Nettle Springs to Cienega via Apache Canyon

Hey all sorry for the lack of posts. I'm currently struggling these days to put pen to paper, that said I'm still out there doing what I do. Getting no shortage of forest time, it's just most of it has been rock art and nothing good ever comes out of me posting about that. So yeah the blogs been getting the red-headed step child treatment. Wont be this way forever. The old camps are calling and I do intend to answer. Going forward until I get my groove back here I think I'm just gonna post basic no frills material. Perhaps where I've gone, some photos and occasionally a track to follow. I feel getting something up is better than nothing. I'm blessed to see some of the most incredible places in the Los Padres, feels like a sin not to share some it.

Desperate to keep my young one offline and away from the digital world the wife and I decided we need to do more family camping, even if it's just quick overnights. Haylee is forgetting what it feels like to play in the dirt and that saddens me. Partially my fault as I work so many damn hours that when I do get time off I head straight for solitude, much too deep in the forest for my family to even consider following me. This is gonna change now before it's to late. So up first on the new Lord family camping series with the Wright family in tow was Nettle Springs Campground. 

Nettle Springs Campground  (N34.80355° W119.29282°)

Ten miles up Apache Canyon off Hwy 33 lies Nettle Springs. This here car campground is just outside the Chumash Wilderness. For some reason Hike Los Padres has it listed as permanently closed though I don't think that is any longer the case. MPRD says open. I could be wrong but I reckon those updates on HLP are still moving along at a turtles pace. Yes I'm harping on you Bryan (I think he likes when I do that). 

This Pinon shaded camp has no restrooms and does not get much if any maintenance. Which helps keep down the crowds. For two days we had the place all to ourselves, minus a few motorcycle passer byers. You'll rarely if ever get this kind of weekend solitude at Reyes Creek, Middle Lion, Rose Valley, I could go on but I'm sure you get what I'm stepping in here. While there is no potable water the spring pipe downstream from camp is currently flowing. The location makes a prime base for further exploration up Apache Canyon into the badlands and the San Emigdio Mesa (Which we took full advantage of).  

After setting up camp and getting the ladies all dialed in Jeff and I decided to make a run for Cienega. Being about a mile as the crows flies from an abandoned camp you know I'm going for it. Cienega along with a few other neighborly car camps was closed and removed from FS inventory back in the early 70's. Northwest of here Quatal had Blue Rock Spring and Mud Springs. (Both still on my list) though I feel strongly nothing or very little still remains at either. 

As can be seen from the map above the old road from Nettle leads right to Cienega. However that is no longer a viable path, as it is entirely on private property. Best bet is to cross country due east from Nettle Spring or alternatively follow the Toad Springs OHV (22W01) and drop off closer to Cienega. We settled on a loop, about 5.2 miles (one I wont publicize here). I have however included a modified version of my route for download should you feel so inclined to follow it. 

This sign post was lying face down on the former road. Quite possibly once signifying the direction towards Cienega. (N34.79567° W119.28086°)

No mistaking that was once a road.

Cienega Camp. I'm certain this was one of the old fire rings. (N34.79958° W119.27417°)

Marshy Spring just above Cienega. Plenty of water under those grasses.

The area surrounding the former camp near the spring is fairly overgrown and closed off via barbed wire 😢 While we didn't find much aside from the fire ring I do believe had we spent another hour or so we could have discovered more. Unfortunately by that time we had been gone awhile and did not want our girls to feel like we ditched them. So after some initial satisfaction we made our way back to Nettle.

Apache Canyon

Friday we experienced a heat wave, it was hot down in the canyon. Jeff and I returned to find the girls had made themselves a swim hole to cool off in. I was beyond thrilled to see they were doing what kids should do. After sunset by fire we enjoyed plenty of good food, beers and smores. 

My little bear is not so little anymore.

The next morning we woke bright and early to explore the further reaches of the canyon. Horned Toads were everywhere. I never in my life seen so many in one trip, it was great. We also spotted what may have been a blunt nosed Leopard but I'm not certain on that. Feel free to correct me in the comments. This trip was precisely what we all needed, good fun and great memories. Another fine outing lost in the Los padres. Already planning the next one, stay tuned. 

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South Lily Meadows

South Lily Meadows (Unofficial Name)

I'm usually looking for something and today was no exception. Perhaps an arrowhead or even just a single Lily flower to justify my naming of the Meadows to Craig. Approximately 1.2 miles Southwest as the crow flies off trail from Lily Meadows Camp is a fantastic little series of interconnected meadows on the southern fringes of the Chumash Wilderness that have been calling to me for  long enough.  A loop trip of the meadows and I could kill two birds with one stone as Mark Subbotin has been patiently awaiting my promised Camp Survey of Lily Meadows. 

Park here along side the road for the North Fork Trail.

Nice newer signage courtesy some really great BSA Volunteers.

Our day began at the North Fork Lockwood (22W02) Trail-head just outside the gates of BSA Camp Three Falls. It's about a 1/4 mile walk along the paved road through private property before reaching the dirt service road which begins the trail proper. I'll be sparse with detail here getting up to Lily Meadows Camp as I have written about the route in an earlier post which you can read here if interested. (North Fork Lockwood to Lily Meadows). Posted under the Trail-Head sign was a clear notice asking people to please not tamper with the diversion dam constructed at North falls. I guess water is being rerouted to the boy scout pond for fire suppression. We stopped in to have a look.

 North Fork Falls

 Diversion Dam at the falls. Water flows through the steel grate on the left into pipes downward to the BSA pond. Lift the gate to the right and it flows somewhat naturally again. 

After leaving the falls the trail begins a more aggressive climb into the Wilderness. Around the 3.7 mile mark we found ourselves once again back at Lily Meadows Camp. A picturesque setting Lily is situated on a an expansive flat surrounded by tall pines. The main camping area has a nice picnic table and plenty of bench seating around the fire ring. Aside from the hotter months water is normally reliable from the creek just south the camp. Here's a fun description From Craig Carey's Book Hiking & Backpacking Santa Barbara & Ventura.  "Though the various breeds of wild onion in the area were once included in the lily family, one cannot help but surmise the outdoorsman who gave Lily Meadows it's current name mistook the plentiful irises growing in the summer meadows for lilies (various signs in the Los Padres spell it both "Lilly" and "Lily").

Lily Meadows Camp

After gathering all the beta required to complete the camp survey it was time to leave the North Fork Trail behind. Just past Lily we took a sharp left off trail and headed South climbing a ravine to the top of one of the two high ridges separating us from our much anticipated Meadows. 

Looking North down toward Lily Meadows Camp, Grouse and Sawmill mountains in the distance.

A Look South at our direct route over the next ridge just beyond the badlands.

After taking in stellar views atop the first ridge we poked around a large rock formation before gathering our bearings and deciding our next move. Originally I had planned to maybe drop in from here and follow the ravine down and around to the southeast where it would eventually connect with the gully running through the meadows. However that would have entailed a bit of backtracking so instead we opted to plow straight ahead up and over the second ridge. In the end I am glad we did as we were able to capture some great shots down into the badlands.

Cross country travel through the Chumash Wilderness is nothing like in the lower and much more painful chaparral elevations. Here up high everything is more open and Navigable. The smells of pine and juniper are an assault on the senses, I find a peaceful serenity here hard to replicate anywhere else. Most the little gully's still had water and signs of wildlife were everywhere. Large deer and bear tracks at every turn and even little nesting birds were encountered down in the meadow. 

Large pile of bear scat. 

Pictured below is the hole a bird came flying out of. Further inspection showed the eggs inside. After that encounter we made sure to tread lightly. 

Old posts found near the meadow with strange markings possibly from former mining claims?

Right under the 6 mile mark we descended upon the meadow a brief search produced no official name that I could find. I consulted with a bearded mad man of the LP and he knew of no name either. Great I said then I shall name it South Lily Meadows because it's a set of meadows south the camp (so creative right ? Not really). To which he replied "why don't you just let me know if you find any lilies first. Well sir I am here to report I found not one single lily nor any arrowheads. Lot's of sage brush though ;) What we did get was a breathtaking meadow in the middle of nowhere to enjoy all to ourselves. You really had to be there to appreciate all the beauty of the place. 

South Lily Meadows

Done with the meadow (not literally someday I'll be back) we started to make our way down canyon. As we dropped lower in elevation the brush got thicker, nothing of any real concern just some waist high sage brush and the occasional dead-fall. I guess one might consider it light bushwhacking. I found it quite pleasurable. What had all the hallmarks of being a perfect day went out the window when we got here N34° 45' 43.6" W119° 09' 33.9" A couple miles downstream from the meadow is an older abandoned pot farm. Black tubing and other trash are strewn about everywhere. Pesticides and other chemicals left behind by these people are dangerous and detrimental to the environment. The wildlife are suffering as we found a very large dead rat stuck in one of the 5 gallon buckets. It's been reported and I have offered my services to return and help clean it up. Now we wait, hopefully the approval comes. 

 Pot Farm

Wildlife casualties 

From the pot farm it's really only about a mile downstream before connecting back with North Fork Trail. This last lower section has some very interesting geology. Sub-aqueous delta fans (I only know this term because I read Craig's book, sorry I ain't that sophisticated) protrude from the canyon walls like Volcanic rock. Down climbing this last narrow chute section in the creek bed can be sketchy when water is flowing over slick moss. We debated it but decided to climb up and around on the north side instead. 

Sub-aqueous delta fans 

Jeff debating a down climb

Alternate way down from the north

Out of the Canyon and back on trail it was a short jaunt back to the car. Our total mileage was somewhere between 10-11. I cant say exactly as I edited out some worthless wanderings from the GPS Track which is available for download below under the map. Last week out in the San Rafael the ticks were relentless. Not today, these higher elevations see far less of those evil little bastards. I think I counted 3 compared to at least a hundred last week. While the crowds continue to flock to Rose Valley and Piedra Blanca I'll stick to these little lessor know slices of heaven for now. 

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