Sykes Hot Springs

Hike Name: Sykes Hot Springs Location: central CA Length: 10 Submitted by: Ted Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more California trail reviews California national parks California state parks
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Description
tough beginning to get up the hill, but then the hike gets pretty easy with mild uphills and downhills. Getting down to the river where the hot springs are involves a good long downhill (uphill when you leave!).
Some tricky spots crossing rivers, and at the end you have to climb over some steep rocks to get to some campsites and to the hot springs itself.

The hot springs are pretty cool - there are three man-made pools (rocks and sandbags) that fit 1, 3, or 10 people. Sometimes people might be making out in the 3-person one, but it's kinda secluded and it's right on the river.

There are wilderness toilets by the river, one is right next to a campsite, and you're pretty well exposed - not much privacy. If you don't want to use them you should hike up the hill far away from the water.

This is a very popular hike, the campsites might have some trash and broken glass (ours did), and if you're there on a weekend be prepared for some company (we hiked out on a Friday and counted ~40 people hiking in!).

Views - great shots of the mountains, and you can see the ocean from a few points along the trail. Most of the trail is deep in the hills and covered in trees. The river is very nice.

Directions to Hike
National Forest station just south of Pfeiffer State Park. Highway 1. Trailhead is at the end of the parking lot.

Contact Information
Los Padres National Forest
6755 Hollister Avenue
Suite 150
Goleta, CA 93117

(805) 968-6640

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