Los Padres National Forest
Ideal for first-timers
Trek into the wilderness and sleep in the backcountry
A cool experience with 6 to 10 mile hikes
Perfect for families with young kiddos
Pups are welcome at camp and on hiking trails
Trip · 3-day backpacking trip
For · Friends and first-time backpackers
Vibe · Moderate and fun
Distance · 21 miles and 2,592 feet of elevation gain
Permits · You won't need a wilderness permit, but apply for a CA campfire permit online and buy an Adventure Pass to park at Piedra Blanca Trailhead
Drive · 2.5 hours from LA
Ideal dates · January to May (before it gets too hot!)
Pets · Welcome on trails and campgrounds!
Los Padres National Forest (LPNF) boasts a whopping ten wilderness areas: Ventana, Silver Peak, Santa Lucia, Garcia, Machesna, San Rafael, Dick Smith, Matilija, Sespe, and Chumash. In total, the forest has a mind blowing 1.75 million acres. This trek takes you through Sespe Wilderness. The trailhead is accessible by driving along highway 33, a portion of which is considered a National Forest and State Scenic Byway. So whether it's the road trip or the hike itself, you'll witness beautiful natural landscapes in LPNF.
Official National Forest Website
Hike Los Padres Sespe River Trail Description
Main image credit: Yvonne Leow
All campsites in LPNF are first-come, first-serve, but even on the weekends (barring that it's not a holiday weekend), there are plenty of awesome backcountry campsites. Oak Flat has several established campsites, some are closer to Sespe River than others, but the one we recommend is a spacious group campsite further away from the river and closer to the mountain side.
Why? Because it has two picnic tables, plenty of shade, space for multiple tents, wooden benches, and a giant fire pit. It is an equestrian campsite so you have to deal with a bit of horse poo on the outskirts, but the picnic tables and benches are perfect for larger groups.
The name Sespe can be traced back to a Chumash Indian village, called Cepsey, Sek-pe or S'eqpe' ("Kneecap") in the Chumash language
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).
California has the second largest number of wilderness areas in the country (Alaska has the most)
This was GCI's first rocker and it remains their most popular. It's easy to open and close, and comes with a handle to carry around.
Shared Gear
A dreamy, colorful sweater to sport around camp and on chillier day hikes.
Clothes
Light as a feather and versatile enough to use for running, camping, and other nighttime activities.
Essential Items
Imagine a sleeping pad, bag, and blanket all in one. It takes some getting used to, but people love it.
Essential Items
It's not the lightest cot available, but it's comfortable, easy to set up, and break down.
Essential Items
Sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and more expensive than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.
Shared Gear
They're expensive, but you can lean on these bad boys for river crossings and navigating all kinds of terrain.
Essential Items
This mineral-based sunscreen is good for the envrionment and your skin. It's water resistant too.
Personal Stuff
When a campground is short of sinks, bring your own. Clean your dirty dishes in this expandable bin.
Kitchen
This backpacking stove weighs a couple of ounces and has a built-in igniter. It stands out in windy weather.
Kitchen
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.
