Day One

Leave LA as early as you can cuz' traffic

• Last cheapish pit stop · Circle K - 11408 N Ventura Avenue in Ojai
• Nearest grocery store · Vons - 1125 Maricopa Highway in Ojai - It's still a 45-minute drive from the trailhead so stock up on food before you arrive.

Park at Piedra Blanca Trailhead and hike to Oak Flat Campground

• It's a 7.2 mile one-way hike, with 525 feet of elevation gain, to Oak Flat
• Power up on some snacks, layer on sunscreen, bug spray, and fill up your water bottles (at least 1.5 L). You'll be hiking along the river so there'll be plenty of chances to refill your water.
• If you're running out of daylight, you'll also pass Bear Creek campground around mile 4, which is a fine spot to rest your head for the night

Arrive and set up camp at Oak Flat Campground

• Campsites are first-come, first-serve, but we recommend claiming the group equestrian campsite near the mountain, further away from the river.

Cool off in the Sespe River

Chill and cook up dinner

• You did it! Enjoy your first night in Los Padres National Forest!

Car to camp: 7 miles - 525 feet of elevation gain - 4 to 5 hours

The name Sespe can be traced back to a Chumash Indian village, called Cepsey, Sek-pe or S'eqpe' ("Kneecap") in the Chumash language

Day Two

Make brekkie and day hike to Willett hot spring

• It's a 6.4 mile round-trip hike, with 1,145 feet of elevation gain, to Willett hot spring and back to Oak Flat.
• Download a trail map because there isn't any signage to Willett hot spring
• Pack a daypack with water, lunch, bug spray, water filter, a small towel, and lunch

Enjoy lunch and a warm soak at Willett hot spring

• It's a smallish tub so plan on rotating if there are other groups on the trail or if you're hiking with more than four people

Return to Oak Flat for a sunset dinner

• Cook up your last dinner in Sespe Wilderness!

Day hike: 6.4 miles - 1,145 feet of elevation gain - 4 hours

Sespe Wilderness is also home to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary. It's not open to the public, but it was established to protect one of the most endangered animals in the world. What's a major threat to condors? Microtrash (i.e. bottle caps, broken glass).

DAY THREE

Pack up and leave camp around 8 AM

• Cook up brekkie, pick up any random pieces of litter around camp and save some snacks for the return trek
• Layer on sunscreen, bug spray, and fill up your water bottles!

Hike 7 miles back to Piedra Blanca Trailhead

• Remember there'll be some creek crossings!

Drive to Farmer and the Cook in Ojai for lunch

• Diners love their smoothies, vegetarian Mexican dishes, and awesome outdoor patio
• Located at 339 W El Roblar Drive in Ojai
• Open Mondays to Wednesdays · 8 AM to 4 PM and Thursdays to Sundays · 8 AM to 7 PM

Head home!

Camp to car: 7 miles - 4 to 5 hours

California has the second largest number of wilderness areas in the country (Alaska has the most)