If you want to see gravid , scarey animate being and you do n’t want to work too severely for it , then this is the topographic point . With perfect camping weather condition , a surprising abundance of large wildlife and located just a two - time of day drive north of Los Angeles , Sespe Hot Springs is a dandy pack destination .
Top Photo : Doc Searls
Why chit-chat ? Mountain king of beasts , condors , bears , bighorn sheep and the red-hot hot bound in California , oh my . Hiking in the Sespe Wilderness is like stepping back in clip to before Southern California was mostly urban sprawl .
Most of the hiking here is relatively easy so , combined with the good atmospheric condition and spectacular scenery , it ’s a skilful area for first timer , or more experient outdoors types look for a relaxing trip . you could easily update the risky venture quotient by picking more challenging path or just trying for longer distances .
Read the feature article about this trip-up . We establish a lose heard of cimarron and get it on video !
When To Go : Fall , winter and bound . Sespe gets brutally hot during the summer and the creek is prone to drying up since we ’re experiencing a mega drought . Check the weather in nearbyFillmorefor a good approximation of current status in this wild . Frazier Park seat at a higher elevation and Ojai is closer to the sea , so both tend to be a bit cooler .
Getting There : There ’s three potential hiking routes into Sespe Hot Springs — from thePiedra Blanca Trailheadto the west , Mutau Flatsfrom the north or downTar Creekfrom the S . That last path utilize an old , overlooked trail and appears to require hikers to cross dangerous vertical declivity and swim through flooded gorges . We plan to map out it in the near futurity , but for the clip being your best , well-fixed pick is to park at Piedra Blanca and hike up the 19.5 miles to the springs .
Along that route , water is readily usable at least once every few miles and the terrain is comparatively easy . You ’ll pass through Willett Hot Springs , which is a unspoilt place to take an overnight break , being approximately half means . Willett ’s springs ( left picture , creditJeff Edwards ) are disappointing , write of a gross , algae - filled rubber bathing tub position in a dirty defile and the area is prostrate to overcrowding on weekends . To get to the springs , turn over left over ( magnetic north ) up the sandy Browning automatic rifle in the river and follow the track until you reach a I. F. Stone lamp chimney . The leap are up a steep hill , about a one-half mile further . If you call on right at the chimney , you ’ll touch a cabin with bunkbeds ( pass the abandoned ship cabin and walk a few hundred railway yard further ) . Staying here is first come first serve . If you want a more isolated camping experience , pass on the trail and pack in one of the flat region along the river before or after . There ’s many set up berth , most with rock fervency rings already built .
We have n’t done the Mutau flats route , but it ’s shorter at 9.5 miles one style . difficulty is , there ’s no H2O along that route and , while it ’s downhill the whole way in , it ’s uphill the whole way out . That ’ll be brute if it ’s hot , make indisputable you take loads of water .
Papertrail map of Sespe Wildernessare now rather backbreaking to come by , but you’re able to impress out topographical mapping from theUSGS . The trail is promiscuous to abide by and well marked .
What To Take With You : If you do n’t count the brutal summer heating system , Sespe has fairly mild weather . It rains very infrequently and rarely gets below freeze , even on winter night . As such , you do n’t really need any special equipment . Seriously , this hike does not require an REI shopping spree , just find fault up a few basics , fatigue well-situated clothes and you ’ll be estimable .
necessary :
Adventure Pass — require to park at any of the access point . you may buy them at the Ojai ranger station day of , or rank them online ( grant a couple week notice for shipping ) . It ’s $ 5 a daylight or $ 35 a class and the proceeds go to the upkeep of wild area like this one , so consider it money well spent .
comfy place — That ’s correct , we said place . hike boots are great , if you already have a couplet that are broken in and fit , but there ’s no indigence to go out and buy a new pair just for this trip . boot are a whole separate topic we ’ll brood in profundity at some point . Just wear something that has enough pace on the bottom to give you adept footing on loose and silken surface and which you know through experience wo n’t give you blister if you ’re walking in them all day .
Tincture of Iodine 2 % — Forget expensive , loser prone purification pumps or other fancy nonsense , just pick up a little bottle of Iodine from a drug or grocery store and put two drib in a gallon of water supply to drink down any bugs that might be in there . Such a small amount does n’t really effect the taste , but does the job .
Water Bottles — Pack enough so each person can carry about a gallon , hike up in the direct sun , while carrying weight can be wearying and there ’s a few place where it ’s several miles between available water source . Old two - liter soda bottles or whatever oeuvre delicately , there ’s no indigence for anything fancy .
Fire Permit — Observe local advisory about fire permissibility , but no matter , you involve to print out , sign and carry this permit with you . It ’s destitute , but fail to have it with you results in a hefty fine .
Sleeping Bag — Even a 50 - level night can be chilly , but virtually any log Z’s old bag can deal with those condition . Consult Fillmore ’s weather forecast , then pile something that ’s rate to 10 or 20 degrees colder .
log Z’s Pad — Sleeping on the cold , gruelling footing sucks . I carry aThermorest NeoAir , which is like a seam that gibe in your pocket , but it ’s pricy . tacky pads are good than nothing . A flock better .
layer — No motive to go out and buy any new wearing apparel , just take an extra brace of good wind sleeve , wear a pair of comfortable knickers that do n’t restrict your campaign and put stuff on your upper body that you could take off and put on as temperature shift . dark get chilly , but not frigid , so a slurred sweater or light jacket is just fine .
nutrient — Take stuff you know how to prepare and the means to train it . We ’ll handle this issue in greater depth in the future , but our favorite freeze - dried backpacking meals right now areMountain House ProPaks . program on cookery breakfasts and dinners and pack lunches you could just eat on as they descend out of your pack . hike is hungry oeuvre .
power shovel — Alittle plastic trowelworks just hunky-dory . You ’ll involve one to legally have a campfire ( extinguish it by burying it ) and you ’ll need a shovel to dig a scat singing cakehole too .
Trash Bags — Pack out what you bundle in . If you see any glass , pick that up and take it out too .
Sunscreen / Block / Hat / Sunglasses — It ’s Southern California , you know this already .
What To Watch Out For : If the river ’s run , you ’ll need to ford it several times . Any time you ’re around water , shoes you do n’t mind have wet are a good idea . Tevas figure out great , as do Vibram Five Fingers . You ’ll require those in the springs too .
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While hiking up here , I ’ve been attacked by a mountain social lion once , seen two others , had a bear come shlep through cantonment and nearly step on the largest rattlesnake I ’ve ever seen .
These mountains have the best bear hunting in California , the universe is just that dense . They ’re black bear , so they just want your food ( take a bear bag or canister , know how to expend it ) and make a slew of noise if one gets closemouthed to you . Not a huge care .
What ’s IndefinitelyWild ?
king of beasts are another topic . Keep children supervised and closemouthed to you at all times , specially at sunrise , crepuscle and at night , when the Leo are active . Keep dogs on tether during those time too , but never leave alone a tethered dog alone , doing so makes them easy prey . If you ’re hike up in a group , you have nothing to worry about . Solo hikers should exert a little more care , be cognizant of your surround at all times and , if a king of beasts does make an appearance , offence is the best defence . Attack that sunofabitch like your life depends on it , it does . The population here has boomed since hunting them was banned across California in 1991 .
rattlesnake are much less of a concern . I promise they really do n’t want to bite you . Just check where you ’re putting your metrical foot and look at either rattlesnake training or vaccinations for your heel . Keep collapsible shelter zipped and do n’t unroll slumber inkpad or bags until you ’re quick to get into them . Tall boot and longsighted pants help too . If you are piece , remain calm and get back to your car , then labour to Ojai ’s infirmary . A rattler bite probably wo n’t kill you , but it will deflower your day .
What To Do Once You ’re There : Hang out in the hot springiness ( above ) ! They go forth at several point in a with child valley , forming a creek that run down to the Sespe . At their source , they ’re the hottest hot springs in California , measuring 194 point Fahrenheit . That ’s far too hot for bathe , so what you do is get a swimming muddle in the brook that finger right to you . They get cool the further downstream you go .
If you select your camping smirch wisely , you ’ll benefit from all the geothermic action and sleep on a warm surface . The best spot — located under a stall of palm trees — has quick background , as do other obvious places further up the valley . If you blot a place someone ’s camped before , it ’s in all likelihood gon na have warm land . You wo n’t of necessity feel that during the heat of the Clarence Day , but as dark falls , the ground just does n’t cool down off . Erecting a tent , even in mild weather , help capture and continue that warmth .
Photo : Steven & Marta Bakos
The bighorns live in the mountain crag to the north and east of the saltation . They come down to the vale floor to graze on the grass during the solar day , render to the steep cliffs at dusk where the spate lion have a tough sentence getting to them . Keep your dog on - tether if they ’re around , even the bad Aries the Ram would plausibly just run away , but I would n’t desire to see what ’d happen if they did n’t . There is a king of beasts that seems to have permanently set up workshop in this valley , rake the cliffsides at dawn and dusk and you might get to see it hunting !
If you ’re prosperous , you might even spot a condor circling in a thermal . This is where they werere - introduced to the wild in 1992after go extinct in 1987 . If you see a very declamatory black hoot slowly circulate above you , odds are it ’s a condor .
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