A 9 mile round-trip backpack along the Sespe Creek to a shaded riverside campground. Hot valley air, cold river water, and plenty of scenes of recent wildfires keep up the variety, and the relatively level elevation makes it easy on the knees. A great weekend getaway.
The Basics:
- Distance: 9 miles
– Elevation Gain: 190 feet
– Time: It only took us 90 minutes of "moving time" to get to Bear Creek Camp, although we took lots of time for stops due to heat.
– Trail Condition: Excellent. With the exception of a potentially tricky river crossing near the trailhead, the path is clearly marked and easily graded. The path is also used by horses, so you may have to dodge some some leftover presents on the way in.
- How to Get There: From the 33N past Ojai, pass the Wheeler Gorge Station and turn off onto Rose Valley Road after you make a significant climb. Stay straight all the way. You’ll pass a ranch, an abandoned work camp, and a gun club before you get to the parking lot. Display your Adventure Pass and enjoy.
- Map It
The Notables:
- Hiking along the Sespe Creek in an extensive Wilderness area.
– Evidence of recent burns and regrowth.
- Idyllic, soft-ground camp sites.
Extending Your Stay:
- There are campgrounds lining the Sespe Creek, and you can go in as far as you like. If you camp at Bear Creek, it’s another 5.9 miles to the Willett Hot Springs.
A Few More Pictures:
- On Flickr.
A few weeks back, I shot up a "I’m sick of the city and need to go backpacking" flare, and got a response from Will and newcomer Casey (f). We were all kind of just looking for a bit of outdoorsy rest and relaxation, and we headed up north to the Los Padres National Forest to find it.
The Sespe River Trail starts at the end of a long, paved mountain road in clear sight of the impressive Piedra Blanca sandstone formation to the north. A National Recreation Trail splits north here and heads through the formation and into some deep canyons, but our trail followed the lowered but still flowing Sespe Creek into a nearly-shadeless chaparral brushland.
The trail is, with a few minor stretches of exception, generally level. The only things that make this challenging are the hot summer temperatures, relentless sun, and the fact that you’re not near the actual river for most of the way … of course, you’ll be able to see the shady oaks lining the riverbed, you just won’t be able to get to them for a little while.
Shortly into the hike, we reached the western front of last year’s Day Fire, a four-week conflagration that burned through 160,000 acres of the Sespe Wilderness. The contrast between the spared mountains and those that caught fire was striking, to say the least.
… but it was heartening to see the widespread signs of rebirth, as almost every blackened charcoal brush had a new, green version sprouting from its base.
The rest of the trail’s landscape wasn’t really all that much to talk about. Of course, it probably didn’t help that it was very hot and sunny, and all we wanted to do was drop down under some shade and take a load off. Fortunately, we found such a place, near a stretch of slickrock filled with some slow-flowing pools. While Dingo took a dip in the water, we all collapsed beneath a single oak tree and took a 45 minute mid-day nap. Like I said – this trip was for relaxation purposes.
After the nap, we rounded a few more bends and ended up at Bear Creek Camp – a shaded, sandy flat with an isolated fire pit and easy access to the creek. We mainly cared about the last bit, though, and spent most of the rest of the day floating around in the cold water, heating up on a sandy bank, then plunging back in again. Who needs a spa with that kind of experience? And all it costs is a four and a half mile hike through some hot, desolate terrain.
The rest of the night was spent making burritos, uncorking some wine we’d packed in with us (my contribution, a nice bottle of Cline zinfandel), and generally letting our urban woes melt away as we watched the stars explode the night sky.
In other words, just what we all needed.
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful pictures and a great description of the trail. Thanks
I was on a backpacking tour at the Sespe Greek a year ago and it was a kind of an adventure for our group because we got lost and we need a whole day to find a place from which we can orientate and return to our homes.But it was a lot of fun after all.
Thanks for the killer motivational extravaganza bro. I’m going to throw on the back sack and head up this way as soon as the wind will blow me there.
I grew up in Ojai, hiked all of its trails, camped in Piedra Blancas, acquired blisters while soaking up the beautiful scenery. thanks for this posting. brought back many good memories.
Looks beautiful. What time of year would suggest doing this hike in? I would like to avoid the extreme heat if possible. Thanks.
Mike,
We went in June and it was really, really hot. It was do-able, but it took us a long time to hike a pretty short distance, and there’s really no shade at all on this trail — but it did make swimming in the river all the more refreshing.
I’d suggest late Spring (like, now! Depending on the overnights, of course) or early Fall as the ideal times to visit. You’ve got a better chance at high water levels in the Spring, though. Let us know how it goes if you head out!
Where do you get the Adventure Pass? Sorry, I’m new to this, thanks!
Huyen,
No worries! The Adventure Pass is a little parking pass thing you have to get if you want to use National Forest Land here in SoCal. Usually, you can pick them up at Ranger Stations, online, or usually at outdoorsy stores near the Forest boundaries — like at REI, Sports Chalet, etc. Sometimes, gas stations will even sell them.
Check out this site for info on passes in your area, and happy hiking! http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/ap/
- Casey
Awesome photos of the Sespe Wilderness. It is such a spectacular landscape out there. I look forward to doing some backpacking there someday.
Taking boy scouts up to Sespe Creek but I’m not clear on what campsite/campground would be the one to use for this hike, i.e. a campground along this trail or at the head or foot of it? Thanks for any advice.
I am going up to Bear Creek this weekend March 14 to the 15. I will be the Piedroa blanca parking lot at 10am if anyone wants to join. I am just going for the night and am brining my dog. If you are interested email me at edarling@csfa.net or just show up at 10am. I am getting the permit that morning.
Eric
Have a great trip, Eric! Let us know how it goes!
Imrolling the same day Im doing a 3 day with a friend I have a huge green pack on and a red tent Im troy stop in and say hello
Thinking of planning a 2-night trip over Memorial Day weekend. Anyone have any advice on whether that would be a good time to go? Does anyone have more specific info about the campsites along the trail in case people in my camp want to be more or less ambitious about how far from the parking lot we set up camp? I can be reached at: danieleball@yahoo.com
Cheers!
I’m interested to hear what comments/camp sites Daniel Ball received. Anyone want to share, please email me kdhidalgo@hotmail.com.
Great reading… Did you find any petroglphs in any of the areas of the Sespe? (Chumash rock art), if so which trail…
Thanks,
Annette
I did this trail in late August, and it fits the many descriptions that have been given of it, but take note: this year (2009) the creek is completely dry by late August, and it is eay to miss the Bear Canyon area. I passed by it -expecting to see a lot of water- and eventually wound up at Oak Flat, about three miles further. With darkness on me, my dog and I overnighted there and hiked out the next day. There were a few stagnant pools from which I was able to get enough drinking water to manage, but the cool dip I was hoping for was out of the question. There are small and apparently perennial rivulets coming down onto the trail in a couple of place between Bear Canyon and Oak Flat, but apart from that and the small pools I mentioned, water is scarce.
We did this hike (without the overnighting) last weekend (mid April), here is a transcript:
Alison: It’s 9 miles, but it’s flat, so it won’t be that bad.
Husband: So do I even need hiking boots? Can I wear sneakers?
Alison: (shows picture above) It looks like this.
Husband: But there’s a creek, are there river crossings?
Alison: MH says nothing about river crossings.*
Husband: Ok, I’m wearing sneakers.
Arrive to find 3 quite wide and quite deep river crossings. You can’t rock hop these babies, you’re getting wet one way or the other. (Husband: Actually there were 4 crossings – the last one was not quite as wide and deep but still significant)
*A closer reading reveals he does say one thing about one crossing… i kant read good.
—–
The weather was perfect this time of year for the exposed hike. There were lots of wildflowers and the hike was great (once our feet dried off). But note, if you go in the Spring or after any rains, there are fairly significant river crossings. Three (or Four), practically right away, at the beginning of the hike and then no more until Bear Creek if you’re going past it.
As someone mentioned, we never would have known we had gotten to Bear Creek campground at all if it wasn’t for the fact that people were tented up there. There’s not much to distinguish it except it’s flat and cleared in some places.
It took us 4 hours in good weather, I think MH is right it’s about 90 mins one way walking time, but shoes on/shoes off/repeat really slowed us down. And we took a long snack break before turning back.
Alison,
Sorry about that! I went mid-Summer, and the river was very, very low (and during a drought year), so I probably didn’t think much about that initial crossing, but during a wet year I’d imagine that’d be a bit more difficult.
Thanks for the update, and hope your shoes made it out ok!
I was thinking of heading out there this weekend for an overnight campout. What is the situation with open fires? are there pits? do we need a fire permit? is there drinking water and toliets?
Sorry for the newbie questions, but if the shoe fits…
Thanks
Bear Creek is an undeveloped camp site. There are no toilets, no fire rings, and no drinking water (although you can filter and treat from the nearby river). I’m not sure on the fire permit because we didn’t have a camp fire when we were there, but you can call the Rangers’ Office at (805) 968-6640 to find out whether or not you need one.
I hiked from the main road to the Hot Spring in the spring of 84. Lots of water, lots
of trout and no one but myself and my wife and 2 sons. I don’t remember the heat
that other people mention! I just knew that this place was special.
I also went to the top of Topatopa in the spring…their was snow for me to drink.
The tower at the top still had electronic equipment …just sitting there to be ruined
by some one less honorable than me. My jeans were in rags by the time I reached the Peak, because of the thick brush. I used fragments of parachutes [that were dropped with supplies in the 40's] to protect my legs on the way down the mountain. I will never forget my climb of TOPATOPA!
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