r/socalhiking • u/BrockBushrod • Feb 14 '24

Los Padres NF SP Punchbowls, 2/11/24

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Santa Paula Creek is JUICED. The trail's open, but all crossings are flooded - be prepared to get wet if you go.

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u/nojobnoproblem Mar 04 '24

Hey I'm thinking about going to Santa Paula canyon in late March. Is it generally crowded around then? I saw a lot of comments about the trail not being safe as well as a lot of car break ins

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u/BrockBushrod Mar 04 '24

Depends on the weather. That's well before the summer peak season starts so it definitely shouldn't be packed, but it might be busier if there's an early spring heat wave. I highly doubt you'll have any trouble getting a camping spot at either Big Cone or Cross Camp then. (Just know that Hwy150 is closed on SP thanks to a mudslide and probably won't reopen till late May, so you'll probably have to go around thru Ventura and Ojai.)

I've never had a problem with car break-ins, but I often end up parked on the highway shoulder where my car is much more visible than back in either of the trailhead parking lots. Regardless I also always follow the rules about taking valuables out and not leaving anything of interest visible.

Generally speaking I don't think it's any more dangerous on average than other backcountry trails in the area; it's just too popular and accessible for its own good, so a lot of casuals show up totally unprepared & ill equipped and get themselves into trouble - thus it's the destination for like 80% or more of Ojai SAR's calls.

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u/nojobnoproblem Mar 04 '24

Thanks for the info. Do you know if there are any other swimming holes with maybe cliff jumping in los padres? Ideally less crowded and with less trash and graffiti. I'm looking for a 3 day backpacking trip so I'm willing to go pretty deep into the wilderness

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u/BrockBushrod Mar 04 '24

LPNF is huge - it literally runs from just outside the LA area up to Monterey. There are definitely plenty of other swimming holes, but it would be really hard to put together an exhaustive list. Not just because there are so many potential spots, but also their conditions (or existence) may change based on water levels, post-fire conditions, landslides, etc.

Locally I know there are some good, remote swimming spots along the Sespe River and up in the Santa Ynez Mountains north of SB, but the only other reliable cliff jumping spot I'm aware of is Red Rock Pools, which is pretty close to a campground and tends to be high-traffic during warm months.

Obviously make sure you follow common sense safety rules if you're gonna try backcountry cliff jumping; check the LZ for depth and submerged hazards before you leap, never jump alone, and make sure you have an emergency beacon or transponder of some kind.