cross. Hike 2.5 miles north to the Bucksnort Trail Junction. Despite no formal trail tread the trail is easy to follow and navigate. Sespe Hot Springs can be gloriously . There are some cairns to be found but there are sections where there is no discernable path and the traveler must push through somewhat heavy, flood matted down brush. road traveled by large oil trucks so be very cautious as Noida, India 17 miracles snake story +91 9313127275 ; contraction de texte en ligne neeraj@enfinlegal.com No conditions reported in the past 7 days. We attempted to cross, but the hillside is not stable and we turned around at the beginning where there is a bit of exposure (if one were to slide off the trail as they would go over a 15ft cliff). dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs +1 (760) 205-9936. DIFFICULTY RATING: Moderate; elevation, 2,225 to 3,700 feet. Our group saw 8 snakes over 2 days, 4 of them rattlers. The pools were washed away, so my friend and I (mostly my friend) built one by scooping the shale and using the rocks to divert the cold river and the hot river for the perfect temperature. Super unfortunate hes out there disturbing such a beautiful area. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Be very cautious en route to trailhead. Water is usually only available here during winter and spring. Alder Trail to Sespe Hot Springs [CLOSED], https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lpnf/alerts-notices/?aid=77373, Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. Santa Maria, CA 93454 Its about 39.5 if you stop at Willett and climb to that pool. If you stay to the left, the Calleguas Creek. It's not like the Sierra foothills or Big Sur where it is the state plant and things nightmares are made of. It flows intermittently but is characterized by a series of permanent deep pools. you continue to the parking area at Dough Flat. Buckhorn Road 1/22 1163. Re: Best route to Sespe Hot Springs. They grow in marshes and around hot springs in other parts of the county as well. kind of a pain to get to. Take Highway 126 to Fillmore. (LogOut/ Trail use and trail camps are on a first-come, first-serve basis, no reservations. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. The vehicle for that trip was a Honda Civic. It starts right at the tree you have to limbo under. Ventura River. I mentioned to my partner that I wondered if that was the person we had read about in all the reviews. No fee to park. The camp is near the former homestead of Jaklin Willett, who developed the property during the late 1800s. Looking forward to do it again. Youll be drinking a lot from the stream so a good quick filter for that cold water is great. Dry January has meant creek levels are down again, though you still cant dry cross. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Mutau Flat is situated nearby to the locality Thorn Meadows. The side trail continues west past Willett Camp, and climbs up a small canyon offering some nice views of Sespe Creek and the surrounding area before arriving a half-mile later at Willet Hot Springs. Along the way there are several forks off to the right, but all are marked as private. Its heat can be felt in the stream all the way through the foot of the canyon and the floor of the campsites that dot the trail are substantially warmer than sites located near the Sespe River Trail. and reservations. Totally worth it. Then in good shape, with the above mentioned gillies, from Bear to Willet. Hiking up to Sespe was long uphill climbing but not too intense. Steady climb for the next 3.5/4 mi to peak before dropping into Alder Camp. It was an incredible 30-something mile hike and one of my earliest backpacking trips. next trail junction is 2.7 miles. Just wasnt worth the risk to me. Posted in Condor Trail, Sespe Wilderness, Trail Reports. Great mountain views the whole way, it got a lot hotter than we expected in April and we really enjoyed cooling off in the creek. So, for a resplendent escape from the sprawl and bustle of the Los Angeles area, grab your backpack and bathing suit and hit the trail to explore these four incredible hot springs in Southern CaliforniaMother Nature's best day spas. 1. Lot's of water coming out of piedra blanca creek crossing. Could use a new sign or decals at the Junction with red Reef. Pinos Ranger District In 2011, Anna, Kevin and I spent three days exploring Sespe Gorge in the Los Padres' Sespe Wilderness. This route is about 12 miles one-way, and access to the trailhead is also closed . Upper Sespe River Trail. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. miles to the first trail junction, and then turn left toward Good luck! Expect to get wet crossing the stream. Drive to Fillmore, that lies at the junction of highway 126 and highway 23. Some of the trail is super muddy and can be frosty (slippery) in the am to early afternoon. A camp at Coltrell Flat can be found under the oaks. Lots of trash on this trail, especially at Willet, Night hiked in ,only got wet thru half the water crossings,roughly 10.Only 3 we're knee high.Camped at the Palm trees at Sespie Hot Springs,was real windy but hot springs were enjoyable..Trail was good.Over all was great trip.