Route 84 Middle Sespe Trail 22W04. At Shady Camp junction, ascending over the saddle is very steep. SESPE HOT SPRINGS: Half Moon Campground is the closest . At one point the trail was a forest service road that lead to Willets Hot Spring, after the wilderness protection act the road was closed to car traffic and only open for hiking and horseback riding. Change). Some bad news to report along the Sespe. Left Panel: View west . River crossings are knee deep to Bear Creek Camp. I think Sespe hot springs is what you're looking for. Good for most of the time but where it is bad it is horrible. Set up camp. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The trailhead at Dough Flat is reached from Fillmore by way of Goodenough Road and unpaved Squaw Flat Road. The Sespe River Trial proceeds down stream and is in excellent shape. Los Padres National Forest, Near Maricopa, California. . Non-native: PricklyPoppy: Argemone munita From there . Overall great trip just wish we would have started a bit earlier to avoid the bit of night hiking we had to do. Our group saw 8 snakes over 2 days, 4 of them rattlers. Map Information, Interactive Visitor Map: Los Padres National Forest, Forest Recreation Informational Brochures. (805) 967-3481 or (805) 724-0079, Santa Lucia Ranger District There is access to the Dough Flat Trailhead during the spring, summer and fall and is within the winter seasonal closure between approx. 2.5 mi to Trailhead. Sespe River Trail To Sespe Hot Springs [CLOSED] - AllTrails.com Johnson Ridge Trail - Begins from the trailhead at Mutau Flat, extends for 9.5 miles, and is rated as difficult. trail will go to Alder Creek and youll reach Alder Camp The road is a combination of dirt, gravel and pavement. I hiked from Piedra Blanca to Willet on Saturday 2/11. All trail campsites in the Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest A total of 29 Sespe Wilderness Camps are currently available. The internet said there would be some sort of seasonal closure, but the road was open all the way to Dough Flat. fishballz 1 point 2 points 3 points 9 months ago I was there a week ago today. We did this as an overnight, but it could definitely be split into a two night trip. Camps appeared to all be in good shape. Cold water is just down stream a bit for filtering. Some nice campsites along creek with fire pits. Try this 32.4-mile out-and-back trail near Ojai, California. I wish I would have taken better pics since the attached don't show the steepness of the area below the slide. Blog Home Uncategorized dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. From Sespe River Trail, Johnson Ridge Trail follows Hot Springs Canyon north and arrives at Sespe Camp a half-mile later. Turn north on A Street/Goodenough Road and drive 14.1 miles to Dough Flat Trailhead. We did in 3 days staying at Sespe on the way there and Cow Springs on the way back. Alder Creek Trail is easily navigable with cairns and orange tape, but long sleeves are heavily recommended since it is overgrown in many places. The trail up to Bear creek was extremely well marked, and between Bear Creek and Oak Flat was reasonable but a bit overgrown and hard to follow at a few points. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Rain has made rocks fall like men on the trail after Bear Creek. KERR SPRINGS: The pictures pretty much tell the story. Therefore, do not follow any trails that lead north of Tar Creek. Willett Hot Springs can be visited as a long 19-mile day hike, or as a more reasonable overnight backpacking adventure. Thank you to the Ventura county sheriffs for trying to take care of this bizarre situation! We didn't see one single person. Water along the entire stretch of the Sespe from Piedra Blanca to Alder Creek. Hall: Trail description: From Piedra Blanca Trailhead downstream to Oak Flat, the trail is easy to find and follow, but with some brushy and rutted sections. Got stalked by a mountain lion who stomped around camp and grunted at us all night. Since this trail is in the wilderness, only hikers and equestrians are permitted. Sespe Wilderness - Sespe Hot Springs | Wilderness Trip Report Sespe Hot Springs offers a difficult, but rewarding hike. For Sale: 0 Old woman Spgs, Lucerne Valley, CA 92356 $30,000 MLS# HD22112651 Off paved road sits a wonderful looking property . Dough Flat Trailhead via Alder Creek Trail, Cow Spring via Alder Creek Trail and Sespe River Trail, Condor Lookout via Squaw Flat Road and Alder Creek Trail. So, armed with Brennen's directions we headed out for six days of adventure on the Sespe. 1190 E Ojai Ave To get to the Piedra Blanca trailhead from Ojai, take State Route 33 north and continue past Wheeler Gorge. From Shady Camp to the high point of the trail at (34.5781, -118.9624) there are signs of recent brush clearing work. Dough Flat Trail 4/22 1164. Sespe Gorge Sespe Gorge - Christopher E 1 miles to Dough Flat Trailhead Bankhead National Forest In recognition of the significant role that Mr . He tried to get me to skinny dip with him (I'm a guy). Overall: . All in all, trail is in good shape, minus the abundance of swingin dongs at every other swimming hole. Alder Trail to Sespe Hot Springs [CLOSED], https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lpnf/alerts-notices/?aid=77373, Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. Also known as Arroyo Sespe, Cespai River, Sespe River. Did the trail to Willet and Sespe springs during Thanksgiving weekend. These were found on Tequepis Trail. Kim_S Moderator Posts: 5102 Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:49 pm Location: San Diego. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. It was an incredible 30-something mile hike and one of my earliest backpacking trips. In late April of this year, I received an email from the Ojai RD that a small crew was being assembled to slay some downed trees along the Alder Creek Trail in the Sespe Wilderness. I saw it along the entire trail. Sespe Hot Spring via Piedra Blanca Trail | TRVRS Outdoors Best Season - Fall to Spring. You need to be able to find some of the trails due to the water washed out some of it. Follow the ridge down to the river. The trail is pretty open all the way to willet but past that you get a lot of leg scratchers. The views are worth the price of admission. 8 spiritual secrets for multiplying your money. 24 Jun . Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. Sometimes the gate is locked and you have to walk an extra 5 miles to the trail head. we pick the challenging route to Pioneer Basin. Sespe River Trail - Starting from the Piedra Blanca Trailhead, this trail is 16.8 miles one way and is rated as moderate to difficult. If you visit on the weekend, it's probably very busy at Willet. I know that the map says there's a bigger difference, but it's really about the same. This means that UNLESS there is a specific ordinance prohibiting the discharge/carry of a weapon in the PARKING LOT at that specific trailhead, the discharge/carry of a weapon is not illegal. Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Upper Sespe 2/22 1165. All rights reserved. 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). However, because the flow of the springs fills the creek one need only hike back downstream until they find a pool to their liking. . Alder Creek campsite is in good condition and shows signs of light use. Spent a few nights on Thanksgiving weekend. The trail is wide open most of the way but starts to get overgrown as you approach Alder Creek at the last crossing of the Sespe. It was admittedly a long-shot for most of the prospective volunteers a three-day mid-week sojourn via Dough Flat, that trailhead I last visited during last fall . Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 16 min to complete. Mountain bikes are not permitted in designated wilderness areas. Sespe River Trail follows Sespe Creek for roughly 20 of those miles as it passes through the Sespe Wilderness. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Most people cleared out, as they do on Sundays, and we heard from somebody that they saw him walking back to willet. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Hike north 2.5 dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. 2.5 miles, roundtrip Elevation Gain 400 feet Highest Point 6800 feet Calculated Difficulty Easy/Moderate View from Sourdough Ridge Trail into Sunrise Valley. . (LogOut/ after 0.6 miles. Trail Quest: Sespe River Trail | Songs of the Wilderness Trail use and trail camps are on a first-come, first-serve basis, no reservations. 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. Be very cautious en route to trailhead. Sespe Middle Narrows 2/22 1158. Fairly cold still at night and in the morning but perfect during the day. Started at Dough Flat Gate. Lots of dug out pool choices at Sespe, lower pools are cooler than the upper, naturally. There are parts of the trail that are frozen, parts that are dry and parts that are VERY MUDDY. Enjoy this 37.3-km out-and-back trail near Fillmore, California. 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]. And, since it's a parking lot/trailhead it is not a "public street" and prohibited under the general prohibition. . From the Dough Flat Trailhead, you will enter the Sespe Wilderness within mile. Initially the hikers were not located. and reservations. This route passes by the disappointing Willet Hot Springa rubber cistern in the ground that's filled with algaeas it follows the Sespe Creek. . Get updates on conditions, surveys and more Los Padres Forest Association - 10-03-2015, Los Padres Forest Association - 02-28-2017, https://www.globosurfer.com/best-fly-fishing-rods/, https://www.globosurfer.com/best-camping-grills/, Hiking and Backpacking Santa Barbara & Ventura, https://christopherplord.blogspot.com/2022/01/middle-lion-to-piedra-blanca-via-little.html. The first section of Condor Trail from Lake Piru to the Piedra Blanca Trailhead covers about 32 miles. Alder Trail to Sespe Hot Springs | Map, Guide - California | AllTrails document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to Songs of the Wilderness and receive notifications of new posts by email. 378: Route 92 Agua Blanca 19W10. For more information, please visit, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Pinos Ranger District Sespe Camp and the Springs are a dream! Sespe Hot Springs can be gloriously . Trespass Trail #2 2/22 1157. We parked at 7am on Friday and parking lot was 3/4 full. It starts right at the tree you have to limbo under. We fell short of making it to the Sespe Hot Springs, should have planned a 2 night trip instead of one. There were a few groups that either got to Bear creek and stayed put or decided to turn around and return to the car not willing to risk the river. Here, the canyon opens up and reveals a more spartan and rocky terrain evocative of the Palm Springs area. Overview United States California Los Padres National Forest Dough Flat Trailhead via Alder Creek Trail Sespe was definitely more unique, much hotter (maybe 105) and lots of gnats that gave us lots of gnarly itchy bites. We couldn't find the hot spring, but maybe we just needed to look more closely at the map. Sespe Creek is one of two National Wild and Scenic Rivers in our local area, the other is the Sisquoc River in the San Rafael Wilderness. 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. There are regular gnats between willet and sespe and at sespe there are special buffalo gnats that bite so watch out! When Dough Flat Road is dry, you can drive a 2WD vehicle on the road. 47555 Highway 1,Big Sur, CA 93920 Backpacking Sespe Hot Springs - NorCal Hiker To access the trail, there are three different starting points. The river is considered one of the best trout fishing streams in Ventura County. dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. Lots of nice fall foliage and pretty valley views. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Adventure Pass is notrequired for parking at the Dough Flat Trailhead. Mud covered and rocky. Expect to see a lot more activity within D13 over the next month and in particular this long holiday weekend. Tough spot for stock near Kerr Spring because of narrow trail and big step. May 1, 2022 - Dough Flat Rd is open to the trailhead. 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. 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. There's very little legacy with regard to this trail designation, but it was for a time, anyway the label given that small bit of trail east of the Devils Gate (20W14) drop-in near Hot Springs/Sespe confluence that heads over the hump and down to Alder Creek (between Alder Creek and Shady camps). The waters are channeled by hoses to a large plastic basin. Highlights on the trail include two nearby hot springs and the scenery along Sespe Creek. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Hike From Highway 33 take Rose Valley Road to the Piedra Blanca Trailhead. Tar Creek forms part of the southern border of the Sespe Condor Sactuary and Dough Flat Rd forms part of its eastern boundary. In contrast, going up to Willet was intense uphill but for a shorter distance. Pit toilet was open but pretty gross. OVERVIEW Sespe Hot Springs at its source produces water upwards of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Sespe Creek is a stream, some 61 miles long in Ventura County. peter w busch why is it important to serve your family dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. Not technically but the sun beating down on you all day definitely takes its toll. Trail is in great shape. Went as far as Willet. Water everywhere, nice and green. ) or https:// means you've safely It flows intermittently but is characterized by a series of permanent deep pools. Climb the hill south of the saddle. The trailhead is located at the Piedra Blanca parking lot, where you're required to have an Adventure Pass. Starting from the parking lot at Piedra Blanca, the trail quickly drop down to the river crossing, after the crossingLion Creek and Sespe Creek is the Gene Marshall Piedra Blanca trail junction. Also through the Creek area, it's easy to lose the trail. At the 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. I don't know why they send you that way. Overall a beautiful trail. Length23.2 miElevation gain4,419 ftRoute typeOut & back Ventura County mopakigbahin sa usa ka utlanan sa Santa Barbara County, Kern County, ug Los . Route 89 Johnston Ridge 20W12 and Sespe Hot Springs. (805) 448-6487 or (805) 724-0079, Santa Barbara Ranger District These springs also issue forth from a rock wall, but the water is in a temperature range more conducive to soaking. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs Cross the riverbed and head down-stream (east) on the old road. Try this 23.2-mile out-and-back trail near Fillmore, California. Sespe River Trail - Length 16.8 miles one way. We made sure to keep our packs under our vestibules to make sure nothing could be stolen at night. The trail will take about 5-7 hours of hiking round trip, as the elevation gain is moderate. The last spot with running water was the creek a bit before Oak Flats, maybe 2.5 miles before Willet Hot Springs. -The Sespe River Trail is WASHED OUT so Sespe Hot Springs is inaccessible. Squaw Flat Road EASY 2.0 mi. Sespe Hot Springs is a remote, backcountry spring that can only be accessed by foot or horseback. It is brushy on the last drop down to Alder at Shady Camp. Sespe Creek has some great swimming holes, but a 16 mile trek to the hot springs might be a bit much when it's 100 degrees outside. (Next time will be adding another day to break it up). Difficulty: moderate from trailhead to Cow Spring Camp; difficult to Shady Camp turnoff. The sheep one can see today were relocated from the San Gabriel Mountains in the mid-1980s in an effort rebuild their population. Update from a trip dec 17-18. During wet weather, 4WD is strongly advised. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. alder creek trail to sespe hot springs - opportunityzonehub.org Ant Camp. In the summer months, water is normally very low The 421-mile long through-hike route starts in the south at Lake Piru, traverses the southern and northern portions of the Los Padres National Forest, and ends at Botchers Gap in the Monterey Ranger District. Sespe Creek Canyon Trail is a 12.6 mile trail in California. Located along Sespe Creek, about two hours from Los Angeles, California, Sespe Hot Springs is one of several natural hot springs in the Los Padres National Forest. I am covered in bites all over my arms, neck, and body which had been covered by my loose-fitting button-down shirt. Dough is. Another route is from Dough Flat, following Alder Creek Trail to Sespe River Trail. We saw 7 snakes over the whole trip, none of them were rattlesnakes but other backpackers we saw said they did see multiple rattlesnakes. We got word this past weekend that the closure is 8miles before you get to Dough Flat. From this slide to the Sespe river there are a few other small slides but none pose nearly as great a hazard as the one above. We only went to the second camp but the stream was beautiful. December 15 - April 30. Bummer, this trail is closed. The elevation gain at certain parts is extremely tiring and some parts of the trail are overgrown. Download the GPS track to help you find your way. Despite no formal trail tread the trail is easy to follow and navigate. Introduced palms and cactus add to the effect, and completing the vision, if one is lucky, are bighorn sheep. Trail is mostly clear until this point but upon decent and through Alder Camp, beware of poison oak.