California South
(CLOSED) (CAUTION)
Primative
Description: Out in the boonies! Beware during flash flood season. Extremely hot.
$:
Clothing optional? Yes
Accommodation:
Address:
phone: none FAX: none
Email:
Website:
Photos: Sespe Hot Spring photos – camels anyone?
Status: Sept 2006, Sespe and surrounding areas were closed because of the fire. It’s unknown if it’s been opened since. See comments below for details.
Details: Described as a “gem”, in the back country of Ventura, it is not for the faint hearted. Because of the extreme danger of flash floods that turn the nearby Sespe river deadly, and otherwise difficult access, please check on weather / road conditions and think through your preparations. This is reputed to take 2 days of difficult hiking to get to. According to one contributor in 9/2009 “There is a motorcycle trail in from the north, much shorter and not dangerous in the same sense as crossing the Sespe can be.” Perhaps taking a camel, is indeed the best way to go!
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Sespe Hot springs is 17 miles of sometimes washed out trail and river crossings from Rose Valley Campground about 10 miles up Hiway 33 from Ojai.
The trail was once a dirt road — I drove it in the 1970s — but has been purposefully allowed to deteriorate because it is insanely dangerous. Crossing and recrossing the Sespe can be lethal — HAS been repeatedly lethal — on account of flash flooding. When driving in, say, no problem crossing a shallow creek with little pick up truck or car, but even if it's not raining in the Sespe, upstream it could be a torrent and the water rises rapidly. What was a trickle has become a serious river. NOW what do you do? A group of boyscouts was stranded out on the Sespe in this very condition (back in the 'seventies) A bulldozer tried to rescue them, but the river current was so strong, several were swept away. The Manson Family trial was postponed because an attorney was swept away on the Sespe during the trial (during a recess, obviously…) However, the springs are spectacular! the Hot Creek is wonderful. There is a motorcycle trail in from the north, much shorter and not dangerous in the same sense as crossing the Sespe can be. I've ridden my mountain bike out to the springs — and back!– in one day
Sespe Hot Springs Closed
Date: 09-12-06 15:54
Sespe Hot Springs is closed due to the Day Fire:
06-13-5100-12
DAY FIRE EMERGENCY CLOSURE ORDER
LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST and ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST
Pursuant to 36CFR 261.50(a) and (b), and to protect public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Los Padres National Forest and Angeles National Forest. This order is in effect from September 10, 2006 until the Day Fire is fully controlled.
1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Day Fire Closure Area. The Day Fire Closure Area begins in Township 7 North, Range 18 West, where National Forest System lands meet Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) in section 9, then along the boundary between the National Forest System lands and Hungry Valley SVRA to Forest System Road (FSR) 8N01 Gold Hill Road, then one quarter of a mile north and west of and parallel to 8N01 to Trail 20W07 Piru Creek OHV Trail 128, then one quarter of a mile northwest of and parallel to Trail 20W07 to where it turns into FSR 7N13 Half Moon OHV Trail 132, then one quarter of a mile northwest of and parallel to FSR 7N13 to its beginning at Half Moon Campground, then south of the beginning of FSR 7N13 to FSR 7N03 Grade Valley Road, then southeast along FSR 7N03 to Trail 20W12 Johnston Ridge Trail, then one quarter of a mile southwest of and parallel to Trail 20W12 to where it meets Trail 20W13 the Sespe River Trail, then one quarter of a mile northwest of and parallel to Trail 20W13 to where it meets the Sespe River in Township 6 North, Range 20 West, section 32, then south to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary boundary, then follow the Sespe Condor Sanctuary boundary to where it meets the Los Padres Forest boundary in Township 5 North, Range 19 West, section 36, then east along the Forest Boundary to where it meets Interstate 5, then north along Interstate 5 where Hungry Valley SVRA meets Highway 5 in section 9, then west to the starting point, as shown on the attached Day Fire Closure Area Map. 36 CFR 261.53(e).
2. Being on any National Forest System trail within the Day Fire Closure Area.
36 CFR 261.55(a).
3. Being on any National Forest System road within the Day Fire Closure Area.
36 CFR 261.54(e).
Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:
1. Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
3. Owners or lessees of land within the Day Fire Closure Area are exempt from the prohibitions listed above to the extent necessary to gain access to their land.
4. Persons who reside within the Day Fire Closure Area are exempt from the prohibitions listed above to the extent necessary to gain access to their residences.
5. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation in the area.
These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A.
Done at Goleta, California, this 10th day of September, 2006
/s/Gloria Brown
GLORIA BROWN
Forest Supervisor
Los Padres National Forest
/s/Jody Noiron
JODY NOIRON
Forest Supervisor
Angeles National Forest
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
16 USC 551 and, 18 USC 3559, 3571, and 3581.
This order supercedes order number 06-13-5100-12 dated September 7, 2006.
Map of closed area:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/about/rules/regulations/day-fire-closure9-10-2006/Day-fire-closure091006-11×17.jpg
06-01-01
Sespe Hot Springs is a gem. I’ve been there 4 times since the
1980’s. There are two ways to go. I’d recommend the shorter one,
although its a steeper hike (coming out).
The longer way is via the Lion Campground route off HWY 33
access from Ojai. Its relatively flat, but long (about a 10 mile hike
each way -20 mile round trip). We came this way the first time,
so I don’t remember it much, but I recall it might be a good
mountain biking route in.
The preferred way is via a 5 mile one way /10 mile roundtrip from
Mutau Flat, which is accessed off Lockwood Valley Road. Its a
fantastic hike (or screamingly fast mountainbike ride which we
did twice) down the trail to the springs.
As you get to the bottom of the trail in the river gorge, walk a
short distance upstream and you’ll see the source coming out of
the mountain. Usually there are a series of pools of various
depths. If you go during the week, you’ll probably have the place
to yourself. We’ve never seeen more than 4 people there during
our visits.
THINGS TO REMEMBER: This is a very remote area.You will
need a Forest service permit.It is not an easy hike out.Take lots of
water and food, whatever you can carry. Make sure you have
good maps to get to the trailhead at Mutau Flat -the Los Padres
National Forest map is the best. Do not attempt during periods of
bad weather . Be very cognizant of fire danger
during the appropriate season.