On the outter edge of Santa Barbara County, where Kern, San Luis Obispo & Ventura counties all meet, you can find great solitude, a large red dirt, high desert wash & plenty rural trails. Off-roading, backcountry camping, hiking, mountain biking all over this region.

Ozena Ranger Station sits at the south end of Cuyama, at the intersection of Lockwood Valley Rd & Hwy 33. Ozena Campground with 10 spots @ 3660′ elevation, is to the east off Lockwood.

Nettle Springs Campground (7 spots @ 4400′ elevation) can be accessed via Apache Canyon, a 10 mile dirt road# 8N06.

2 smaller campgrounds – Tinta & Ranch Nuevo are on the west side of Hwy 33 & require a high clearance vehicle. Trails out of these campgrounds lead to the Dick Smith Wilderness.

Chumash Wilderness is just east of Ventucopa, as Los Padres National Forest surround this agricultural valley. Quatal Canyon & Quatal Wash reach from the upper elevations of pinyon pines near Mount Able to Cuyama river bed below, as Cerro Noroeste Road skirts the northern rim of the impressive red rock canyon. Toad Spring Campground is at the top. Apache Saddle & Pine Mountain Club are just east of Quatal Cyn.

Cuyama riverbed follows Highway 33 and then turns west, following Highway 166, past the ranch lands, the volcano hills and notorious Rock Front Ranch.

All the pavement around Cuyama is very popular amongst motorcyclists. Scenic touring kinda roads. A very nice 100 mile loop trip is from Pine Mountain Club – W on Mil Potrero Hwy, W on Cerro Noroeste Rd, W on Hwy 166, S on Hwy 33, East on Lockwood Valley Road – back to Frazier Park & I-5 Lebec.

Mahutasan, the indian sweat lodge & the extremely rustic Sage Brush Annies Restaurant w/ winery are the highlights of this rural agriculture valley called Ventucopa CA. Cuyama Peak & fire lookout tower overlooks the whole Cuayama Valley & can be accessed via Santa Barbara Canyon Rd. 4×4 may be required in certain spots. This lovely oak & manzanita lined canyon was scorthced by the Zaca Wildfire in mid 2007.

• Cuyama Wineries
• Pistacio Orchards
• Quatal Canyon
• Ballinger OHV Park

helpful maps of the region -

• Dick Smith Wilderness
• Los Padres National Forest Map (USDA NFS)
• Los Padres /Hungry Valley OHV Map
• Sespe Wilderness Trail Map (Tom Harrison)

towns in the valley -

CUYAMA CA

NEW CUYAMA CA

VENTUCOPA CA

towns closeby -

MARICOPA CA

PINE MTN CLUB CA

Hwy 166 Wildflowers, School House Canyon

See Mount Pinos Recreation Campgrounds only

Group Camping Sites in Los Padres Forest

map of the Los Padres region -

• Dick Smith Wilderness Map
• Hungry Valley OHV Los Padres Trail Maps
• Los Padres Map – Topo Atlas
• Los Padres National Forest Map – North (USDA NFS)
• Los Padres National Forest Map – South (USDA NFS)
• Sespe Wilderness Trail Map (Tom Harrison)

Los Padres mountain towns -

• Frazier Park CA
• Gorman CA
• Lebec CA
• Pine Mountain Club CA
• Ojai CA
• Ventucopa CA

Toad Springs Campground atop Quatal Canyon
Small camps like this located in Los Padres NF have no fees

If your looking for more than a leisurely Sunday drive or a SUV (self guided) back road tour, listed below are your areas to “tear it up” on dirt w/ your moto bikes, machines & off road toys.

ATV offroad trails, OHV routes & 4×4 Jeep Roads

• Troy Meadows OHV Trails off of Shermans Pass
• 4×4 Jeep Trail to Monache Meadows
• 4×4 Trails @ Camp 4 – Forks of the Kern
• Big Loop Route Chimney Peak Road & Long Valley
• Jawbone Canyon OHV Trails in the N Mojave
• Keysville California OHV Park
• South Kern River OHV

DIRT ROADS in KERN CYN & SEQUOIA

Just looking for some dirt roads to explore – at a leisurely pace?
Check out DanaMite’s Sequoia Back Roads list, where you can find awesome unpaved roads throughout the Sequoia Forest & Kern Canyon region. Some of these secluded routes lead to great primitive camping sites, waterfalls, fishing holes, or amazing view points, but are not necessarily popular ATV routes.

Off Road near Highway 395. Yep, Olancha has some OHV areas near the dunes, but this web site is dedicated to the real deal, scenery, hot springs, great secluded camping & of course, back road exploring. You will need a Inyo National Forest map to discover these back roads. These are minimally traveled routes, unmaintained, sometimes washed out, eroded & creek crossings (without a bridge). A few roads are paved, but most are dirt. Many require high clearance vehicle, or even 4×4. Know your vehicles limitations & be prepared to turn back when the road worsens. Cuz more often than not, it’s a sign of what more difficult terrain is to come.

Watch out for live stock – they are dumber than they look.

Owenyo Rd - Wanna parallel the highway (395) on dirt; Sure, it’s a long bumpy route – from Hwy 136 @ Dolomite to Bend City @ Mazourka Cyn.

Road# 13S05 – Mazourka Canyon Rd – leads up to some old mining camps & way behind Mazourka Peak (9410′) deep into the Inyo mountains. It’s all desert on this side, but these canyons have pinyons & more vegetation than you would imagine. Road# 9S15 & 9S14 circle Andrews Mountain (9460′) then join back up w/ Death Valley Rd (the North Pass into Saline Valley).

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest has some great dirt roads surrounding it. After you are finished with all the touristy sights & you don’t wanna spend the rest of the day in the visitors center or back at camp, try Cottonwood Canyon is full of aspens, camp sites & fishing, not cottonwood trees. 4×4 is required. Crooked Creek has boulders, boulders & more boulders. Plus some amazing camp sites with open sky views. Silver Canyon is for high clearance only, 2WD okay. This will lead you down to Laws Railroad Museum on Hwy 6, on the back side of Bishop, CA

Benton Crossing Rd (green chruch on Hwy 395)
This wide road leads out to multiple dirt roads that peel off in every direction. Many Eastern Sierra Hot Springs can be found out here on the east side of the highway. No hot spring resorts, no facilities, no clothing & very primitive.

Bishop 4×4 route Coyote Flat
Coyote Wash leads up to Coyote Flat & out to Coyote Lake. This a a spectacular high altitude plateau overlooks the Owens Valley & requires 4 wheel drive just to get up there. Pinyons, junipers, apens, wildflower meadows, old mines, & yes, lakes at 11,000′ elevation. Views of the High Sierra & South Lake.

Buttermilk Road - This dirt road is north turn off of Hwy 168, W of Bishop, CA. It is a popular spot among rock climbers. A great place for indian petroglyphs too!

Road# 9S21 – Glacier Lodge Road - Paved road. Creek exploring & fishing. Plenty Campgrounds. W of Big Pine CA

Horseshoe Meadows Rd – Paved route with great views over Owens dry lake bed; access via Lone Pine CA; A nice day trip to meadows & High Sierra scenery. Picnic & day hike!

McMurray Meadows Rd – south off of Glacier Lodge Rd (9S21) just W of Big Pine CA. You can find ancient cinder cone volcanoes & cave-like lava tubes in between this long dirt road & the highway.

Monache Meadows is a high elevation meadow that takes some time & determination to get to. This area is part of the Inyo National Forest, but can be accessed by either: backpacking thru the high Sierra’s or driving a high clearance vehicle thru Sequoia NF # 22S05 Sherman Pass Road, behind the Black Rock Ranger Station & Troy Meadows Campground. High clearance is needed, 4×4 maybe. Great camping sites near Olancha Peak trailhead. The area is surrounded by Golden Trout Wilderness & South Sierra Wilderness. From Highway 395 to Kennedy Mdws & then Monache is a full day of exploring, so you may as well stay the night up there. But bring warm gear, a campfire permit & a capable vehicle.

Manzanar Routes - Back behind Manzanar Camp there are miles of dirt roads to explore. Many creeks side camp sites can be found even with a passenger car. Small trees & sage brush. Secluded camping (for free) is possible in the Eastern Sierra.

Mono Craters (Rd# 1N11) - the youngest mountain range on the continent. Just south of Mono Lake, this route skirts the pumice cones & climbs over the Aeolian Buttes, before it meets back up with Hwy 395.

Walker Creek Rd – Oaks & creek. South of Olancha CA, look for turn off & follow dirt road up into the tight canyon.

Fish Slough Road (Rd #3V01) – open desert near tablelands. Find Indian Petroglyphs. N of Bishop

Road# 6S16 – Pine Creek Road - Creek exploring & fishing. NW of Bishop behind Rovana

Road# 4S02 – Owens Gorge Road - N of Bishop behind Lake Crowley. Camping w/ boulders & pines

Road# 4S86 – Laurel Lakes Road - Camp in aspens @ Laurel lakes, high elevation; SE of Mammoth

Road# 2S05 – Deadman Creek - Creek fishing in forest. N of Mammoth

Road# 2S07 – Owens River Road - Pine forest, near hot springs; no facilities. N of Mammoth

Parker Lake Road - Aspen & pine forest, near creeks; E of Grant Lake / N of June Lake

Walker Lake Road – Pine forest route to Walker Lake; E of Grant Lake / N of June Lake

Laguna Mountain (off Sunrise Hwy. S-1)
East of San Diego; 40 miles E on Interstate 8

• Pine Creek Road – with plenty of mountain biking trails
• Noble Canyon – popular mountain biking trail
• Kitchen Creek Road

Palomar Mountain (off Hwy. 76)
N of San Diego; 40 miles N on Interstate 15

• No back roads camping is allowed in this forest
• 4×4 trails & camping @ Los Coyotes Indian Reservation

Anza Borrego Desert Camping [near National Forest boundary]
East of San Diego CA

• Oriflamme Canyon (off S-2)
• Culp Valley (off S-22)
• Dispersed camping nearly anywhere in Anza desert (w/ a metal fire bucket)

A winter day out exploring Culp Valley back roads.

Maps Mountains / San Diego Maps

• CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST MAP
• AGUA TIBIA Wilderness Map
• ANZA BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK MAP
• SAN DIEGO BACKCOUNTRY MAP (Tom Harrison)
• PCT Trail Map – Southern California
• PINE CREEK /HAUSER Wilderness Map
• CLEVELAND FOREST TOPO ATLAS