Trailhead

Santa Paula Canyon Trailhead

Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest, California

About this place

Santa Paula Canyon Trailhead begins on Forest Service Trail 21W11; the trail follows Santa Paula Canyon toward Big Cone and the Sespe backcountry

The route crosses private access and a flash-flood canyon; obey posted easements and avoid storm conditions.

Seasonal access

Closures & seasonal access

Nira and the Upper Manzana Creek Trail do not have a published recurring closure window

Place closure

No recurring date-based closure of Santa Paula Canyon Trailhead is published. Nira and Upper Manzana access and temporary emergency orders still control access.

Seasonal access

Nira and Upper Manzana access: Use the signed Santa Paula Canyon Trailhead access in Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest, California. Use the signed Nira/Upper Manzana entry reached from Happy Canyon and Sunset Valley roads. Verify the current road, gate, parking, and closure status before driving. Nira and the Upper Manzana Creek Trail do not have a published recurring closure window. Wet-weather road closures, winter creek crossings, wildfire orders, summer heat, and storm damage can still remove safe access; Manzana Creek camps are most dependable in spring and early summer.

Before driving

Check the Nira site page and Los Padres alerts, then confirm the road, Upper Manzana Creek Trail, crossings, fire restrictions, and creek flow immediately before departure.

Map

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Latitude
34.440577° N
Longitude
119.077461° W

Sources

National Forest System and USGS Trails — Los Padres interior wildernesses — snapped official trail pointNFS 21W11Los Padres wilderness no-overnight-permit policyInterior Los Padres Wildernesses current conditionsLos Padres National Forest — Nira Campground and Upper Manzana Creek accessLos Padres National Forest — Figueroa Mountain and Upper Manzana Creek guideLos Padres National Forest — current alerts