Ojai Fall Color Hikes

Story and photos by Perry Van Houten

Hike the Ojai backcountry during November or December and discover a splendid show of autumn color, in the nearby Los Padres National Forest. Along Sespe Creek, one of the last wild rivers in Southern California, you’ll find 61 miles of riparian habitat and trees turning a vibrant yellow, as they prepare to drop their leaves in anticipation of winter. Lace up your hiking boots for any one of these adventures, and you’ll experience not just a dazzling display of color, but perhaps a distinct nip in the air. Plus, you’ll find that the summertime crowds have gone, along with a lot of the bugs! Each of the trails described here provides options for loop trips or longer, multi-day treks. A word of caution about hiking these trails during wet weather: creeks that appear calm can turn deadly after torrential rainfall. Pay close attention to weather reports during the rainy season and be aware of dangers from flash flooding. And don’t forget to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return.

Sespe River Trail (20W13)

Photo: Perry Van Houten

To get to the trailhead, take Highway 33 north from Ojai for 15 miles and turn o on Rose Valley Road. Drive past the lakes and the road to Rose Valley Falls, all the way to the end of the road at the Piedra Blanca Trailhead (formerly the Lion car camp). No water is available here, but there are restrooms and picnic tables. You’ll need to display an Adventure Pass (or Interagency Pass) to park. A one-day Adventure Pass costs $5, while $30 will get you a pass good for an entire year. On weekdays, the pass can be purchased at U.S. Forest Service headquarters at 1190 E. Ojai Ave., and on weekends at the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center at 17017 Maricopa Highway (aka Highway 33). From the east end of the parking area, the trail drops to the creek and crosses it three times before heading downstream. Cottonwoods, sycamores and white alders turn a vivid yellow and make an excellent showing of fall color along the river. The trail continues east for 17 miles, taking you to several stream-side camps and popular hot springs.

Middle Sespe Trail (22W04)

Along the Middle Sespe Trail, cottonwoods and sycamores changing color line the creek for miles.

Photo: Perry Van Houten

Drive north on Highway 33 for 17 miles to a turnout just up the highway from the former paved road to the old Beaver Camp (the road is now blocked by dirt barriers). Watch carefully for a signpost on the right side of the highway that reads “Trail Middle Sespe.” There are no facilities here and no passes required to park. Keep an eye on kids and dogs, as the parking area is very close to the highway. Beaver Camp was closed by the U.S. Forest Service in 1999 to protect endangered species, but the trail is open and in good shape, just a little hard to find at the outset. While crossing the creek, which usually goes dry in summer, look to the northeast and you’ll see the trail heading to the right. A bit brushed-in at times, the trail soon becomes wider and much easier to follow.

As the trail heads east, it climbs an 800-foot hill before descending to Rock Creek, where you’re treated to another great showing of yellow foliage. The trail then parallels Sespe Creek for 4 miles to its junction with the Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail.

The trail starts at the popular Middle Lion Campground in Rose Valley. To get there, use the same directions for the Sespe River Trail, but don’t go as far as the Piedra Blanca Trailhead. Instead, look for a turnout approximately 1 mile from the end of the road, and descend the winding, narrow, 1-mile paved road to the camp. You’ll need to pay the park concessionaire a $10 day-use fee to park inside the campgrounds, otherwise find a spot o the side of the road, outside the gate. The trail crosses Lion Creek before ascending into a pleasant canyon, where it splits three ways. The middle fork climbs to Nordhoff Ridge, while the west and east forks lead to trail camps and scenic waterfalls.

Lion Canyon Trail (22W06) A splash of autumn hues — and water — along Sespe Creek. In Lion Canyon, trees and chaparral along the trail provide a glut of fall color.

photo: Perry Van Houten

A note of caution about another example of fall color you’re likely to find in Lion Canyon and will want to avoid: poison oak. The leaves of this toxic plant turn from bright green in the spring to pink or reddish in the summer and fall. Sometimes a bush and other times a vine, poison oak can be found just about everywhere in the forest, but prefers shady, moist habitats below 5,000 feet.

Photo: Perry Van Houten

Perry Van Houten

IN OJAI

(805) 646-9782

320 East Ojai Avenue • Ojai, CA 93023 On the web at: www.priscillainojai.com On Facebook at: facebook/priscillainojai On Instagram at: @priscillainojai

Open Daily 11am to 5pm

Call us for our most current shop hours