Los Padres National Forest - Wilderness Areas
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Los Padres National Forest - Wilderness Areas http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/recreation/wilderness/ Los Padres National Forest Wilderness Areas Wilderness Passes You do not need a wilderness pass for any of the wildernesses in the Los Padres National Forest. You do need a campfire permit. What is Wilderness? According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, wilderness areas are "where earth and its community of life remain untrammeled, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." The Los Padres National Forest has ten designated wilderness areas: Ventana, Silver Peak, Santa Lucia, Garcia, Machesna, San Rafael, Dick Smith, Matilija, Sespe, Chumash. For backpacking information and other area specific information, contact the Forest Service office nearest your trailhead. Ten Wilderness Areas in Los Padres National Forest Los Padres National Forest has 10 Congressionally designated Wildernesses comprising 875,000 acres, or approximately 48% of the 1.75 million acre National Forest. Wilderness Areas by Ranger District Ojai Ranger District Sespe Wilderness 219,700 acres* (includes Sespe Condor Sanctuary) was established 1992 by the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. The Sespe Wilderness is predominately located in the Ojai and the Mt. Pinos Ranger Districts. One popular destination is the hot springs about 16 miles from Lion Camp (this campground is presently closed). The Sespe Wilderness is mainly a chaparral covered environment with rock cliffs in various sites. There is a beautiful area called Piedra Blanca, just off highway 33 along the Piedra Blanca-Gene Marshall Trail. The Sespe Condor Sanctuary is also in the wilderness. This site, closed to the public, was established to promote the propagation and growth of the California Condor. Matilija Wilderness 29,600 acres was established 1992 by the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. In the Ojai Ranger District, the Matilija Wilderness is 12 miles from the town of Ojai. Chaparral is prevalent with poppies plentiful in springtime. Fishing in Matilija creek is possible at certain times of the year. There are 2 hiking trails; 1 trail has campsites along it. Mt. Pinos Ranger District Chumash Wilderness 38,150 acres was established 1992 by the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. The Chumash Wilderness is situated in the Mt. Pinos Ranger District and is also near the town of Frazier Park. It includes Mt. Pinos which was an integral part of Chumash life and is still extremely important to the local Chumash residents. The vegetation is mainly pine forests in the northern portion and a combination of badlands and chaparral in the south. Hiking and camping are among the many recreational opportunities. Snow in the winter provides opportunities for winter recreation. Dick Smith Wilderness* 64,800 acres was established in 1984 by the California Wilderness Act. Refer to the description under the Santa Barbara Ranger District. This wilderness is approximately 1/2 in the Santa Barbara Ranger District (northeastern part) and 1/2 in the Mt. Pinos District (southwestern part). Sespe Wilderness* 219,700 acres* see description under Ojai Ranger District since this wilderness overlaps the Ojai and Mt. Pinos Districts. Santa Barbara Ranger District: Dick Smith Wilderness* 64,700 acres was established in 1984 by the California Wilderness Act. Deep within the Santa Barbara Backcountry lies a knot of mountains topped by Madulce Peak. The Dick Smith Wilderness Comprises 64,700 acres of diverse topography with elevations ranging from 3,700 to 6,541 feet. While chaparral is the predominant vegetation, the Madulce Peak area has some of the most beautiful stands of mixed conifers found in the Forest. The Rancho Nuevo area is more open with massive sandstone rock formations, chaparral, big cone Douglas fir and Great Basin sagebrush. San Rafael Wilderness* 197,380 acres. In 1968 the San Rafael became the first primitive area in the Nation reclassified as wilderness under the 1 of 4 9/25/2008 1:27 PM Los Padres National Forest - Wilderness Areas http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/recreation/wilderness/ Wilderness Act of 1964, additional acreage added in 1992 by the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. The San Rafael Wilderness is located in the San Rafael and Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges in southeastern Santa Barbara County (northern part of Santa Barbara District and Southern part of Santa Lucia District). This wilderness is mainly covered by chaparral, which consists of chamise, buckthorn ceanothus manzanita, scrub oak and yucca. You will also find potreros (grassy meadows). The two main corridors into the wilderness are the Sisquoc River and Manzana Creek. Most trails follow the creeks and rivers. These areas are called riparian zones and provide food, water, and shelter for most species of wildlife. In the water are rainbow trout, western pond turtles, and aquatic garter snakes, to name a few. Bordering the water you may find the western toad or hear the call of the pacific and California tree frogs From April through June you can hear the many songbirds that nest in riparian zones, such as the yellow warbler, house wren, orange-crowned warbler, and plain titmouse. Further from the creek, up in the brush, you will hear the scrub jay, California quail, and mountain quail. Other points of interest include the Manzana Schoolhouse and the standing ruins of homesteads along the Sisquoc River. These sites are all that remain of a vigorous farming community that settled the flats along the river around the turn-of-the-century. The South Fork Cabin is a historic Forest Service line shack that has sheltered generations of backcountry rangers. The Dabney Cabin, nestled on a small terrace above Manzana Creek, was built in 1914 as a retreat for the family of Charles Dabney. Santa Lucia District Santa Lucia Wilderness 18, 679 acres; established in 1978 by the Endangered American Wilderness Act. This wilderness is located inland from Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo. Chaparral-covered peaks and streamfed valleys. The vista of Morro Rock and the Seven Sisters. These scenic images are part of the Santa Lucia Wilderness experience. This wilderness offers numerous trails for hiking, hunting and fishing. Solitude and recreation await you, just ten minutes from San Luis Obispo. Garcia Wilderness 14,100 acres was established 1992 by the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. The Garcia Wilderness area offers an abundance of panoramic views, solitude and a variety of lush wildflowers in springtime. Located on the Santa Lucia Ranger District. The terrain ranges from chaparral covered mountains to grasslands and abundant creekside vegetation. There are several trails leading into the area. Two hiking trails cut through the wilderness and there are 3 designated campsites. Machesna Mountain Wilderness 19,760 acres was established 1992 by the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. Twenty-five miles from the city of San Luis Obispo, this wilderness boasts high peaks, chaparral, oak woodlands and conifer forests. Prairie falcon and tule elk live in this wilderness. Camping, hiking, are the main types of recreational uses. There is a 1500 acre Research Natural Area, dedicated to study on a unique strain of Coulter Pine. San Rafael Wilderness* 197,380 acres* see description under Santa Barbara Ranger District Monterey District Please note: Sudden Oak Death - An aggressive disease called "Sudden Oak Death" (SOD) is killing our native oaks in many areas along the California coast, including Big Sur. Warning! Dead trees or trees weakened by Sudden Oak Death have been known to topple suddenly and without warning. Be on the lookout, when visiting coastal California for trees that may be affected! Silver Peak Wilderness 31,555 acres This wilderness was established in 1992 by the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. On December 19,2002 the Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act of 2002 added 17,055 acres to the existing wilderness. Dramatic scenery, steep terrain, coastal redwood groves. The Silver Peak Wilderness is located in the southwestern portion of the Monterey Ranger District and along the famous Big Sur coastline. Hiking is available on moderate to strenuous trails, wildlife is present in more remote areas Photographic opportunities abound. Access to parts of the backcountry is by dirt roads and is open subject to weather conditions. Ventana Wilderness 240, 026 acres This wilderness was established in 1978 by the Endangered American Wilderness Act, first addition was in 1978 by the Endangered American Wilderness Act, second addition in 1992 by the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. On December 19,2002 the Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act of 2002 added 33,967 acres to the existing wilderness. Topography of the Ventana Wilderness is characterized by steep-sided, sharp-crested ridges separating V-shaped youthful valleys. Most streams fall rapidly through narrow, vertical-walled canyons flowing on bedrock or a veneer of boulders. Waterfalls, deep pools and thermal springs are found along major streams. Elevations range from 600 feet, where the Big Sur River leaves the Wilderness, to about 5,750 feet at the Wilderness boundary circumventing Junipero Serra Peak. Marked vegetation changes occur within the Wilderness. These changes are attributed to dramatic climate and topographic variations coupled with an extensive fire history. Much of the damage to vegetation is only temporary, since fire is an integral part of this Wilderness as it is of other areas of the Forest. Much of the Ventana is covered by chaparral. This brushy vegetative cover is typical of that found throughout Southern California' fire susceptible mountains. The contrast of annual grass meadows and open pine stands may be found throughout the Wilderness. Deep narrow canyons cut by the fast moving Big and Little Sur Rivers support virgin stands of coastal redwood.