well off the beathen path

Los Padres NF: Half Moon Camp 2006 Day Fire wildfire burned most of the Sespe Wilderness Piru Creek Camping Lockwood Valley, Sespe Wilderness Trailheads Late afternoon sun at uncrowded Half Moon campground   Los Padres National Forest West of Frazier Park & north of Ojai Camping - 12 camp sites on creek @ 4700' elevation vault toilet, creek, pine forest, Sespe Wilderness first come, first served camping Max Camper Length: 0 RV, motorhomes, camper trailers are not advised Access by long dirt road with creek crossings, high clearance recommended. Lockwood Ranger Station: 661-245-3731 Backpacking, car camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, mountain biking, off-roading. Piru Creek valley overlook on the way to Mutau Flat and Half Moon From Ojai, California take Hwy 33. Turn right (east) on Lockwood Valley. Turn right (south) on Mutau Flat Road #7N03 and continue 9 miles to the campground at junction with #7N13. From Frazier Park,

  We grabbed some snacks & beverages at a Bakersfield mini-mart & headed due east on Hwy 178. Into a wall of granite, a raging river filled with Sierra Nevada snow melt, the sounds of rushing water filled the air. We turned on to a dark narrow road without any guard rails. Oaks trees hung overhead, dark skies & huge cows in the middle of the road. After passing it once, we found the dirt parking area around 10:20 pm & started our hike down to the hot springs w/ flashlights. Down to the Kern River we scrambled thru muddy grasses & bushes. Candle light, river rock tubs & steaming mineral baths await. No one around, we had the whole place to ourselves..... until 1am. There are numerous natural hot springs located on the Kern River canyon, most of them on the Lower Kern in between Lake Isabella & the Bako citrus orchards. Many are closed off to the public - private property.  Lower Kern Canyon on Highway 178 is the way to Kernville California & in