Hiking & Backpacking in the Sespe Wilderness
Free Presentation with Q&A
Thursday, March 20, 6:30pm
Faulkner Gallery – Santa Barbara Public Library
40 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA
Created in 1992, the Sespe Wilderness encompasses more than 200,000 acres of wild and protected land within Los Padres National Forest. Best known for its hot springs, within these natural lands you will also find scenic waterways, pine-covered mountains, quiet meadows, and miles of trails to explore.
Join local author James Wapotich as he shares images and stories from his day hikes and backpacking treks through this diverse wilderness area. James is a trail guide, Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with Los Padres National Forest, and author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest. He leads classes on backpacking, wilderness awareness skills, and mindfulness in nature.
This free presentation is part of the Trail Talks series hosted by the Santa Barbara Public Library.
The next talk in the series is Thursday, April 17, Searching for Wildflowers in Santa Barbara County with Sally Isaacson
Songs of the Wilderness 
Hello,
I am planning a quick one night backpacking trip with my son. I have only backpacked once and my son has never backpacked. Do you have recommendations for the Sespe or Sb area? I am thinking Lower Mañzana trail to Coldwater Camp or Cold Spring trail to Forbush Trail to blue Canyon camp? Manzana schoolhouse might be fun but too much. Thank you!
By: Meghan Woodbury on March 25, 2025
at 12:18 pm
Hi Meghan, Lower Manzana is good because of the flexibility. First Camp in is Potrero, good water this time of year, 1 mile. Then, yes Coldwater ~2.75 miles in. And then Horseshoe Bend, about 4.25 miles in, which has a great swimhole in the spring. A nice 3-day I’ve done before is to backpack into Horseshoe the first day, day hike down to Schoolhouse and back the second day and then backpack out on the third day.
Forbush is also nice (1.75 miles in), water there now, as well as down at Cottam (about 3.5 miles in), huge meadow at Cottam, very scenic. More uphill with Forbush/Cottam than Lower Manzana.
A third quick overnighter is out to East Fork Lion in Rose Valley, past Ojai, 2.5 miles in from Middle Lion. Cool waterfall less than a quarter mile above East Fork Lion Camp, although some rock-scrambling required to reach it. Worth also visiting West Fork Lion while out there, waterfall above that camp as well that’s a little easier to reach. Details here, https://songsofthewilderness.com/2015/03/23/trail-quest-lion-canyon-trail/
By: James Wapotich on March 25, 2025
at 12:35 pm
Hi James,
Looking to do a 3-4 day backpacking trip. Very seasoned hiker, but this would be a first time at Sespe. Could you recommend a stellar overview of connecting trails for a possible loop trip? Thank you for your knowledge through experience. ~Tony.
By: Tony Cockrell on November 6, 2025
at 11:38 am
Hi Tony, one way to create a loop that folds in the Sespe Hot Springs is to start from Piedra Blanca Trailhead, tag Willet and Sespe Hot Springs, and then continue up the Johnston Ridge Trail to Grade Valley Road. Follow Grade Valley Road (~4 miles of dirt road walking) to the Cedar Creek Trailhead. Take Cedar Creek Trail to Pine Mountain Lodge, and then return along the Gene Marshall – Piedra Blanca Trail to the Piedra Blanca Trailhead. ~40 miles round trip. Water will be your challenge on the Johnston Ridge to Pine Mountain Lodge segment. I recently heard that Cedar Creek Camp is dry. But you might find water elsewhere along the route. There is reliable water at Pine Mountain Lodge upstream from the camp. Water intel can sometimes be found at http://www.hikelospadres.com. A worthwhile side trip between Cedar Creek and Pine Mountain Lodge is to tag Fishbowls (+3 miles roundtrip).
Another route that has some elements of a loop is Lion Canyon/Red Reef. Also starting from Piedra Blanca Trailhead head out to Willet, then double back a mile to the Red Reef Trail. Follow Red Reef to the top of the south ridge overlooking the Sespe, tie into Nordhoff Ridge Road, and then come down Lion Canyon Trail. There is likely water at Ladybug Camp along Red Reef Trail, and water can be found upstream from East Fork Lion Camp off Lion Canyon Trail. From Middle Lion it’s less than 2 miles of paved road walking to the Piedra Blanca Trailhead. ~28.5 miles. While there’s no way to include Sespe Hot Springs into this loop itself, you could still tack it onto the trip. From Willet to Sespe hHot Springs it’s around 10 miles roundtrip.
Both loops have some great scenery.
By: James Wapotich on November 9, 2025
at 2:13 pm