dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs

There are actually several distinct springs that amazingly issue directly from the rock walls and flow into the creek. The internet said there would be some sort of seasonal closure, but the road was open all the way to Dough Flat. kind of a pain to get to. The most straightforward way is to hike 19.5 miles from the Piedra Blanca trailhead on the western side of the wilderness. The general deer hunting season in Zone D13 starts this weekend October 12 and lasts through November 10. 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. 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. Alder Creek. I chose to pee in the woods over it. 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. We took a break at Bear Camp (4.3 miles in), made it past several creek crossings and reached Willett in about 4 hours. Directions to Trailhead: From Ojai, CA, follow Hwy 33 north for approximately 15 miles. Pit toilet was open but pretty gross. 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. Despite the dry river, the terrain was beautiful. The more deep and dammed up pools that are built from the source and downstream, the more time the water has to cool and thus the more tolerable the pools downstream are to soak in. dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs +1 (760) 205-9936. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Expect to get wet crossing the stream. This is also the most difficult hike. The Mosquito Flat trailhead is at 10,000 and you have to go over Mono Pass at 12,000. Steady climb for the next 3.5/4 mi to peak before dropping into Alder Camp. The Dough Flat parking area is adjacent to the public access corridor of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary. Trail from the last crossing of the Sespe River to Shady Campsite in mostly good but one section by the river badly overgrown and a landslide on the uphill making things dicey. 382: So, armed with Brennen's directions we headed out for six days of adventure on the Sespe. This year the water along Sespe Creek is low and so all of the crossings are fairly easy to cross. The trail is still in good shape but a bit hard to follow in spots but there are some trail markers. 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. An official website of the 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. coinbase prime pricing dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. The rain dec 10-12 has made some changes. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock This article originally appeared section A of the March 29th, 2013 edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press. Preview trail Turn north on A Street/Goodenough Road and drive 14.1 miles to Dough Flat. This hike is very difficult. I added a pic of the man, in his purple robe, in the photos. 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. Dough Flat: 34.480807, -118.916874. Within the Los Padres, D13 covers the Mt Pinos Ranger District east of Hwy 33 and the Ojai District north and east of Sespe Creek. The third trail called Alder Creek Trail is the shortest . At the Along much of Sespe Creek one will find various improvised camps reflective of the amount of usage the trail sees each year. Many have crossed but I'm a chicken. Also through the Creek area, it's easy to lose the trail. At Shady Camp junction, ascending over the saddle is very steep. Be very cautious en route to trailhead. -Despite the USFS saying the road to Dough Flat TH is closed, it is, in fact, OPEN as of 2/20/2022. I found what I feel is a safe alternate (use at your own risk). Sespe Creek receives most of its rainfall between January and April, and furnishes 40% of the water flowing in the Santa Clara River. -Have a good water filter. Map Directions Satellite Photo Map Type: Meadow Location: Ventura County, Central Coast, California, United States, North America View on OpenStreetMap Latitude 34.62831 or 34 37' 42" north Longitude In an effort to help those who come next, see links to the two stream gauges below: On 2/11 the Sespe near Wheeler springs was at 100cfs and the Sespe near Filmore was at 380 cfs. turn north on A Street/Goodenough Road to Squaw Flat I thought perhaps quail or dove, maybe even jack rabbit. The first section of Condor Trail from Lake Piru to the Piedra Blanca Trailhead covers about 32 miles. Water crossings are about ankle to waist high. Not a whole lot to say here that hasn't been said already. The creek remains free from major habitat modifications and is noteworty for its lack of dams, although one was originally proposed for a site named Topa Topa near Sespe Hot Springs in the Sespe Wilderness. At Willett Hot Spring there's a good repair near the foot of the side trail, but another hairy traverse higher up. KERR SPRINGS: The pictures pretty much tell the story. . Length 37.3 kmElevation gain 1,347 mRoute type Out & back 5 miles to the Piedra Blanca trailhead. The vehicle for that trip was a Honda Civic. Although no longer listed on some maps, this former car camping site, still has a stove and picnic table with cement foundations, neither in use, the later now crushed under a fallen oak tree. Lot's of water coming out of piedra blanca creek crossing. The last spot with running water was the creek a bit before Oak Flats, maybe 2.5 miles before Willet Hot Springs. We did have to park at the gate and hike to the trail head about 2.5 miles since it isn't open yet. He's creepy as hell. Did it as a 2 night backpacking route. (831) 385-5434 ext. Also through the Creek area, it's easy to lose the trail. Numerous trails access the WSR corridor from the north, south, east, and west. Past the junction you will findShady Camp (2440 feet) at 17.5 miles. What needs to be done now is several pools need to be dug out along the creek to allow the hot water to cool. May 1, 2022 - Dough Flat Rd is open to the trailhead. That left nearly 10 miles of trail with no water, from the aforementioned creek until you turn up the valley towards Sespe Hot Springs. There are parts of the trail that are frozen, parts that are dry and parts that are VERY MUDDY. Alder Creek Trail is not part of the sanctuary. Length23.2 miElevation gain4,419 ftRoute typeOut & back Alder Trail to Sespe Hot Springs [CLOSED], https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lpnf/alerts-notices/?aid=77373, Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. The nights are cold, cold cold. Willett Hot Springs can be visited as a long 19-mile day hike, or as a more reasonable overnight backpacking adventure. The site is more enclosed and shaded than Sespe Hot Springs, but because of the higher traffic to the area can also feel less rustic. Drive to Fillmore, that lies at the junction of highway 126 and highway 23. Update from a trip dec 17-18. King City, CA 93930 Suggested Time - 5 hours. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Sespe is amazing! Best if you're headed west since it's downhill. 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. Haven't been to Sespe Hot Springs before. At about 13.75 miles from Dough Flat and 10.5 miles from the Piedra Blanca trailhead, the trail arrives at Hartman Camp. If you visit on the weekend, it's probably very busy at Willet. that is a private gated community. 34,5 km 10:39 h 1.261 hm 1.264 hm This is another trail to get to the Sespe Hot Spring. Hiked the Sespe Trail from PB TH to Bear Creek with the Troop 111 Scouts on Good Friday. LockA locked padlock There was a small creek with fresh water just above the fork to the hot springs not a lot of volume, but enough to filter. On our hike back, on Monday, we ran into 7 Ventura sheriffs on horse back that said they were out there looking for pan. There had been rain on Friday 2/10 and off and on during the day on Saturday with some of the side creeks dying the whole Sespe a chocolaty brown. You need to be able to find some of the trails due to the water washed out some of it. North of Tar Creek and west of Dough Flat Rd is in the Condor Sactuary where public entry is not allowed. Upper Sespe River Trail. The sheep one can see today were relocated from the San Gabriel Mountains in the mid-1980s in an effort rebuild their population. The Sespe Condor Sanctuary portion of the wilderness is closed to the public. Could use a new sign or decals at the Junction with red Reef. Got stalked by a mountain lion who stomped around camp and grunted at us all night. Some of the trail is super muddy and can be frosty (slippery) in the am to early afternoon. A short bushwhack away from the lazy-flowing Sespe leads into Hot Springs Canyon and a sulfur-scented nirvana. The trail from Piedra to Sespe is about 14 miles, from Dough to Sespe is about 11 miles. From the Piedra Blanca trailhead this same intersection is about 13.75 miles, which is why some people will choose Squaw Flat Road and the overgrown trail through Alder Creek drainage in order to save a few miles. PINOS RANGER DISTRICTS CHAPTER 3 Western Santa Ynez Mountains Gaviota Peak via Gaviota Hot Springs Broadcast Peak via Tequepis Trail Lizard''s Mouth The Playground CHAPTER 4 Santa Ynez Recreation Area Snyder Trail and Knapp''s Castle Aliso Nature Trail Upper Oso Canyon to Nineteen . From the Piedra Blanca trailhead this same intersection is about 13.75 miles, which is why some people will choose Squaw Flat Road and the overgrown trail through Alder Creek drainage in order to save a few miles. All in all, trail is in good shape, minus the abundance of swingin dongs at every other swimming hole. 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. 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. It used to have an annual Steethead Trout run but dam construction and drought years have ended these runs. Jon B. and I backpacked a loop to Sespe Hot Springs, Alder-Sespe confluence, up the Alder Creek narrows to Shady Camp and out. . Link: Sespe River Trail : Date: 05-15-2019 : Surveyor Name: Daniel J. Overview. Pinos Ranger District: 1-(661) 245-3731, Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Located off Gambas Avenue, Sembawang Hot Spring Park features new cascading pools and a water collection point, enhanced accessibility for wheelchair users, and educational panels where visitors can learn about Singapore's only hot spring park's history and geology. A rusted brown, bullet riddled sign offered us two paths continue on to Alder Creek Camp and Dough Flat, or veer south and down the Sespe Creek, 15 miles to the appropriately named Devil's Gate. These springs also issue forth from a rock wall, but the water is in a temperature range more conducive to soaking. Too hot to dip, and no built out pools. The 11-mile Alder Creek Trail from Dough Flat to Sespe Hot Springs is exceptionally mouthwatering. It is brushy on the last drop down to Alder at Shady Camp. They grow in marshes and around hot springs in other parts of the county as well. The NF allows firearms use/discharge. Upper Sespe 2/22 1165. Please take a look at the area details below for more information about visiting this location. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. Steady climb for the next 3.5/4 mi to peak before dropping into Alder Camp. Sespe Creek flowing well, but crossings are easy to do . Moderately difficult hike. From the Junction with Alder Creek trail until Shady Camp the trail makes many crosses of the river bed and about 20% of the time is directly in the river bed. I've been here many many times over the years and never had this happen to me before. curtis wayne wright jr wife. 5.2 miles to the Sespe Hot Springs. Super unfortunate hes out there disturbing such a beautiful area. The Alder Creek Trail offers Wilderness access along a moderately difficult, nine and a half mile trail from Dough Flat to Sespe River. Make a right at the signed junction for Rose Valley (and Piedra Blanca). This route is about 12 miles one-way, and access to the trailhead is also closed . . 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. Sespe Middle Narrows 2/22 1158. I also camped in the sand below Willet hot spring (did not go in the hot spring). Difficulty: moderate from trailhead to Cow Spring Camp; difficult to Shady Camp turnoff. (805) 967-3481 or (805) 724-0079, Santa Lucia Ranger District This is a narrow rough road traveled by large oil trucks so be very cautious as you continue to the parking area at Dough Flat. Got five blisters. Lots of trash and horse poop. No idea except from . Camps appeared to all be in good shape. 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. Difficulty - Moderate. A GPS unit or/and a dog will help a lot. Hiked from Piedra Blanca Trailhead down past Bear Creek. The next designated camp along Sespe River Trail is Oak Flat, about 7 miles from the Piedra Blanca Trailhead. 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. No sign of Pan btw. If anyone wants more info, you can message me on IG @trailrunningdrummer. Try this 23.2-mile out-and-back trail near Fillmore, California. Trail Description: We set out somewhat early (7:30 am) on the Sespe River Trail. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 13 h 26 min to complete. Take extra water to Sespe Springs! 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. Round Trip - 10 miles. All trail campsites in the Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest A total of 29 Sespe Wilderness Camps are currently available. The road provided access to the hot springs as well as supported a number of car camping destinations before it was closed in the late 1970s. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Following along the Sespe Creek Trail, there are several more campsites accessible a day's walk from the trailhead. Enjoy Your National Forests Safely Know Before You Go! (LogOut/ The water sources aren't great at the beginning but we filtered and we are still alive, so ok I guess. Creek still running, went up to Bear Creek.. after 0.6 miles. The first 9.5 miles of our hike followed our previous path to Willett Hot Springs. When my friends who left later than us, got back to service, they said they ran into the sheriffs and found out they didnt find him. Dough Flat Road out of Fillmore (aka Squaw Flat Rd) is closed due to reconstruction of a retaining wall. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Off to the right (east and south) are Squaw Spring, Dough Flat, Pidgeon Flat, Cow Spring . I wish I would have taken better pics since the attached don't show the steepness of the area below the slide. Share sensitive information only From Sespe Camp, Johnson Ridge Trail continues another half-mile before starting its climb away from the creek. Getting from the start of Goodenough Road to the trailhead will take you about an hour. Online Marketing For Your Business dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs While we were hangin out he got up and walked to a hot springs where two women were soaking. The entire length of the Sespe River Trail has ten crossings of the Sespe River. We didn't hike up to Willet Hot Springs itself, but the creek just below it is dry. He's been out there for years. From downhill side. 2. Therefore, do not follow any trails that lead north of Tar Creek. 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. United States . Initially the hikers were not located. The trail I hiked was the Johnston Ridge trail out of Mutau. . Update 1-11: all entry roads are closed due to rains. We couldn't find the hot spring, but maybe we just needed to look more closely at the map. Naglangkob kin og 5,719 ka kilometro kwadrado. Sespe Hot Springs offers a difficult, but rewarding hike. . Dough Flat Trail 4/22 1164. Water flowing entire distance, but low for late February. Use caution when travelling during the wet season due to the potential of flash flooding. All rights reserved. Categories . The worst one is located here: (34.5798, -118.9647). Trail Distance 5.95 Miles Take Highway 126 to Fillmore. 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. Enjoy your visit! Fillmore is in the gray mist at the bottom left. At the trailhead you enter the Sespe Wilderness. The Dough Flat parking area is adjacent to the public access corridor of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary, Leave No Trace Backpacking Principles: http://lnt.org/learn/7-principles, Map showing recreational areas. miles to the first trail junction, and then turn left toward Be sure to bring long sleeves and long pants for the overgrown sections, as well as sandals or waterproof boots to cross river sections. Water flowing intermittently with the deeper pools still holding especially near Bear and just upstream of Oak flat. 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. Started at Dough Flat Gate. Alter Creek Trail (Dough Flat to Sespe) Schwierigkeit mittel. Follow the stream for Great hike experience. Sespe Creek is a stream, some 61 miles long in Ventura County. Plenty of water coming down all of the side canyons too, if sespe creek water isn't your flavor of water that you prefer. Trail use and trail camps are on a first-come, first-serve basis, no reservations. website belongs to an official government organization in the Sespe River Trail to Willett Hot Springs [CLOSED], Bear Creek via Sespe River Trail [CLOSED], Gridley Trail, Nordhoff Ridge and Pratt Trail Loop [CLOSED], Nordhoff Ridge to Chief and Nordhoff Peaks [CLOSED], Lion Canyon Trail to Hines Peak [CLOSED], Nordhoff Ridge via the Lion Canyon Trail [CLOSED], Chief Peak Rd to Nordhoff Ridge and Howard T. [CLOSED]. Camp 2nd night at alder creek and hike out the 3rd day 8 miles back to Dough Flat trailhead posted by Howard Esteban @ 6:23 AM 0 Comments 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. Trespass Trail 2/22 1160. . Picked up as much extra as I could fit in my pack. The spring is in great condition - new robust plumbing giving a good flow, which means totally clear water in the tub, not the usual green liquid. Is it too low in elevation for deer? Having done the Trans Catalina Trail just a month prior, we felt in relatively good shape, so we decided to hike in in one day, stay two nights, then hike out in one day again. the lupine and blue dicks). . . We had two reports come in this week showing substantial slides on different sides of the Sespe River Trail. The creek is not flowing but there are a few pools between Bear and PB if you know where to look. This is a narrow rough Dry January has meant creek levels are down again, though you still cant dry cross. On the way down I encountered three hikers . Email:bigsurstation@gmail.com, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lpnf/recarea/?recid=81861, Forest Closure Order 05-07-00-23-02 - Public Safety, Forest Road Closures and Current Conditions, Pine Ridge Trail Sykes Hot Springs Trail Information, Forest Headquarters (Supervisor's Office), Big Sur Station Multi-Agency Visitor Center. 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! Lots of snakes, bugs and poison oak but the hot springs are worth it! . Alder Creek campsite is in good condition and shows signs of light use. Trespass Trail #2 2/22 1157. -The Sespe River Trail is WASHED OUT so Sespe Hot Springs is inaccessible. Climb the hill south of the saddle. Its about 39.5 if you stop at Willett and climb to that pool. Tough spot for stock near Kerr Spring because of narrow trail and big step. He followed us up there in his robe and stood there for awhile as we were setting up. 1. These were found on Tequepis Trail. So, armed with Brennen's directions we headed out for six days of adventure on the Sespe. When visiting the Los Padres always remember to pack extra water for any trip! It was an incredible 30-something mile hike and one of my earliest backpacking trips. The second trail called Johnson Ridge Trail is the second option at 9.5 miles one way. Bit of a dense brush challenge but doable. No fee to park. 1. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. If those distances intimidate you, do not rule out a visit to Sespe Creek. I spent some time relaxing at Sespe Hot Spring, laying in the shade under some cottonwoods on a small foam mat. Park in one of the parking spaces distributed around the trailhead loop at Dough Flat (elevation 2825ft). Danilo and Gyorgyi with Sespe Creek in the background. Also known as Arroyo Sespe, Cespai River, Sespe River. Trail in good shape and easy to follow. I saw it along the entire trail. Looking forward to do it again. Anybody been to Dough Flats Trailhead lately? Download the GPS track to help you find your way. 2.5 mi to Trailhead. 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. Trails were pretty clearly marked but we did a few times find ourselves going a wrong way and having to backtrack. kill the process running on port 1717 sfdx. Top. Matt Kettmann. Best Season - Fall to Spring. After originating above 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in the Sierra Madre Mountains in the northwest corner of the Ojai Ranger District, about 75 percent of the Sespe Creek subwatershed is characterized by numerous rugged slopes and canyon walls of the southern Pine Mountains. Sespe River Trail - Los Padres National Forest Trail Distance 18.73 Miles From Highway 33, travel east on Rose Valley Road to Piedra Blanca Trailhead. I know that the map says there's a bigger difference, but it's really about the same. Turn north on A Street/Goodenough Road and drive 14.1 miles to Dough Flat Trailhead. The gnats are bad! There are 3 ways to access the hot springs: 1. Santa Maria, CA 93454 Length 32.4 miElevation gain 4,012 ftRoute type Out & back If you go North through Filmore up goodenough road it dead ends into some BLM property, looks like you can hike in there or take a dirt road to squaw flat road and go through the whole southern part of Los Padres in D13. hot topic assistant manager job description; trail will go to Alder Creek and youll reach Alder Camp 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. You could probably take the first ridge down as well but the upper section looked a little sketcy to me.. Be advised, Willet is super popular and not much area to camp once you're at the spring. (Next time will be adding another day to break it up). dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. Trail in great shape; flowers are popping (esp. In wetter years many of the crossings can be more challenging and so its best to check with the Forest Service regarding current conditions. Stray from the trail map and follow the cairns for the best way across. Ocean View Trail #2 3/22 The most common way to get to Bighorn is to . The trail then quickly ends near Alder Creek Camp (2520 feet) and turns into the Alder Creek Trail. 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). Continue hiking 4.3 miles from the trial head to the first camp along the trail named Bear Creek Camp (2820 feet). DIFFICULTY RATING: Moderate; elevation, 2,225 to 3,700 feet. Open in Spring, Summer and Fall and is within the Winter Seasonal Closure between approximately December 15th April 30th. we make the short drive from Los Angeles to the Dough Flat trailhead in the Sespe Wilderness. Take Highway 126 to Fillmore. On average, the soaking pools are about 105 degrees. We were about a mile passed willet and let them know he was somewhere around that area. 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. 3. At about the 4.5-mile mark from the Piedra Blanca Trailhead one arrives at Bear Creek Camp. The Dough Flat parking area is adjacent to the public access corridor of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary. . Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor