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.
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.
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.
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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.