Los Padres National Forest

Los Padres National Forest in the United States' National Forest in Southern & Central California. The United States Forest Service administers this National Forest. It covers most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland. This forest is California's second-largest National Forest that has an expanse of around 220 miles across the picturesque coast. Los Padres National Forest features streams, rivers, beaches, & mountains. Most of the land area of this forest is rocky and steep mountainous land along with the Santa Lucia, San Rafael, La Panza, Santa Ynez, and Sierra Madre ranges.

At this place, the marine coastline meets three other ecological dimensions, forming one of the richest variety of ecosystems altogether, including marine, coastal, & semi-arid biodiversity. It is a habitat for over 460 species of wildlife and above 1180 plant species. Los Padres is one of the most visited national forests in the U.S., with beyond 1.7 million people exploring this destination every year. Here, you can find numerous opportunities for recreation, including hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, mountain biking, and more.