Be advised, Willet is super popular and not much area to camp once you're at the spring. This is a narrow, rough road that is traveled by large oil trucks. Change). Solvang, CA 93463 Official websites use .gov A .gov (805) 967-3481 or (805) 724-0079, Santa Lucia Ranger District I don't know why they send you that way. 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. coinbase prime pricing dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. The Dough Flat gate is locked from approx. . The gate 2.4 miles away from the trailhead was closed which added 4.8 miles to the trip overall (we saw other reviews about this as well). There are seven more river crossings before Sespe Hot Springs. Introduced palms and cactus add to the effect, and completing the vision, if one is lucky, are bighorn sheep. There are 3 ways to access the hot springs: 1. Steady climb for the next 3.5/4 mi to peak before dropping into Alder Camp. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. Cross the riverbed and head down-stream (east) on the old road. This website was developed for adventurists, explorers and enthusiasts of both the Northern and Southern portions of the Los Padres National Forests. Off to the right (east and south) are Squaw Spring, Dough Flat, Pidgeon Flat, Cow Spring . Continue on to the end of the road at the Dough Flat trailhead. Alder Creek trail to Sespe Hot Springs Option Two: The junction of Tar Creek with the Sespe is a broad gravel flat and you should cross the river to begin your progress downstream along Sespe . Directions: Take Highway 126 to Fillmore. Because the pools are so shallow they are also much hotter. 3. See picture below: From the aforementioned high point of the trail down to where the trail meets the Sespe river there are a number of small slides that pose a challenge to navigation. , Sespe River Trail follows the old road bed most of the way and is in generally good shape. The trailhead is located at the Piedra Blanca parking lot, where you're required to have an Adventure Pass. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. As long as youre prepared for elevation and give yourself enough time, its well worth the hike! Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. I had read the 2/28 LPFA report of the dangerous section of trail that has slid just west of the saddle between Alder and Sespe. Add 2.5 miles or so to the hike because the access road may be closed getting to the trailhead. Upper Sespe River Trail. From here, it's another 5 miles to the trailhead. 373: Route 91 Bucksnort Trail 19W18. Road toward the Sespe Oil Fields. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. I happen to enjoy hot springs without clothes also, and typically only around friends, but this was a very different vibe. The creek starts at Potrero Seco in the eastern Sierra Madre Mountains, and is formed by more than thirty tributary streams of the Sierra Madre and Topatopa Mountains, before it empties into the Santa Clara River in Fillmore. Dogs are not a good idea at these flows. The rain dec 10-12 has made some changes. The rangers really need to do something about him. It was reported this week as impassable, even making backpackers retreat rather than risk passing along the slide. Difficulty - Moderate. Sespe is the best! Sespe Creek is a stream, some 61 miles long in Ventura County. dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs +1 (760) 205-9936. . Willett Hot Springs is about 10 miles from the trailhead and Sespe Hot Springs is about 6 miles further, past Willett. The trail went along the base of a large slide and it looks like all the rain made that slide active once again. From Shady Camp to the high point of the trail at (34.5781, -118.9624) there are signs of recent brush clearing work. Spent a few nights on Thanksgiving weekend. (LogOut/ Danilo and Gyorgyi with Sespe Creek in the background. Alder Trail to Sespe Hot Springs [CLOSED], https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lpnf/alerts-notices/?aid=77373, Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. Only came across 3 other groups in 3 days. The downhill side of this climb/rootball is the most dangerous part of the trail. Download the GPS track to help you find your way. Two hiking and equestrian trails (Forest Trails 22W04 and 20W30) parallel Sespe Creek for part of the length of the WSR corridor. 2. Overall a beautiful trail. 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. At about 14.75 miles from Dough Flat, and 9.5 miles from the Piedra Blanca, Sespe River Trail arrives at the junction for Red Reef Trail, which crosses Sespe Creek, and climbs south, away from the creek, passing near the Topatopa Mountains on its way toward the upper Ojai Valley. Squaw Flat Road EASY 2.0 mi. I agree lots of trash out there. Best if you're headed west since it's downhill. There were 71 cars in the parking lot by 10 AM. On our hike back, on Monday, we ran into 7 Ventura sheriffs on horse back that said they were out there looking for pan. If you stay to the left, the Enjoy this 37.3-km out-and-back trail near Fillmore, California. Blog Home Uncategorized dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. Monte Arido Trail 3/22 1159. Alder Creek. Trail is in great shape. All rights reserved. These springs also issue forth from a rock wall, but the water is in a temperature range more conducive to soaking. trailhead you enter the Sespe Wilderness. Along much of Sespe Creek one will find various improvised camps reflective of the amount of usage the trail sees each year. Expect to see a lot more activity within D13 over the next month and in particular this long holiday weekend. Just now finished a 4 day & 3 night trip. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. 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. The best thing to do is open up the rock dams and let all the gravel flow out of the filled in pools and then close them back up. For Sale: 0 Old woman Spgs, Lucerne Valley, CA 92356 $30,000 MLS# HD22112651 Off paved road sits a wonderful looking property . I used permethrin on my clothes and bug spray on my legs and did not find any ticks luckily, but there were a lot of small biting gnats once we got to the Sespe Hot Springs. Sespe River Trail To Sespe Hot Springs [CLOSED] Hard 4.6 (259) Los Padres National Forest Photos (882) Directions Print/PDF map Length 32.4 miElevation gain 4,012 ftRoute type Out & back Bummer, this trail is closed. May 20, 2021; kate taylor jersey channel islands; someone accused me of scratching their car . We hung out all day Sunday and didnt see him around at all. Too hot to dip, and no built out pools. Take Highway 126 to Fillmore. We did in 3 days staying at Sespe on the way there and Cow Springs on the way back. We have plenty of things to worry about while backpacking and a potentially schizophrenic man that harasses people shouldnt be one of them. There were several vehicles up there in addition to ours. Rain has made rocks fall like men on the trail after Bear Creek. The village appeared in a Mexican Alta California land grant called Rancho Sespe or Rancho San Cayetano in 1833. Plenty of camp area before you head up the climb though. ( Use caution when travelling during the wet season due to the potential of flash flooding. He tried to get me to skinny dip with him (I'm a guy). Tips: KERR SPRINGS: The pictures pretty much tell the story. Mt. This means that UNLESS there is a specific ordinance prohibiting the discharge/carry of a weapon in the PARKING LOT at that specific trailhead, the discharge/carry of a weapon is not illegal. The NF allows firearms use/discharge. 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. There's very little legacy with regard to this trail designation, but it was for a time, anyway the label given that small bit of trail east of the Devils Gate (20W14) drop-in near Hot Springs/Sespe confluence that heads over the hump and down to Alder Creek (between Alder Creek and Shady camps). Along the way there are several forks off to the right, but all are marked as private. 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. 34,5 km 10:39 h 1.261 hm 1.264 hm This is another trail to get to the Sespe Hot Spring. Its heat can be felt in the stream all the way through the foot of the canyon and the floor of the campsites that dot the trail are substantially warmer than sites located near the Sespe River Trail. Another route is from Dough Flat, following Alder Creek Trail to Sespe River Trail. Length23.2 miElevation gain4,419 ftRoute typeOut & back Because the optimal way to walk the GMT is from north-to-south (the other direction involves a 3,000 foot ascent of the southern, sun exposed ramparts of the Pine Mountain ridge), we dropped a car Lion Campground where the Sespe Trail begins and then drove up the Maricopa Highway to the trailhead near Reyes Creek and Camp Scheideck. Continue hiking 4.3 miles from the trial head to the first camp along the trail named Bear Creek Camp (2820 feet). 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. Could use a new sign or decals at the Junction with red Reef. Lots of nice fall foliage and pretty valley views. Check out this 23.2-mile out-and-back trail near Fillmore, California. Follow the stream for A GPS unit or/and a dog will help a lot. Youll be drinking a lot from the stream so a good quick filter for that cold water is great. Lots of trash and horse poop. Beautiful day! sba-den_15.JPG by Doc Searls 1 If I'm reading this right, the gray mountain to the right is the home to Oak Flat and the condor release point. Oak Flat has two picnic tables and a fire ring. Below is a list of the biogeographic regions within Ventura County I have developed for the flora, listed alphabetically, with many local placenames associated with the bioregion included: Agua Blanca Creek. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Dough is. At the worst part of the slide people have walked to the uphill side to climb over a small dead tree and root ball. . Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. United States government. Along the . So if you are planning a trip to that part of the Forest be sure to plan on an extra 8miles of road hiking/biking before you get to the trailhead. Share sensitive information only Lots of snakes, bugs and poison oak but the hot springs are worth it! Lots of bugs. During wet weather, 4WD is strongly advised. There was stagnant water at Bear Creek, although I recommend pushing on to Kerr Springs for cleaner water (still not moving). It's rated as a hard hike according to AllTrails. ) or https:// means you've safely This trail is called the Sespe River Trail, and it is the most-traveled trail due to its campsites and water sources. Its about 39.5 if you stop at Willett and climb to that pool. This is a narrow, rough road that is traveled by large oil trucks. 341: . Therefore, do not follow any trails that lead north of Tar Creek. Welcome to Sespe he said. Trail in good shape and easy to follow. ABH 611 Rock Springs Rd, Escondido, CA 92025, jw marriott mall of america room service menu, impairment rating payout calculator south carolina, can a handyman install a ceiling fan in texas, hillsborough county high school athletics, 15150 nacogdoches road, suite 100 san antonio, tx 78247, hand and foot card game rules for 4 players, what does the old woman say in gran torino, funerals at worthing crematorium tomorrow. A large colony of these can be found near the Gaviota Hot Springs. Unfortunately the rain has done little to tamp down the biting gnats, though they are only an issue at the canyon of sespe hot springs. This closure adds 2 1/2 miles of additional hiking from where you park at the gate to the trailhead. 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 been out there for years. Sespe Middle Narrows 2/22 1158. Im 52 so take that into consideration. 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. Such knowledge is key when exploring the remote and unforgiving Sespe Wilderness, where ancient Chumash spirits flow . All downed trees were removed from Piedra Blanca to the Hot Springs junction. kind of a pain to get to. In addition to the Forest Service and USGS maps of the area, a good resource for the trails in the Sespe Wilderness is Tom Harrisons Sespe Wilderness Trail Map. Follow the ridge down to the river. There are 5 or 6 shovels along the trail so anyone who wants to dig out wet gravel after hiking 16 miles have at it! To get to the Piedra Blanca trailhead from Ojai, take State Route 33 north and continue past Wheeler Gorge. During the 1960s and 1970s the road continued unpaved past the Piedra Blanca trailhead, through what was then Lion Campground, and followed Sespe Creek downstream to just before the Sespe Condor Sanctuary. Sespe River Trail follows Sespe Creek for roughly 20 of those miles as it passes through the Sespe Wilderness. It is one of the last wild rivers in Southern California. Therefore, do not follow any trails that lead north of Tar Creek. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. Mutau Flat is a meadow in Ventura County and has an elevation of 4,806 feet. Haven't been to Sespe Hot Springs before. Follow the road, being careful to stay on the main road, the side roads will take you to oil well pads. Bighorn Peak stands at 8441 feet above sea level and offers great views of the Inland Empire, towards Santiago Peak, and the High Desert, although, not as great views as Telegraph and Cucamonga Peaks offer. The trail will take about 5-7 hours of hiking round trip, as the elevation gain is moderate. Starting from the parking lot at Piedra Blanca, the trail quickly drop down to the river crossing, after the crossing Lion Creek and Sespe Creek is the Gene Marshall Piedra Blanca trail junction. The mere sight of the words had me giddy. Follow the road, being careful to stay on the main road, the side roads will take you to oil well pads. We saw 7 snakes over the whole trip, none of them were rattlesnakes but other backpackers we saw said they did see multiple rattlesnakes. Las Virgenis Creek. 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. There were fewer built-out pools at the hot springs than previous trips, so we dug out a spot to enjoy for most of our stay. One can still find what looks like the fireplace left from the homestead. I hung around to make sure they werent feeling threatened and heard them all chatting and the women laughing, so I felt ok leaving. Traverse over to just below hill 3067. Within the National Forest the route utilizes existing trails and roads. Re: Best route to Sespe Hot Springs. At Bear Creek and below, the water was over the stepping stones and I had to ford the creek. 1190 E Ojai Ave Route 84 Middle Sespe Trail 22W04. I recently hiked from Piru (Pothole Tr) to Piedra Blanca. -Sunblock, shade is not common and probably every 3 miles so make sure you bring a hat and sunscreen. way. There was minimal water on the hike in, however. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 16 min to complete. The Sespe River Trial proceeds down stream and is in excellent shape. You could probably take the first ridge down as well but the upper section looked a little sketcy to me.. Went to the first 2 creek crossings to find both completely dry.. Water flowing entire distance, but low for late February. There are several well marked turnoffs along Rose Valley Road leading to nearby Rose Valley and Middle Lion Campgrounds. Instead of starting at Dough Flat, I wanted to start at the Piedra Blanca trailhead (Lions Camp)and then camp at Willett Hot Spring, then Sespe Hot Springs, then in the Sespe Narrows, and finally camp at the Tar Creek / Sespe confluence. Try this 23.2-mile out-and-back trail near Fillmore, California. Round Trip - 10 miles. Recreation.gov. He followed us up there in his robe and stood there for awhile as we were setting up. We also headed out to fix the slide that occurs on the side of the mountain coming out of the saddle and down into the Sespe. Using a pickmatix, we worked to open up the footing and widen it to ensure safe passage. Bit of a dense brush challenge but doable. how far is kharkiv from the russian border? dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. 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. . Got stalked by a mountain lion who stomped around camp and grunted at us all night. Home; Categories. (LogOut/ 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. Follow the road, being careful to stay on the main road, the side roads will take you to oil well pads. 3505 Paradise Rd. Mud covered and rocky. And, since it's a parking lot/trailhead it is not a "public street" and prohibited under the general prohibition. Sespe Hot Spring: 34.594545, -118.998812. hot topic assistant manager job description; The crossing back to the north side of the river has no clear route. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. From the Dough Flat Trailhead, you will enter the Sespe Wilderness within mile. Willet was better by a long stretch! 150 yards and youll reach Shady Camp, which normally Attempting the 2 crossings of the Sespe between PB and Willet were significant factors for a number of people that day. Anyone ever scout around here? Thirty-one miles (50 km) of Sespe Creek is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River and National Scenic Waterway, and is untouched by dams or concrete channels. An official website of the SESPE SADDLE: The trail heading from Alder Creek to the Sespe, just as you head West and crest at the Saddle the trail wraps around to the north with some pretty dramatic exposure. Island View Trail 2/21 Size 26 X 21 1025. 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. Romero Trail 3/21 Size 21 X 18 1031. For more information, please visit, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. 47555 Highway 1,Big Sur, CA 93920 Download the GPS track to help you find your way. 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. Big Narrows. To access the trail, there are three different starting points. 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. From uphill side, Slide @ (34.5798, -118.9647). Bummer, this trail is closed. Did the trail to Willet and Sespe springs during Thanksgiving weekend. 2.5 mi to Trailhead. Steady climb for the next 3.5/4 mi to peak before dropping into Alder Camp. He's creepy as hell. The first trail called Sespe River Trail is the longest at 16.8 miles and winds it's way through Los Padres Forest and is considered a moderately difficult hike. connected to the .gov website. I drove to the Dough Flat trailhead in a 1974 Pinto operated sanely at a speed appropriate to the road and the modest capabilities of that vehicle. These folks were a bit disappointed to not make the hot springs. Climbing up from alder creek was relatively easy to follow, but overgrown near the saddle. Any advice would be appreciated. There is access to the Dough Flat Trailhead during the spring, summer and fall and is within the winter seasonal closure between approx. The most straightforward way is to hike 19.5 miles from the Piedra Blanca trailhead on the western side of the wilderness. Trail is good from the PB trailhead to the Red Reef junction. We saw a number of snakes, they were mellow just walked around them cautiously. Sespe Hot Springs. Follow the road, being careful to stay on the main road, the side roads will take you to oil well pads. Thank you to the Ventura county sheriffs for trying to take care of this bizarre situation! This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. It can be seen on the USGS 1:24K topographic map Devils Heart Peak, CA . We picked the hottest day of a heat wave to attempt this hike, and I cant blame Sespe for that. The park's rustic environment, reminiscent of old kampungs, also holds many . Posted in Condor Trail, Sespe Wilderness, Trail Reports. DIFFICULTY RATING: Moderate; elevation, 2,225 to 3,700 feet. This article originally appeared section A of the March 29th, 2013 edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press. Overall, still a great trip! The first 10 miles of trails out to the creek crossing before Willett are clearly marked and well maintained. dough flat trailhead to sespe hot springs. The Dough Flat site is along the public access corridor of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in the Lo Padres National Forest, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. . The Mosquito Flat trailhead is at 10,000 and you have to go over Mono Pass at 12,000. To learn more about gear visit the following: From the junction with the Alder Creek trail there is water found along the east fork of alder creek off and on until the junction with Alder creek then there is flowing water in alder creek until Shady Camp. Great photo of a white (albino) deer from Wisconsin, A slightly out of focus photo of a great horned owl fledgling in Parma Park after sunset, Great news for Buellton and the Santa Ynez Valley. The temperature of the water from the hottest spring is in the 190 degree range and is unsuitable for soaking. Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? Water sources were sparse with a small stream before Oak Flats Camp and then another a mile after Willet. Also known as Arroyo Sespe, Cespai River, Sespe River. . Bummer, this trail is closed. https://christopherplord.blogspot.com/2020/12/horsethief-timber-canyon-camps.html, Lots of glass shattered on the ground and trash. Want to report conditions for this trail? Sespe River Trail - Starting from the Piedra Blanca Trailhead, this trail is 16.8 miles one way and is rated as moderate to difficult. Did this over 3 days Friday - Sunday. Cow Springs is the first camp along the way. Hiked from Piedra Blanca Trailhead down past Bear Creek. Be very cautious en route to trailhead. Johnson Ridge Trail - Begins from the trailhead at Mutau Flat, extends for 9.5 miles, and is rated as difficult. Alder Creek trail to Sespe Hot Springs turn north on A Street/Goodenough Road to Squaw Flat Road toward the Sespe Oil Fields. . 2.5 miles, roundtrip Elevation Gain 400 feet Highest Point 6800 feet Calculated Difficulty Easy/Moderate View from Sourdough Ridge Trail into Sunrise Valley. Tar Creek forms part of the southern border of the Sespe Condor Sactuary and Dough Flat Rd forms part of its eastern boundary. The trailhead at Dough Flat is reached from Fillmore by way of Goodenough Road and unpaved Squaw Flat Road. Truly magical & a long haul so be prepared. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. There are regular gnats between willet and sespe and at sespe there are special buffalo gnats that bite so watch out! Sharing Our Trails - A Guide To Trail Etiquette, Forest Headquarters (Supervisor's Office) A mile west of Hartman, Sespe River Trail arrives at the turnoff for Willet Hot Springs. We started at around 1 pm and didnt get to camp until 7:30 (~23 min mile pace). A camp at Coltrell Flat can be found under the oaks. I hiked from Piedra Blanca to Willet on Saturday 2/11. Terms & Conditions! We also smoothed out the slide as best we could, and we left the pickmatix wedged into the tree that sits on the left side of the slide area for others to use. Get updates on conditions, surveys and more Los Padres Forest Association - 10-03-2015, Los Padres Forest Association - 02-28-2017, https://www.globosurfer.com/best-fly-fishing-rods/, https://www.globosurfer.com/best-camping-grills/, Hiking and Backpacking Santa Barbara & Ventura, https://christopherplord.blogspot.com/2022/01/middle-lion-to-piedra-blanca-via-little.html. 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. After Oak Flat Camp the trail has another junction with the Red Reef Trail (21W08). CHAPTER 1 Introduction to the Southern Los Padres CHAPTER 2 About This Guide PART I SANTA BARBARA AND WESTERN MT. we make the short drive from Los Angeles to the Dough Flat trailhead in the Sespe Wilderness. Directions to Trailhead: From Ojai, CA, follow Hwy 33 north for approximately 15 miles. There was much debate surrounding how to get there after we found out the gate accessing the eastern approach via dough flats is closed (and even if open otherwise apparently unpassable unless one has a robust 4wd vehicle), so the discussion congregated upon weather to do that approach (13 mi each way) or from the west . 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. more details below. trail will go to Alder Creek and youll reach Alder Camp We received a report from the Sespe Trail from a couple who hiked from Piedra Blanca down to Willet. Sespe Hot Springs - Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest; Sykes Hot Springs - Ventana Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest . United States. Sespe River Trail To Sespe Hot Springs [CLOSED], https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lpnf/alerts-notices/?aid=77373, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=STELPRDB5181410&width=full. Most people cleared out, as they do on Sundays, and we heard from somebody that they saw him walking back to willet. Tar Creek Falls is located in the Los Padres National Forest. Crossings were not too hard but did require your feet to get wet. Be very cautious en route to trailhead. If those distances intimidate you, do not rule out a visit to Sespe Creek. 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. This route passes by the disappointing Willet Hot Springa rubber cistern in the ground that's filled with algaeas it follows the Sespe Creek. Sespe River Trail - Starting from the Piedra Blanca Trailhead, this trail is 16.8 miles one way and is rated as moderate to difficult. We only went to the second camp but the stream was beautiful. Very quite area away from the city infrastructures . Sespe Hot Springs can be gloriously . We ended up moving up the canyon, passed the rock circle to camp under the cottonwood with two other friends we met up with there. Make a right at the signed junction for Rose Valley (and Piedra Blanca). a couple sections with serious rain water erosion and some trees blocking the path about a 1/4 past bear creek after you cross the creek. 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. pascal wager: definitive edition. There are two campsites separated by the creek crossing. I walked around the palms to make sure he wasnt being threatening and within 2 mins of being near them, he dropped his purple robe to the ground and was just standing there. Left Panel: View west . Day 2 headed back after a nice dip in the am and found a nice spot with beach like sand about 4 miles back from springs and a nice 6ft deep spot in the cold spring to beat the heat. I'd planned to go on to Hot Spring Canyon but didn't want to ford the creek four more times in each direction, and I heard Hot Spring Canyon was washed out. Here a side trail crosses the creek and arrives at Willet Camp. The river is considered one of the best trout fishing streams in Ventura County. The entire length of the Sespe River Trail has ten crossings of the Sespe River. When Dough Flat Road is dry, you can drive a 2WD vehicle on the road. At about 10.5 miles from Dough Flat, Sespe River Trail arrives at Johnson Ridge Trail and the turn off for Sespe Hot Springs. Beautiful hike!! Beware, the next week its going to warm up and the frozen parts will become muddy too. 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. Continuing along Sespe River Trail, about half-mile west of the Johnson Ridge Trail intersection, Sespe River Trail arrives at Coltrell Flat.