Contact Information
6144 Calle Real
Goletta, CA 93117
805-683-6711
Los Padres National Forest encompasses nearly two million acres in the beautiful coastal mountains of central California. Stretching almost 220 miles from the Carmel Valley area to the western edge of Los Angeles County, it provides the scenic backdrop for many communities including Big Sur, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ojai. It's a great place to escape winter snowfall- in the dead of winter, you'll find the climate here to be temperate and benign. Don't let yourself get too annoyed by the flocks of tourists you're likely to encounter-for the most part, they stick to the roads and developed recreation areas. There are plenty of great trails, so you can hike far from the maddening crowd. Trust us, it'll be worth it.The forest has 1,200 miles of trails, including two designated National Recreation Trails; the Piedra Blanca trail and the Santo Cruz/Aliso trail. Most of the mountainous land along the central coast of California is within Los Padres National Forest. From sea level along the Monterey coast to the crest of Mt. Pinos at an elevation of nearly 9,000 feet - this is some of the most rugged land in the state. It makes for some challenging terrain, steep hikes that really pay off once you gain altitude, with some beautiful rock formations, displays of wildflowers fantastic views. There are plenty of trails to choose from; here are a few to get you started. Cuesta Ridge is a narrow, eight mile long strip of National Forest land between Cuesta Pass on Highway 101 and the Cerro Alto area adjacent to Highway 41. You can reach the ridge by trail from Cerro Alto Campground or by vehicle from Highway 101. With an average elevation of 2,000 feet above sea level, the ridge offers impressive views of San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay and Morro Rock, the Atascadero hills, and the Santa Lucia of Los Padres National Forest along the scenic Monterey County coastline. There are public beaches, campgrounds and picnic areas along this 18 mile stretch. To drive the entire length of Highway 1 along the coast from San Simeon to Carmel requires a commitment of several hours. The trip, with its road hazards and frequent bad weather, can prove to be a real challenge to your driving skills, especially if you are operating a large recreation vehicle or if you are pulling a trailer. There are no alternate routes along the coast and there are very few places to turn around safely. Be prepared. Winding through scenic canyons and along chaparral oak-dotted hillsides, State Highway 33 climbs to 7,500 feet at Pine Mountain in the Ventura County back country, forty miles beyond Ojai. The views from the highway include the central coast and Channel Islands, the striking Sespe Gorge, and several wilderness areas. Lush riparian areas contrast with striking sandstone bluffs and unusual rock formations. Rose Valley is one of the most popular recreation destinations in the Los Padres National Forest. Two campgrounds are located near the banks of Sespe Creek, while another is near beautiful Rose Valley Falls. Fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are popular activities. The Rose Valley Lakes are a pleasant place for fishing and watching waterfowl.
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