Los Padres National Forest
Encyclopedia
Los Padres National Forest is a forest located in southern
and central
California
, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura
to Monterey
, extending inland. Elevations range from sea level to 8831 feet (2,691.7 m).
s.
The forest is divided between two noncontiguous areas. The northern division is within Monterey County
and includes the beautiful Big Sur Coast
and scenic interior areas. This is a very popular area for hiking, with 323 miles (519.8 km) of hiking
trail
s and 11 campground
s (ranging from very rugged to suitable for recreational vehicles). This division also contains the Ventana Wilderness
, home to the California Condor
.
The "main division" of the forest includes lands within San Luis Obispo
, Santa Barbara
, Ventura
and Kern
Counties, with a small extension into Los Angeles County
in the Pyramid Lake
area, between Castaic
and Gorman
. Mountain ranges within the Los Padres include the Santa Lucia Mountains
, La Panza Range
, Caliente Range (a small part), Sierra Madre Mountains
, San Rafael Mountains
, Santa Ynez Mountains
, and Topatopa Mountains
; the highest parts of the forest are not within named mountain ranges, but are adjacent to the western San Emigdio Mountains
and include Mount Pinos
, Cerro Noroeste
, and Reyes Peak. The forest is also adjacent to the Angeles National Forest
, which is in Los Angeles County in Southern California and is nearby Carrizo Plain National Monument in eastern San Luis Obispo County. Forest headquarters are located in Goleta, California
. There are local ranger
district offices in Frazier Park
, King City
, Ojai
, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria
.
Many rivers in Southern and Central California have their points of origin within the Los Padres National Forest, including the Carmel
, Salinas
, Cuyama
, Sisquoc
, Santa Ynez
, Sespe
, Ventura
, and Piru
.
Several wilderness areas have been set aside within the Los Padres National Forest, including the San Rafael Wilderness
, the first primitive area to be included in the U.S. wilderness system after the passage of the Wilderness Act
in 1964. Another large wilderness created in the 1970s was the Ventana Wilderness
in the Santa Lucia Mountains.
More recent wilderness areas created in the Los Padres include:
Many threatened and endangered species live within the Forest. Probably most famous among them is the California Condor
(Gymnogyps californianus), for whom the United States Forest Service
established the Sespe Condor Sanctuary
. The American Peregrine Falcon
is also entirely dependent on the Forest for its survival. The Mountain Lion and California Mule Deer
may be the most common large mammals. Bighorn sheep inhabit the Sespe Creek
region of the forest. American Black Bear
s browse on grasses, Berries, and carrion. Coyotes thrive everywhere in the forest. Bobcats can occasionally be seen in the more remote mountainous areas of the forest.
Many vegetation types are represented in the Los Padres, including chaparral
, the common ground cover of most coastal ranges in California below about 5,000 feet (1500 m), and coniferous forests, which can be found in abundance in the Ventana Wilderness as well as the region around Mount Pinos in northern Ventura County.
Researchers estimate the extent of old growth in the forest is 18900 acres (76.5 km²). It consists largely of Jeffrey Pine
(Pinus jeffreyi) forests, although old-growth Coast Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens), Coast Douglas-fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii), and White Fir
(Abies concolor) are also found there. In 2008, scientist J. Michael Fay
published a map of old growth redwoods in and around Big Sur as a result of his transect
of the entire redwood range.
caught fire, and burned several hundred acres in Ventura county. Because of this risk, there are many restrictions on building fires in Los Padres National Forest. Some portions of the forest are closed entirely to public entry during the fire season (including the entire San Rafael Wilderness
). Normally the fire season extends from June 1 each year until the time of the first autumn rains, which is usually in mid-November.
A National Forest Adventure Pass
is required for parking in most locations of the Los Padres National Forest, as well as other National Forests in Southern California
, and may be obtained from local merchants, visitor centers, or online. It is not required in the Monterey Ranger District (Ventana Wilderness and Silver Peak Wilderness).
until December 3, 1936, and was assembled from a number of smaller National Forests, including:
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and central
Central California
Central California, sometimes referenced as Mid-State, is an area of California south of the San Francisco Bay Area and north of Southern California...
California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
to Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, extending inland. Elevations range from sea level to 8831 feet (2,691.7 m).
Geography
The forest is approximately 1,950,000 acres (7890 km²) in area, of which 1,762,400 acres (7,132.18 km²) or about 88% are public lands; the rest are privately owned inholdingInholding
An inholding is privately owned land inside the boundary of a national park, national forest, state park, or similar publicly owned, protected area...
s.
The forest is divided between two noncontiguous areas. The northern division is within Monterey County
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
and includes the beautiful Big Sur Coast
Big Sur
Big Sur is a sparsely populated region of the Central Coast of California where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The name "Big Sur" is derived from the original Spanish-language "el sur grande", meaning "the big south", or from "el país grande del sur", "the big...
and scenic interior areas. This is a very popular area for hiking, with 323 miles (519.8 km) of hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s and 11 campground
Campsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
s (ranging from very rugged to suitable for recreational vehicles). This division also contains the Ventana Wilderness
Ventana Wilderness
The Ventana Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest is a Federally designated wilderness area located in the Santa Lucia Mountains along the Central Coast of California. This wilderness was established in 1969 when the Ventana Wilderness Act abolished the Ventana Primitive Area and replaced it...
, home to the California Condor
California Condor
The California Condor is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. Currently, this condor inhabits only the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, and coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California...
.
The "main division" of the forest includes lands within San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census...
, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
, Ventura
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
and Kern
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
Counties, with a small extension into Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
in the Pyramid Lake
Pyramid Lake (California)
Pyramid Lake is an artificial lake formed by Pyramid Dam on Piru Creek, near Castaic, California. The reservoir lies on the border between the Angeles National Forest and the Los Padres National Forest in the northwestern portion of Los Angeles County....
area, between Castaic
Castaic, California
Castaic, California, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, north of Santa Clarita and a few miles from Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. It is approximately 39 miles from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center. As of the 2010...
and Gorman
Gorman, California
Gorman, California, is an unincorporated community in northwestern Los Angeles County. As of 2005 it had just 15 homes and a few registered voters, but tens of thousands of motorists traveled through it daily on the Interstate 5 freeway....
. Mountain ranges within the Los Padres include the Santa Lucia Mountains
Santa Lucia Mountains
The Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range is a mountain range in coastal California, running from Monterey southeast for 105 miles to San Luis Obispo. The highest summit is Junipero Serra Peak, in Monterey County...
, La Panza Range
La Panza Range
The La Panza Range is a mountain range in the Central Coast of California region in San Luis Obispo County, east of the small town of Santa Margarita. It is one of the California Coast Ranges and in the Los Padres National Forest....
, Caliente Range (a small part), Sierra Madre Mountains
Sierra Madre Mountains (California)
The Sierra Madre Mountains are a mountain range in northern Santa Barbara County, California, USA. They are a portion of the Inner South Coast Ranges, representing the southernmost part, which are themselves part of the Pacific Coast Ranges of western North America. The Sierra Madre Mountains...
, San Rafael Mountains
San Rafael Mountains
The San Rafael Mountains are a mountain range in central Santa Barbara County, California, U.S.. They are part of the Transverse Ranges system of Southern California which in turn are part of the Pacific Coast Ranges system of western North America....
, Santa Ynez Mountains
Santa Ynez Mountains
The Santa Ynez Mountains are a portion of the Transverse Ranges, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges of the west coast of North America, and are one of the northernmost mountain ranges in Southern California.-Geography:...
, and Topatopa Mountains
Topatopa Mountains
The Topatopa Mountains are a mountain range in Ventura County, California, north of Santa Paula. They are part of the Transverse Ranges of Southern California. The range lies in an east-west direction northeast of the community of Ojai, and west of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary. The ranges reaches an...
; the highest parts of the forest are not within named mountain ranges, but are adjacent to the western San Emigdio Mountains
San Emigdio Mountains
The San Emigdio Mountains are a part of the Transverse Ranges in Southern California, extending from Interstate 5 at Lebec and Gorman on the east to Highway 33–166 on the west. They link the Tehachapis and Temblor Range and form the southern wall of the San Joaquin Valley.The range is within Los...
and include Mount Pinos
Mount Pinos
Mount Pinos is a mountain located in the Los Padres National Forest on the boundary between Ventura and Kern counties in California. The summit is the highest point in Ventura County.- Geography :...
, Cerro Noroeste
Cerro Noroeste
Cerro Noroeste is a mountain located in Southern California's Kern County, a mile north of the Ventura County border. It is located a few miles southwest of the community of Pine Mountain Club, at an elevation of 8,280+ feet . The mountain is located in the Los Padres National Forest...
, and Reyes Peak. The forest is also adjacent to the Angeles National Forest
Angeles National Forest
The Angeles National Forest of the U.S. National Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, southern California. It was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel...
, which is in Los Angeles County in Southern California and is nearby Carrizo Plain National Monument in eastern San Luis Obispo County. Forest headquarters are located in Goleta, California
Goleta, California
Goleta is a city in southern Santa Barbara County, California, USA. It was incorporated as a city in 2002, after a long period as the largest unincorporated, populated area in the county. As of the 2000 census, the Census-designated place had a total population of 55,204, however, a significant...
. There are local ranger
National Park Ranger
National Park Service Rangers are among the uniformed employees charged with protecting and preserving areas set aside in the National Park System by the United States Congress and/or the President of the United States...
district offices in Frazier Park
Frazier Park, California
Frazier Park is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Kern County, California. Frazier Park is west of Lebec, at an elevation of 4,639 feet . It is one of the Mountain Communities of the Tejon Pass...
, King City
King City, California
King City is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. King City is located on the Salinas River southeast of Salinas, at an elevation of 335 feet . It lies along U.S. Route 101 in the Salinas Valley of the Central Coast of California. King City is a member of the Association of...
, Ojai
Ojai, California
Ojai is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley , surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.-History:Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley...
, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria
Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County, on the Central Coast of California. The 2010 census population was 100,062, putting it ahead of Santa Barbara for the first time and making it the largest city in the county...
.
Many rivers in Southern and Central California have their points of origin within the Los Padres National Forest, including the Carmel
Carmel River
The Carmel River is a river on the Central Coast of California in Monterey County that originates in the Santa Lucia Mountains. The river flows northwest through the Carmel Valley with its mouth at the Pacific Ocean south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. It is often considered the northern boundary of Big Sur...
, Salinas
Salinas River (California)
The Salinas River is the largest river of the central coast of California, running and draining 4,160 square miles. It flows north-northwest and drains the Salinas Valley that slices through the Coast Range south from Monterey Bay...
, Cuyama
Cuyama River
The Cuyama River is a river in southern San Luis Obispo County, northern Santa Barbara County, and northern Ventura County, in the U.S. state of California. It joins the Sisquoc River forming the Santa Maria River...
, Sisquoc
Sisquoc River
The Sisquoc River is a river in northeastern Santa Barbara County, California. It is a tributary of the Santa Maria River, which is formed when the Sisquoc River meets the Cuyama River. The river is long and originates on the north slopes of Big Pine Mountain, at approximately...
, Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez River
The Santa Ynez River is one of the largest rivers on the Central Coast of California. It is long, flowing from east to west through the Santa Ynez Valley, reaching the Pacific Ocean at Surf, near Vandenberg Air Force Base and the city of Lompoc....
, Sespe
Sespe Creek
Sespe Creek is a stream, some long, in Ventura County, California, in the United States. The creek starts at Potrero Seco in the Sierra Madre Mountains, and is formed by more than thirty tributary streams before it empties into the Santa Clara River in Fillmore. Thirty-one miles of Sespe Creek are...
, Ventura
Ventura River
The Ventura River is a river in Ventura County, California. The river forms at the confluence of Matilija Creek and North Fork Matilija Creek, upstream from the Pacific Ocean...
, and Piru
Piru Creek
Piru Creek is a large stream in northern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County, California. It is a tributary of the Santa Clara River, the largest stream system in Southern California that is still relatively natural. It drains an area of about and is about long. The creek is the Santa...
.
Several wilderness areas have been set aside within the Los Padres National Forest, including the San Rafael Wilderness
San Rafael Wilderness
The San Rafael Wilderness is a wilderness area in the mountains of north central Santa Barbara County, California, USA. It is completely contained within the Los Padres National Forest, and is north of the city of Santa Barbara and east of Santa Maria...
, the first primitive area to be included in the U.S. wilderness system after the passage of the Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
in 1964. Another large wilderness created in the 1970s was the Ventana Wilderness
Ventana Wilderness
The Ventana Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest is a Federally designated wilderness area located in the Santa Lucia Mountains along the Central Coast of California. This wilderness was established in 1969 when the Ventana Wilderness Act abolished the Ventana Primitive Area and replaced it...
in the Santa Lucia Mountains.
More recent wilderness areas created in the Los Padres include:
- Garcia WildernessGarcia WildernessThe Garcia Wilderness is a wilderness area within the Los Padres National Forest in Central California, San Luis Obispo County. It is one of several areas set aside by the United States Congress in 1992 with passage of the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act...
(14100 acres (57 km²) in the Lucia District) - Santa Lucia Wilderness (20412 acres (83 km²) in the Lucia District, in the Santa Lucia MountainsSanta Lucia MountainsThe Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range is a mountain range in coastal California, running from Monterey southeast for 105 miles to San Luis Obispo. The highest summit is Junipero Serra Peak, in Monterey County...
) - Machesna Mountain Wilderness (19880 acres (80 km²), in the La Panza RangeLa Panza RangeThe La Panza Range is a mountain range in the Central Coast of California region in San Luis Obispo County, east of the small town of Santa Margarita. It is one of the California Coast Ranges and in the Los Padres National Forest....
in San Luis Obispo County) - Silver Peak WildernessSilver Peak WildernessThe Silver Peak Wilderness is located in the southwestern corner of Monterey County in the Santa Lucia Mountains along the Central Coast of California. It southern boundary largely follows the Monterey County/San Luis Obispo County line. Its eastern boundary is defined by Ft. Hunter Liggett, while...
(31555 acres (128 km²), in the Monterey District) - Dick Smith WildernessDick Smith WildernessThe Dick Smith Wilderness is a wilderness area in the mountains of eastern Santa Barbara County, California, USA, with a portion in Ventura County. It is completely contained within the Los Padres National Forest, and is northeast of the city of Santa Barbara and north of the city of Ojai...
(64800 acres (262 km²) in the Santa Barbara Ranger District) - Chumash WildernessChumash WildernessThe Chumash Wilderness is a wilderness area in the mountains of northern Ventura County and southwestern Kern County in California, USA. It is completely within the Los Padres National Forest, and includes most of the highest terrain in Ventura County...
(38150 acres (154 km²) in the Mt. Pinos Ranger District, just west of Mount PinosMount PinosMount Pinos is a mountain located in the Los Padres National Forest on the boundary between Ventura and Kern counties in California. The summit is the highest point in Ventura County.- Geography :...
) - Sespe Wilderness (219700 acres (889 km²), in both the Ojai and Mt. Pinos Ranger Districts)
- Matilija Wilderness (29600 acres (120 km²) in the Ojai Ranger District)
Wildlife and vegetation
California Condor
The California Condor is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. Currently, this condor inhabits only the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, and coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California...
(Gymnogyps californianus), for whom the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
established the Sespe Condor Sanctuary
Sespe Condor Sanctuary
Sespe Condor Sanctuary is a wildlife refuge in the Los Padres National Forest. The United States Forest Service established the sanctuary in 1947 for the California condor, which is an endangered species and the largest living bird in North America...
. The American Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
is also entirely dependent on the Forest for its survival. The Mountain Lion and California Mule Deer
California Mule Deer
California mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus californicus, is a subspecies of mule deer whose range covers much of the state of California. This species is widespread throughout northern and central California in the California coastal prairie as well as inner coastal ranges and interior mountains,...
may be the most common large mammals. Bighorn sheep inhabit the Sespe Creek
Sespe Creek
Sespe Creek is a stream, some long, in Ventura County, California, in the United States. The creek starts at Potrero Seco in the Sierra Madre Mountains, and is formed by more than thirty tributary streams before it empties into the Santa Clara River in Fillmore. Thirty-one miles of Sespe Creek are...
region of the forest. American Black Bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
s browse on grasses, Berries, and carrion. Coyotes thrive everywhere in the forest. Bobcats can occasionally be seen in the more remote mountainous areas of the forest.
Many vegetation types are represented in the Los Padres, including chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, the common ground cover of most coastal ranges in California below about 5,000 feet (1500 m), and coniferous forests, which can be found in abundance in the Ventana Wilderness as well as the region around Mount Pinos in northern Ventura County.
Researchers estimate the extent of old growth in the forest is 18900 acres (76.5 km²). It consists largely of Jeffrey Pine
Jeffrey Pine
The Jeffrey Pine, Pinus jeffreyi, named in honor of its botanist documenter John Jeffrey, is a North American pine related to Ponderosa Pine.-Distribution and habitat:...
(Pinus jeffreyi) forests, although old-growth Coast Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens), Coast Douglas-fir
Coast Douglas-fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii, known as Douglas-fir, Oregon Pine, or Douglas spruce, is an evergreen conifer species native to western North America. Its variety Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii, also known as coast Douglas-fir grows in the coastal regions, from west-central British Columbia, Canada...
(Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii), and White Fir
White Fir
White Fir is a fir native to the mountains of western North America, occurring at altitudes of 900-3,400 m. It is a medium to large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 25–60 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m . It is popular as an ornamental landscaping tree and as a Christmas Tree...
(Abies concolor) are also found there. In 2008, scientist J. Michael Fay
J. Michael Fay
J. Michael Fay is an American ecologist and conservationist notable for, among other things, the MegaTransect, in which he spent 455 days walking 3200 miles across Africa and the MegaFlyover in which he and pilot Peter Ragg spent months flying 70,000 miles in a small plane at low altitude, taking...
published a map of old growth redwoods in and around Big Sur as a result of his transect
Transect
A transect is a path along which one records and counts occurrences of the phenomena of study .It requires an observer to move along a fixed path and to count occurrences along the path and, at the same time, obtain the distance of the object from the path...
of the entire redwood range.
Use restrictions
Los Padres exhibits an extreme risk of forest fires; in 1965, a truck driven by country singer Johnny CashJohnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
caught fire, and burned several hundred acres in Ventura county. Because of this risk, there are many restrictions on building fires in Los Padres National Forest. Some portions of the forest are closed entirely to public entry during the fire season (including the entire San Rafael Wilderness
San Rafael Wilderness
The San Rafael Wilderness is a wilderness area in the mountains of north central Santa Barbara County, California, USA. It is completely contained within the Los Padres National Forest, and is north of the city of Santa Barbara and east of Santa Maria...
). Normally the fire season extends from June 1 each year until the time of the first autumn rains, which is usually in mid-November.
A National Forest Adventure Pass
National Forest Adventure Pass
The National Forest Adventure Pass is a recreation fee pass issued by the United States Forest Service that permits bearers in the four National Forests in Southern California to park their cars for the purpose of recreation...
is required for parking in most locations of the Los Padres National Forest, as well as other National Forests in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, and may be obtained from local merchants, visitor centers, or online. It is not required in the Monterey Ranger District (Ventana Wilderness and Silver Peak Wilderness).
History
Los Padres was named Santa Barbara National ForestSanta Barbara National Forest
Santa Barbara National Forest was established as the Santa Barbara Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in California on December 22, 1903 with by consolidation of Pine Mountain and Zaka Lake and Santa Ynez Forest Reserves. After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in...
until December 3, 1936, and was assembled from a number of smaller National Forests, including:
- Monterey National ForestMonterey National ForestMonterey National Forest was established as the Monterey Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in California on June 25, 1906 with . It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 Pinnacles National Forest and San Benito National Forest were added. On August 8, 1919 the entire...
(est. June 25, 1906) , absorbed by Santa Barbara on August 18, 1919, and which itself had absorbed:- Pinnacles National ForestPinnacles National ForestPinnacles National Forest was established as the Pinnacles Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in California on July 18, 1906 with . It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 Pinnacles was added to Monterey National Forest and the name was discontinued...
(est. July 18, 1906) - San Benito National ForestSan Benito National ForestSan Benito National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in California on October 26, 1907 with . On July 1, 1908 San Benito was added to Monterey National Forest and the name was discontinued. Much of the land that once consisted of San Benito National Forest is now administered by...
(est. October 26, 1907)
- Pinnacles National Forest
- San Luis National ForestSan Luis National ForestSan Luis National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in California on July 1, 1908 from part of San Luis Obispo National Forest with . On July 1, 1910 the entire forest was combined with Santa Barbara National Forest and the name was discontinued....
(est. July 1, 1908), which had absorbed part of:- San Luis Obispo National ForestSan Luis Obispo National ForestSan Luis Obispo National Forest was established as the San Luis Obispo Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in California on June 25, 1906 with . It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 part of the forest was combined with Santa Barbara National Forest, the remainder was...
(est. June 25, 1906)
- San Luis Obispo National Forest
- San Gabriel National ForestSan Gabriel National ForestSan Gabriel National Forest was established as the San Gabriel Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in California on December 20, 1892 with . After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S...
(part) (est. December 20, 1892) - Pine Mountain and Zaka Lake Forest ReservePine Mountain and Zaka Lake Forest ReserveThe Pine Mountain and Zaka Lake Forest Reserve was established by the General Land Office in California on March 2, 1892 with . On December 22, 1903 the entire forest was combined with Santa Ynez Forest Reserve to create Santa Barbara Forest Reserve and the name was discontinued. -External links:**...
, (est. March 2, 1898) combined with Santa Ynez on December 22, 1903 to create Santa Barbara Forest Reserve - Santa Ynez Forest ReserveSanta Ynez Forest ReserveThe Santa Ynez Forest Reserve was established by the General Land Office in California on October 22, 1899 with . On December 22, 1903 the entire forest was combined with Pine Mountain and Zaka Lake Forest Reserve to create the Santa Barbara Forest Reserve and the name was discontinued. -External...
, (est. October 2, 1899)
External links
- Los Padres National Forest: US Forest Service official site
- Los Padres ForestWatch - a nonprofit organization working to protect and restore the natural and cultural heritage of the Los Padres National Forest
- Ventana Wilderness Alliance- dedicated to the preservation of wilderness areas and other public lands in the Monterey Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest
- Mountain Biking in the Los Padres National Forest- a website with maps, descriptions & links of various routes through the Forest for wilderness camping on a mountain bike.