Trip · 3-day backpacking trip
For · Friends and advanced backpackers
Vibe · Challenging and hard
Distance · 32.4 miles and 4,012 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: Mary Hikes
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. Willett Camp is located nearest to Willett hot spring and is about 7 miles away from the Piedra Blanca trailhead.
Another five miles down Sespe River Trail is Sespe Hot Spring Camp and Sespe Hot Spring Palm Camp. Both of which are great overnight options near Sespe hot springs. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep! They like to hang out around Sespe hot spring.
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)