National forest
Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest is a national forest in California.
Current notices posted by the managing agency. Checked Sept. 30, 2026.
- Closure: Special Closure - SBRD Storm Damage Recovery Closure of developed recreation sites, roads, and trails in the Santa Barbara Ranger District impacted by storm damage and some roads restricted to non-motorized use. Effective from September 16, 2026, through September 15, 2027. Since Sept. 16, 2026.
- Closure: Monterey Ranger District Emergency Closure Order with Exceptions To provide for public safety, the Timber and Plaskett Fire Area are closed, including roads and trails described in Exhibit A and shown on the Exhibit B Map.This Forest Order No. 05-07-51-26-11 supersedes Forest Order No. 05-07-51-26-10. Since Aug. 29, 2026.
- Closure: Sespe Condor Sanctuary Closure The Los Padres National Forest will prohibit entry by the public to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary to support ongoing Condor recovery efforts. This special closure order supports the overall survivorship and sustained population increase of the California Condor species. Since Oct. 22, 2025.
- Closure: Dry Canyon Area, Roads and Trails, and Wilderness Closure Mt. Pinos Ranger District, Dry Canyon Area, Roads, Trails and Wilderness Closure Since March 27, 2025.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for Los Padres National Forest on the managing agency's own page.
Los Padres National Forest map
Los Padres National Forest boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
4 fire restriction orders are recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Each links the signed order.
- Los Padres Fire Use and Firearm Restrictions Effective June 4, 2026. Prohibits building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, on the Los Padres National Forest System lands, except in the Designated Campfire Use Sites. Reference the sites listed in Exhibit A.NOTE: Only persons with a valid CA Campfire Permit are exempt from this Order…
- San Carpoforo Beach Prohibition of Overnight Camping and Campfires Effective April 8, 2026. Prohibits overnight camping and building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire on San Carpoforo Beach, which includes all National Forest lands west of Highway 1 to the mean high tide line of the Pacific Ocean in Section 16, Township 25 South, Range 6…
- Santa Barbara Front Country Fire Use Restrictions Effective Feb. 27, 2026. Prohibits building, maintaining, attending, or using a wood or charcoal campfire, or cooking fire, on National Forest System lands within the Fire Use Restriction Area which is the front country of Santa Barbara. Reference the description of the area and the attached map for details.Over the past…
- West Cuesta Fire Use Restrictions Effective Dec. 10, 2024. Prohibits building, maintaining, attending, or using a wood or charcoal campfire, or cooking fire, on National Forest System lands within the West Cuesta Fire Use Restriction Area. Reference the description of the area and attached map for details. NOTE: Persons with a valid CA Campfire Permit may…
Common questions
- Los Padres National Forest has 7 district offices: Big Sur Station Multi-Agency Visitor Center in Big Sur (831-667-2315), Los Padres Forest Headquarters Office in Old Mission Drive Solvang (805-968-6640), Monterey Ranger District Office in S. Mildred Street King City (831-385-5434), Mt. Pinos Ranger District in Lockwood Valley Rd. Frazier Park (661-245-3731 ext. 0), Ojai Ranger District in E Ojai Ave Ojai (805-646-4348 ext. 0), Santa Barbara Ranger District in Paradise Rd Santa Barbara (805-724-0079), and Santa Lucia Ranger District Office in N. Carlotti Dr. Santa Maria (805-925-9538).
- Los Padres National Forest is managed through 5 ranger districts: Monterey Ranger District, Mt. Pinos Ranger District, Ojai Ranger District, Santa Barbara Ranger District, and Santa Lucia Ranger District.
Camping on Los Padres National Forest
Fire restrictions change by district and season: check the current alerts and restrictions before you go.
Los Padres National Forest maps
- Interactive forest map from the Forest Service
- Motor Vehicle Use Maps: which roads are open to which vehicles, and so where you can legally drive to a dispersed site
- Forest visitor map
Ranger district offices
| Big Sur Station Multi-Agency Visitor Center (visitor center) | Big Sur, CA | 831-667-2315 | Open daily 9 am - 4 pm |
| Los Padres Forest Headquarters Office | Old Mission Drive Solvang, CA | 805-968-6640 | Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed for lunch 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. |
| Monterey Ranger District Office | S. Mildred Street King City, CA | 831-385-5434 | Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed for lunch 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
| Mt. Pinos Ranger District | Lockwood Valley Rd. Frazier Park, CA | 661-245-3731 ext. 0 | Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed for lunch 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
| Ojai Ranger District | E Ojai Ave Ojai, CA | 805-646-4348 ext. 0 | Monday-Friday 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Santa Barbara Ranger District | Paradise Rd Santa Barbara, CA | 805-724-0079 | Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed for lunch 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. |
| Santa Lucia Ranger District Office | N. Carlotti Dr. Santa Maria, CA | 805-925-9538 | Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
Fishing and water
- Reyes Creek fishing (right at the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Lake Piru water level (0.7 miles outside the boundary): its dam and reservoir record on reservoirfinder.com.
Public lands next to Los Padres National Forest
- Wilderness areaChumash Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaDick Smith Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaGarcia Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaMachesna Mountain Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaMatilija Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaSan Rafael Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaSanta Lucia Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaSespe Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/lospadres/offices (accessed 2026-09-28)
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/lospadres (accessed 2026-09-28)