We arrived at Piedra Blanca trailhead on Sunday night, but instead of pitching our tent, we decided to sleep in the car because it was very cold and windy. FORUMS. Posted on November 11, 2016 by Nichole DePaolo under backpacking, camping, Informational, myWord, outdoor adventure, travel writing. EisPiraten.com. The beginning of the Sespe River Trail . Willett Hot Springs can be visited as a long 19-mile day hike, or as a more reasonable overnight backpacking adventure. 20 comments. EisPiraten.com. Los Padres NF. Keep to the left to follow Alder creek trail, and alder creek camp is in 0.6 miles. He'd left immediately, in his converted 1953 GMC … The place has a lot many natural springs as well as swimming pools for one to take a plunge in. Sespe Creek receives most of its rainfall between January and April, and furnishes 40% of the water flowing in the Santa Clara River. 06-01-01 Sespe Hot Springs is a gem. Also, because many visitors prefer to enjoy the hot springs in the nude, this is definitely not the trip for you if you are at all uncomfortable with semi-public nudity. The unique springs, leaking from a cliff high above, leaves a red mark down the white rock wall and it is too hot … Sespe Hot Springs. Day 4 to Sespe Hot Springs: Bountiful Flowers and Lizards. There are two ways to go. Made it out last weekend to sespe hot springs on a 2 day backpacking trip. Willet hot springs. Extreme weather can make hiking along the river perilous. The Sespe Condor Sanctuary is also in the wilderness. Robb checking out the trail and mountains . Watching for the storm . In November 2015, we walked all the way to Sespe Hot Springs with completely dry shoes. Why you Can Do It: 9.5 miles to Willet Hot Springs or approximately 15 miles to the Sespe Hot Springs sounds far. I was able to capture some lizard escorts and river crossings that came out great. This trail is filled with the ultimate beauty of the nature. Sespe Hot Springs at its source produces water upwards of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Nestled in the Los Padres National Forest, the secluded Sespe Hot Springs provides a wonderful reward after a long hike; depending on which trail you take to the natural hot springs, the trek spans between 7.5 and 17 miles one-way. The only option in winter is to park at the Piedra Blanca trailhead in the Rose Valley and hike along the Sespe River Trail. 55. Hot Springs. Features: Sespe Creek flows from the wild Topa Topa Mountains in northern Ventura County. Sespe Hot Springs via Piedra Blanca Trailhead. In search of water... Don at a watering hole we found. There was a 10 percent chance of rain that day, and Eckersley, on his first trip into the Sespe, planned to spend the weekend camping at Sespe Hot Springs. Login; Join; HOME. The hottest of them, Sespe Hot Springs, is located in a neat wilderness area just a two-hour drive north of Los Angeles. This is a easy to moderate trail that takes you to Willet Hot Springs, about 15 kms in and then additional 10 kms up the Sespe Gorge to the Sespe Hot Springs. Major tributaries include the Lion Canyon, Hot Springs Canyon, Timber, West Fork Sespe and Little Sespe Creeks, although over 30 creeks and springs nourish it. The mountains are calling and we must go. I'm thinking / planning on doing an overnighter to che. The trail parallels the Sespe until it joins the Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail 22W03) . 9 miles from this point to Willett Hot Springs. Because most rivers and streams in southern California have been dammed, diverted, and channelized, the free flowing Sespe is a significant low-elevation stream with a relatively high potential for maintaining its ecological integrity, primarily because it flows through public lands (Los Padres … I've been there 4 times since the 1980's. The road to the forest is amidst wilderness of the Los Padres Forest, making the trail absolutely apt for hiking. A singletrack trail, Sespe River Trail travels through the Los Padres National Forest and hosts two sets of hot springs with year-round water and swimming holes found around the 10-15 mile mark in the Sespe Wilderness along the Johnston River Trail. Tag: Sespe Wilderness Area. San Gabriel Mountains - Trip reports & forum discussions about ranges in Southern California & beyond. Posted on May 1, 2020. There are three possible access points for reaching the springs, but all require either … Hot Weather. It rained the preceding week and another storm was supposed to come on Thursday night. Parking is within walking distance. and then the storm hit. Though a stone’s throw from L.A., the Sespe Wilderness is not to be trifled with. Camping Nearby: For the Piedra Blanca Trail there is a campsite near the Willett Hot Springs 8.5 miles in. The more secluded Sespe Hot Springs is another six miles from Willet Hot Springs. The weather prevented this, though, with 100% chance of heavy rain in the forecast, so we postponed the trip by a week. But light rain soon turned heavier, so Eckersley turned his camper around and started back toward the old Lion Car Camp. Hot Weather. The Sespe Wilderness is mainly a chaparral covered environment with rock cliffs in various sites. Several clearings and tent spots are located in the sandy canyon, between the cottonwood grove and the springs source. 2. Will ice cleats be needed for the path / terrain? Sespe River Trail to Willett Hot Springs Sespe Wilderness. There is a beautiful area called Piedra Blanca, just off highway 33 along the Piedra Blanca-Gene Marshall Trail. Trail has little shade and can be hot in late spring and summer months. Scalding is possible in Sespe Gorge! Next trail junction is 2.7 miles. Posted by 6 hours ago. DISCUSSIONS. Sespe Hot Springs is one of the hottest thermal springs in the California coastal region. Area/Length : 8.0 miles Our Maps. MESSAGES. The unique springs, leaking from a cliff high above, leaves a red mark down the white rock wall and it is too hot to touch near the source. 2017 was no exception, we planned on going February 3-5. See for yourself in this video. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get in a quick overnight backpacking trip. I work on a tv show and we unexpectedly had a hiatus come up. Local forecast by "City, St" or 5-digit ZIP code. According to the weather report, it will be snowing lightly that Friday into Saturday. Sespe Hot Springs can be accessed from three different … Located deep in the Sespe Wilderness, Sespe Hot Springs are formed from sulfurous steaming water pouring out from the walls of Hot Springs Canyon, which is surrounded by rocky outcroppings and cacti. Sespe Hot Springs is a 633 m blue singletrack trail located near Fillmore California. Do it in one long day or two shorter ones, stopping to camp at 8.5 miles near 108°F Willett Hot Springs (which can be crowded on weekends). Beginner hiker looking to hike the Icehouse Canyon Trail this Saturday 1/23. Sespe Hot Springs is one of the hottest thermal springs in the California coastal region. Accessibility is greatly affected by the weather and conditions of the roads. Its relatively flat, but long (about a 10 mile hike each way -20 mile round trip). Willett Hot Springs is 9.5 miles from the trailhead and Sespe Hot Springs is 15.5 miles away. Sespe Hot Springs is located on the Trail #21 and 2 miles north of Coltrell. Sespe Hot Springs Los Padres National Forest. The entire length of the trail has ten crossings of the Sespe River. NOTIFICATIONS. The maximum altitude that you can reach in this hike is 2903 feet or 885 meters. There is a handicap rail in the main hot springs pool. Into the Los Padres National Forest we go... Fall is here! Hot Springs: Hart Mountain Hot Springs has two hot springs soaking areas. This is a loop trail which starts and ends at trailhead. In the summer time. save. Willet hot springs. Baldy this Saturday 1/23 - Snow conditions...? In reality, the Sespe River Trail is easier than most long distance hikes in Southern California for the below reasons: 1) Weather The Sespe wilderness typically experiences mild climates. Hot Springs. ... Pine Ridge Trail Sykes Hot Springs Trail Information; Recreation Information Brochures; National Weather Service. Sespe Hot Springs Los Padres National Forest Feb 13-16, 2017 32.5 Miles . There is also primitive camping allowed close to the springs but make sure to bring plenty of water. Although it’s not a seasonal river, the big drought dried up the Sespe almost completely. 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. The longer way is via the Lion Campground route off HWY 33 access from Ojai. There are two options for hiking in the Sespe River area. Posted on November 11, 2016 by Nichole DePaolo under backpacking, camping, Informational, myWord, outdoor adventure, travel writing. In the summer time. Be visited as a more reasonable overnight backpacking adventure not part of Los! This hike is 2903 feet or 885 meters off HWY 33 access from Ojai eventually intersect. 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