Sespe Gorge

loading map - please wait...

Piedra Blanca: 34.560164, -119.164656
Dough Flat: 34.480807, -118.916874
Sespe Hot Spring: 34.594545, -118.998812
Willet Hot Spring and camp: 34.575822, -119.050937

 

In 2011, Anna, Kevin and I spent three days exploring Sespe Gorge in the Los Padres’ Sespe Wilderness. It was an incredible 30-something mile hike and one of my earliest backpacking trips. We saw so many wonderful swimming holes and waterfalls, and visited both Willet and Sespe Hot Springs.

I broke my finger on the first day of this hike slipping on moss. It still turned out to be an amazing trip, particularly due to Kevin’s incredible knowledge of the Los Padres and his sense of adventure.

 

Heading into the Topa Topas

Heading into the Topa Topas

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-02

 

Overgrown trail

Overgrown trail

 

Anna

Anna

 

Tar Creek

Tar Creek

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-07

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-07a

 

Navigating through the boulders

Navigating through the boulders

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-11

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-12

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-13

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-15

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-18

 

Getting comfortable at our first night's camp along the creek.

Getting comfortable at our first night’s camp along the creek.

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-19a

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-21

 

Carved by nature

Carved by nature

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-23

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-24

 

Little frog!

Little frog!

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-33

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-35

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-36

 

Anna found some junk metal and packed it out.

Anna found some junk metal and packed it out.

 

Kevin

Kevin

 

Side hike to Sespe Hot Springs

Side hike to Sespe Hot Springs

 

Sespe River

Sespe River

 

Camping near Willet Hot Springs

Camping near Willet Hot Springs

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-44

 

Along the Sespe River Trail

Along the Sespe River Trail

 

los-padres-sespe-wilderness-43a

 

Sespe River Trail

Sespe River Trail

 

The Sespe River

The Sespe River

 

Finishing up at the Piedra Blanca Trailhead

Finishing up at the Piedra Blanca Trailhead