Provided there are no fires nearby, this is always a fun place for a hike.Long hikes or short hikes, this forest has them all. Be sure to research your hike (or other activity) beforehand for safety reasons, to ensure you know where you’re going, as cell reception is spotty at best. You also want to make sure it’s at your preferred skill level.Great place to explore nature and get some exercise. Excellent way to get kids away from the city and electronic devices for a while. It’s the type of vividly beautiful environment that inspires deeper admiration for our planet and all she has to offer, with rich forests and mountain views all around. Depending on where you are, you may even get some views of the ocean from up high.

Come here!! Its so amazing. I came here with two other people, and we went on a long hike, at least four miles. Along the way we saw at least 5 swimming pools, and on the way back we even went for a swim. We saw amazing wildlife, tons of awesome plants, and the geography and rocks were incredible. We even saw a crawfish in the stream. It was so cute! Amazing place.

We had a great time at Rancho Oso. Everyone is so friendly! Covid precautions are in place. A great getaway. Horseback riding hiking pool and spa mini golf laundry and plenty of restrooms around.

Amazing drive up!! The views are incredible and unforgettable!! Skip Knapps castle. Cannot get there anymore. A home is being built and there is no access. Very sad.

Love this national forest and have been roaming around on several of the forest roads, checking out the panoramic views on topnof several ridges. Sometimes Ill stay overnight in a campground but most of the time I find great sites just off of one of the forest roads, very remote & very secluded with no one around.

Super cool. The trip was really super cool, because we had fun, we eat sausages, my dog was so happy and excited to travel though the forest. Very beautiful by the way, fresh air - breath fully. I enjoyed the whole trip.

Definitely recommend seeing this natural amazement of a national park we loved our time there and definitely recommend taking the time to visit it as long as it is not on fire! we have a great connection with the natural world and highly recommend finding your bond with it as well. We love to hear the birds chirp and the water falls hum. check out our photos and leave us a good old like if you enjoyed them as much as us! thank you so much

Life is enjoyable. No matter what youre feeling right now. Take a quick trip to hidden gems in our beautiful National Forest.

Awesome place to campout, we had an amazing time and the trails up the mountain to the look out point is so good, I recommend this place

This trip we did not take our RV so we stayed at Rancho Oso (a Thousand Trails Preserve) in a cottage. It had 1 bedroom with a queen and a small room with 2 bunk beds. The sofa would also open so it would sleep up to 6. There was a full size refrigerator, a microwave and countertop oven/broiler. Everything was clean and comfortable. There were plenty of windows to bring in the light and observe the views.

Beautiful Nature! Love everything about it. Very quiet & peaceful place to relax and wind down from the busy City Life!

Awesome! Nice riding area for the kids its small but still nice and closer to home ! Warm weather but overall decent conditions

Great trail. The hike was great. Challenging at times but the scenery is beautiful and picturesque. I stopped many times to take pictures of the various types of plants and animals. I would highly recommend this park! Very cool experience.

I was out in the San Rafael Wilderness along the upper Manzana trail during early April 2019. The creek was flowing nicely, but not so full as to prevent crossing without getting my feet wet.I spent 3 nights out there, the wildflowers were in bloom and everything was fairly green. There were quite a lot of flies, but no mosquitoes encountered. Some ticks were about, but not overwhelmingly. The largest mammal I saw was a squirrel, and I only saw two small snakes that I couldnt identify.The trail camps were in good order and made sleeping out in the woods a bit easier than otherwise. The forest road on the way up is kind of treacherous with a bunch of pot holes and ditches. My little pick up truck made it, but Id recommend something higher up and with good tires and suspension.Anyhow, its a beautiful area and I had a great time out there.

Beautiful place to camp and hike. Bring lemongrass essential oil. These bugs dont care about deet!!

Beautiful forest. There are definitely some awe inspiring spectacular views that will take your breath away! Me and my best friend drove through here on the way to see his younger brother. We had to stop several times to take in the views and explore a little. It was very pretty but you could definitely see that a lot of the damage from the recent fires was still there

Beautiful landscapes and vistas as far as the eye can see. Make sure to allow a few hours just to explore the area

You have to forage for your food and drink creek water. Im outdoorsy so I have it two stars. Suggest bringing a cross-bow and a 1 micron water filter.

I drive on this road to visit family at least twice a month. It is so scenic and breathtaking at times

This portion of land which encpasses just about everything a person could want to see or experience is one of my favorite areas to exist amongst.

This place is just so beautiful! We love coming up here and exploring!

Hidden gem close to home. The camp sites are clean and quite. There are bathrooms which are cleaner than most peoples homes. Only downside is you must bring all water you will need. No showers unless you bring extra water for it or RV.

Very beautiful, wish I could stay longer to enjoy more.

Love this place. Beautiful scenery and peaceful getaway

Very beautiful views and many trails to take!It was very clean with friendly people :)

Nice easy grade, that winds up at the top of the summit. Great views of the valleys on both sides. Be sure you have an adventure pass to park.

Great place to hike and for Mt Pinos, beg elev is 8,300 feet up above sea level.

Very interesting place. I love to visit ️

It’s a very moody landscape that brings many smiles as it clears your head from the stresses of everyday life, just as it also brings dust storms, snow, floods, fires, sunburns, waterfalls, some of the best most colorful skies while you are hiking it’s 100’s of miles of trails or camping or just sight seeing the plentiful wildlife. There is a lot available for everyone of every skill level, but be sure to ask where before you venture if you don’t know. Conditions change rapidly and “unexpected” rescues occur almost daily because it appears much safer than it is at the entrances and welcome signs.

Quiet and peaceful. Just a beautiful place to get away from Couch Arrest. Look for fossils

Always lots to do at Los Padres National Forest. Lots!

I love this forest. Its a hidden gem outside of the hustle bustle of LA. Im almost hesitant to post the pics of how amazing this place is because it is so quiet and peaceful. I absolutley love going into Los Padres Forest any chance I get.

Visited here on January 27th with the family we pulled over to the side and enjoyed some snow. It was so beautiful there, only thing that bothered me was that people left their trash and broken sleds there, it was sad to see.Please be sure to pick up after yourselves when you go. Help keep our earth clean.

Beautiful area! Can get very hot so please prepare!! Place fills up fast so get there early.

This is a fantastic place to check out what your off road vehicle can do. Beautiful Park bathrooms available.

Beautiful place . The creek was so warm. Kid friendly

Beautiful trails. Spring blooms bring tourists so bring your patience.I love seeing the poppies, lupine, and other native flowers.You can get the parking pass at the Big 5 stores.There isnt water nor bathrooms near trails. Pack in and pack out.

I live in Bakersfield went to Santa Margarita for camping and have hiked near there . This time we decided to travel little further passed Santa Margarita to Pozo there we found the trail that led us to Los Padres national Forest. Beutiful quiet peaceful . Will continue exploring.

Its a nice place for hiking but too much cattle damage and private property for my taste. I like to be able to go a little off the path, but you just dont have the option its all fenced off.

We hiked the Adobe trail. It was a little overgrown and not quite clear where the trail ended but the views were breathtaking. The hike is very steep in parts and the trail so narrow I would only recommend taking a well trained dog.

Access/Forest Service roads allow entry all over. Great for hiking, biking and camping. Dry conditions mean you should bring your own water. No fires during fire season, or without a permit.

Rode Camino Cielo on my Tiger XCA with my boyfriend and his BMW GSA. It was an absolutely gorgeous ride and mostly simple fire road, but there were some unmaintained bits with washouts, gravel, and rocks. The view at the top lended sight of both the ocean and the Chachuma Lake.

Can someone enlighten me in what this is? This surprisingly popped up in last 6 months to a year. Sign says Headphone Protection Required. What else is being hidden from the people?

Always a pleasure place for a quiet day of hiking and soaking up nature

Peaceful Wilderness. 4×4 through Los Padres National Forest.

One of the greatest National Parks in southern California. The topography changes so drastically depending on where you enter the park. Varying from canyons to mountaintop skyline ridges, this park is especially amazing for motorcycle riding.

Date 2/2/19. Fresh snow from the night before and morning. The roads not plowed in early afternoon but were being plowed on our way down. Beautiful! It was snowing on our way out. Be prepared to have chains on 2 wheel drive. 4 wheel drive and snow tires are ok. Dress warm with appropriate clothing. Take home any trash or broken sleds. During Sundays it is possible for 1000s of people to attempt a visit.

Great trails! Awesome views !

Great place to take the kids and enjoy nature!

Facilities fairly clean. Great place to take the kids. Hiking, pollywogs, etc.

Its beautifully peaceful and its Home.

Great place for a hike. Dont forget water

Such a beautiful place to get away from the city.. hiking biking and enjoying the beauty of nature!

An awesome and beautiful place to camp. Campsites are clean and well put together.

Very scenic, very accessible national forest. If you take SR33 out if Ojai and head north youll pass multiple camp sites and trailheads. Many places along the road offer easy access to creeks and water pools. Once you get to Pine Mountain you will have an absolutely spectacular vista that spreads out for miles.

Really beautiful setting. I highly recommend taking a trip here to experience the chaparral or the pine forests at higher elevations. I enjoyed the hike to Haddock Mountain (from the Reyes Peak Trailhead). It’s a good option if you want to see pine forest instead of your normal chaparral. The drive from Ojai to trailhead is also really scenic.

The views were breathtaking and my 4 year old son was in all with hiking trails!Not to mention per my son, it was the Best Fireworks EVER with the best seat in the house.From Goleta to the City of Ventura we had our pick of 4th of July Fireworks extravaganza!This just might become our annual celebration yo.

We hiked at different locations and fully enjoyed our time here. The sunset over the Santa Ynez valley was breathtaking. We visited in December. The temperature was pleasant but it was very windy so Id recommend taking a jacket.

The forest is pretty easy to get into and there are several dirt trails to off road on, as well as many hiking trails. Be sure to do a little research before coming here to hike since some areas dont really have good spots to park near the trail head and you might have to backtrack a bit to get back to the trail. Most of the off road dirt trails are closed seasonally due to rain and every once in a while snow. The views are awesome on a clear day, allowing you to see all the way to the ocean on the west face of the mountain. There is a camp ground here with vault toilets, and the Nira campground is close to a little creek (also vault toilets). Great for either a day trip or camping.

Have been exploring Los Padres National Forest this pass year. Camped in two different sites two different trips and have explored the north parts of the park. Used New Cuyama as a supply town.Traveled lots of the back trails via4 X 4 and hiking.Very interesting how different the mountains are East of 166 Carrizo Plains National Monument than those West of 166 the Los Padres National Forest. Found the terrain North of 166 where it splits the park to be more like Carrizo. Dryer, less trees, not as green. This area is open to OHV.Rock climbing routes found up there too.Get a Adventure Pass and explore!

A beautiful drive through these amazing places. Much more that a forest!

In a quiet and cool and green forest at 10000 feet. What else is there to say?

Loved the drive into brookshire campground very remote area.

Great views for the sunset and there are good camping spots that are usually not crowded. These days, theres a ton of people from all over filling up the campgrounds.

I live in Frazier Park which happens to be in the Los Padres National Forest. Its a very pretty mountain town that has friendly people and is quiet and relaxed. A great place to retire.

Outstanding hiking are. The campsite was much better than expected.

It was a beautiful hike and exceptional weather. However, there are no restrooms at the Nordic parking lot!

Good riding, awesome views and just overall beautiful place.

One of my favorite camping locations in California. Breathtaking views, intimate settings and lovely flora.

I drove up Hwy 33 looking at beautiful scenery and wildflowers. In Rose Valley I was sad to see the Seabee/Helitac Base/Sheriffs Station all gone. Nothing but fences and concrete pads.

Peace and quiet. Our dogs love it here.

Amazing hiking trails, beautiful mountains (especially after a good rainy season), glad to live where I do and have the Los Padres in my backyard. Wildflowers this time of year are always good, but with the rain its brought varieties we havent seen in years, plus all kinds of little critters. Good stuff!

Peaceful yet a lot less py trying to get to the park and water ways. Camping was heavier than I have seen in years.

This place is majestic! The southern California mountains always take my breath away. I camped in my van at a turnout right before the park but there are lots of more accommodating camp grounds in the park with water and power. The roads up the mountain passes are great for biking and everyone is pretty conscious of safety. I loved my time in Los Padres and Ill definitely be back!

Nice place to go hiking with the dog. Check out salmon Creek fallsWatch out for poison oak.

Plenty of trails to hike for any ability. Recently did the Potrero John trail outside of Ojai Ca. Great trail that follows along the Potrero John creek. I went late November, we havent had rain at this time, so its a bit dry for now.

Great time love the privacy. Nice drive and very clean. Just remember to put your food away at night.

Amazing place! The drive is fantastic. Tons of curvy roads, rally fun if you have a nice car or motorcycle

Beautiful and quite accessible road up to amazing views of the coast. There are a couple free camping spots, but they filled up early on a Thursday night in May.

Beautiful scenery Calif.

Get lost in the woods sometimes its enlightening and great to get some alone time with nature.

I worked on the Los Padres for 18 1/2 years. Great Forest.

Did the most fantastic hike!!

Lovely area, unfortunately I was evacuated because of the fire. The fire is absolutely devistating. My prayers are with those who have lost all, including their animals and pets.

The trees are amazing here and so is the beauty but waiting for 2 hours in line to catch the shuttle buses is not. Parking is limited so be prepared.

Love it here so quite almost to quite... Take you time there are super sharp turns

We absolutely loved Figueroa Mountain! We enjoyed a nice 4 mile up the closed road to the lookout. The wildflowers were spectacular!

Did the Lowe Mountain trail. While the scenery is beautiful, the trail is a dirt road. If course the top of the mountain had towers on it. Not the outdoor experience I was hoping for. That being said, the views are lovely.

Post says Goleta! Wrong. This is above Ojai along Hwy 33 North.New things to find and explore since the fire. Nature at its finest! Old tobacco tins on a burnt tree, a frog from the desert lives here?, a boulder which exploded when water inside was heated by the Thomas Fire.

A great place to meet, my family was visiting me and I chose the park to share with them, we were all happy, we laughed, we learned a lot. Really happy with the great place experience, it was a great adventure, each place was a new experience. The diversity of landscapes and flora make it a walk to remember.

Los Padres National Forest with highways 150 and 33 is a a dream for any motorcyclist or car lover. Around every sweeping turn is another beautiful view, with lots of pull-outs for sunset gazing. If youre a photographer, there are lots of opportunities for shoot settings. The recent fires sadly took out some of the vegetation, but it will remain one of my all-time favorite areas of the West Coast.

There was so much snow. Had a great time for our daughters first trip to the snow.

First time I hiked here and it was very beautiful extremely cold because it rained the night before but it is very nice

Great to hike off the beaten path or camping on a remote area. Simple facilities.

We stayed a Cerra Alto campground, which is just one of several in the forest.Los Padres Forest is a large forest with many places to hike, bike, and just enjoy nature!!!

This Land is Your Land,This Land is My Land!Get in touch with your Wild Side,Enjoy Your Wilderness!

Such a beautiful area of scenery. I havent seen such a nice place at such a nice altitude in many years. Its a bit of ways in but that is the beauty of being enveloped in nature.

Really nice mountain road drive. Great views.

It was our first time visiting Santa Barbara, and it was super foggy in town. So we decided to go up into the mountains and get above the fog. We ended up in Los Padre National Forest, and I’m so glad we did! Breathtaking views, and stunning mountains. Windy roads that curve in between the mountains, and great vistas.

We got snow on the mountain this year, cant wait for the spring super bloom.