Use Marker Groups Wolf 2002
Piru 2003
Day 2006
Zaca 2007
Gap 2008
La Brea 2009
Murietta Camp South Los Padres National Forest
- Camp Type: Trail Camp
- Topo Map Link: Old Man Mountain
- Elevation: 1,868 feet
- Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
- County: Ventura County
- Ranger District: Ojai Ranger District
- Longitude: -119.3924
- Latitude: 34.4992
- Water Sources: The camp is just a stones throw from the seasonal creek.
- Length of Stay: 14 Days
- Reservations: Trail Camp
Recent Water Reports:
| Date | Surveyor | Water Report |
| 01-10-2025 | Rich Scholl | Flowing |
| 02-18-2022 | bardley | Flowing |
| 05-07-2021 | Camel | Flowing |
| 04-20-2021 | Ryan Freeman | Flowing |
| 03-16-2021 | bardley | Flowing |
| 05-19-2020 | John Doe | Flowing |
| 04-01-2020 | Anonymous Surveyor | Flowing |
| 03-24-2020 | Trevor Cooper | Flowing |
| 11-29-2019 | Antonio Calderon | Flowing |
| 05-17-2019 | Michael Sallwasser | Flowing |
| 07-31-2016 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
| 06-18-2016 | James Wapotich | Dry |
| 04-02-2016 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
| 02-12-2016 | Shaddus Maximus | Dry |
| 01-17-2016 | Shaddus Maximus | Dry |
| 11-20-2015 | Bryan Conant | Dry |
Description:
Named after the 1800's bandito Joaquin Murrieta, Murietta Camp is located within the Matilija drainage just a few minutes west of the town of Ojai. The camp is set amongst a combination of oaks and sycamores on a shady bench above the Murietta Creek. Water can be found most of the time near camp but it does dry up in the summer or during droughts. The camp has a few sites and some old concrete relics from past times.
Survey Photos:
Michael Sallwasser - 05-17-2019
Creek flowing near camp
Michael Sallwasser - 05-17-2019
Creek flowing near camp
Michael Sallwasser - 05-17-2019
Flowers along Murietta drainage
Michael Sallwasser - 05-17-2019
Flowers along Murietta drainage
Antonio Calderon - 11-29-2019
Main site
Antonio Calderon - 11-29-2019
Overgrown site
Antonio Calderon - 11-29-2019
Heading into camp
Antonio Calderon - 11-29-2019
One of many blowdowns
Anonymous Surveyor - 04-01-2020
Main site, close to the creek
Anonymous Surveyor - 04-01-2020
Main site, continued.
Anonymous Surveyor - 04-01-2020
Main site, facing other direction. Creek located to the right.
Anonymous Surveyor - 04-01-2020
Overgrown site #1
Anonymous Surveyor - 04-01-2020
Overgrown site #2
Anonymous Surveyor - 04-01-2020
Overgrown site #2 continued.
John Doe - 05-19-2020
Camp steward
Ryan Freeman - 04-20-2021
Main Site, Large Rock Ring
Ryan Freeman - 04-20-2021
Oak Trees
Ryan Freeman - 04-20-2021
Other site
Ryan Freeman - 04-20-2021
Overgrown Site
Ryan Freeman - 04-20-2021
Water Source
Submitted Camp Reports
Murietta Camp Survey - 01-10-2025 - by Rich SchollLink: Murietta Camp Date: 01-10-2025 Surveyor Name: Rich Scholl Camp Description: Travelled by ebike E. Camino Cielo to Ojai via Murieta Pass on 1/10/25. Road from Murieta Pass to Matilija -DON'T EVEN TRY IT-many rocky outwashes to climb over, one long section worse than nonexistent-a steep boulder strewn creekbed, a deep arroyo cut across "road" passable by a very sketchy trail. Upper and lower approaches to Murieta camp not found. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: flowing in Murieta Canyon, not sure about at site Weather Conditions: perfect - Murietta Camp Survey - 02-18-2022 - by bardley
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 02-18-2022 Surveyor Name: bardley Camp Description: this camp is as stated in the previous reports. quiet. water nearby. shaded could hold a large group. the first site, overgrown and on the right-hand side, is easy to miss. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: 70s in the sun, sl cooler in the shade. - Murietta Camp Survey - 05-07-2021 - by Camel
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 05-07-2021 Surveyor Name: Camel Camp Description: Big shady camp with two distinct areas and an overgrown third spot, with the trail running through the middle. Great tree spacing for hammocks. The trail below and above the camp is very overgrown, watch out for poison oak and ticks. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Creek is flowing strong and clear Weather Conditions: - Murietta Camp Survey - 04-20-2021 - by Ryan Freeman
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 04-20-2021 Surveyor Name: Ryan Freeman Camp Description: Hiked here from Matilija Camp. The camp is located on trail and you cannot miss it. It is absolutely gorgeous with so tons of wild flowers in Spring! Many oak trees provide great shade. There are 3 camp sites (rock rings with BBQ's), one of which is overgrown. You could fit almost a dozen people here comfortably. Water source is about a hundred feet away with a climb down large rocks. The creek has great flow and is crystal clear. You could easily hammock camp here. This camp was noticeably quieter than Matilija Camp/Trail. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Good flow Weather Conditions: Sunny and breezy, 86 degrees high, 48 degrees low Images:
Main Site, Large Rock Ring
Oak Trees
Other site
Overgrown Site
Water Source - Murietta Camp Survey - 03-16-2021 - by bardley
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 03-16-2021 Surveyor Name: bardley Camp Description: a truly sweet spot that's not far from civilization. under the shade of oaks untouched by the thomas fire with plenty of water (currently) at hand. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: mid 50s. - Murietta Camp Survey - 05-19-2020 - by John Doe
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 05-19-2020 Surveyor Name: John Doe Camp Description: As previous folks have stated, there is one lower camp, cleared and ready for use, and two upper sites that look like they haven’t been used in a while but wouldn’t require much work. I did not see a shovel, however I was promptly kicked out by an angry peacock who insisted that the camp was it’s territory, not mine. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Strong flow in nearby creek Weather Conditions: Sun, clouds and wind, 60s Images:
Camp steward - Murietta Camp Survey - 04-01-2020 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 04-01-2020 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: As a follow up of my recent failed attempt, I went out for the short hike to Murietta Camp with fresh legs and motivation to snake around the poison oak overhanging the trail. To my surprise, stretches of trail that a week before were almost unrecognizable were now clear of debris and very enjoyable to walk. Someone had gone through for maintenance and that was incredibly helpful and appreciated. The canyon is beaming with bright green all around, it’s certainly a special area to see. As for the campsites, it’s obvious that only one of the three visible sites is “regularly†used. The look of the fire ring showed some time had passed since anyone had used it, so I spruced up the stones before collecting some wood. That site is in a prime location, just a stones throw from the creek. The other two sites both have significant overgrowth for the most part, although the sites aren’t super far from being restored to their still-primitive, but much more inviting state.ÂWater Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Very good flow Weather Conditions: Images:
Main site, close to the creek
Main site, continued.
Main site, facing other direction. Creek located to the right.
Overgrown site #1
Overgrown site #2 - Murietta Camp Survey - 03-24-2020 - by Trevor Cooper
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 03-24-2020 Surveyor Name: Trevor Cooper Camp Description:  I hiked up the fire road (24W07) to a little past Murietta Divide and decided that on the way back I would try to check out Murietta Camp, as I’ve been meaning to for awhile. I didn’t find the turnoff from the fire road for the Murietta trail leading to the camp, so I walked down the rest of the road until reaching the actual turnoff for it. I didn’t have much time left but knew it was still generally close. It was okay going through some thick brush that had overgrown the trail, but I started having to traverse around poison oak that was only getting worse. I couldn’t have been more than 0.3 miles from the camp, but unfortunately was fatigued and wasn’t down to deal with the worsening poison oak as the sun was coming down. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Very good flow Weather Conditions: - Murietta Camp Survey - 11-29-2019 - by Antonio Calderon
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 11-29-2019 Surveyor Name: Antonio Calderon Camp Description: Trail to get to camp is overgrown with hip high, grass in some areas. Counted about three-major blow downs. Creek crossing was loaded with poison oak. Camp has three sites. Two of those sites were overgrown with vegetation and one site had huge branches on top of it.  Only one site seems to get the most use. Nice, big and well shaded campsite. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Shin deep- clear - slow flow Weather Conditions: Raining and cold. Temp in the low 50s Images:
Main site
Overgrown site
Heading into camp
One of many blowdowns - Murietta Camp Survey - 05-17-2019 - by Michael Sallwasser
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 05-17-2019 Surveyor Name: Michael Sallwasser Camp Description: I hiked to the camp on May 17, 2019. We were headed for Murietta Saddle, but the trail completely disappeared beyond the campsite. Even though the map shows it continuing, we could not find the trail. We scrambled out of the canyon up to the Forest Route 5N13. Once on 5N13, we could see where the trail joined the road, but it was overgrown with vegetation. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Sunny day Images:
Creek flowing near camp
Creek flowing near camp
Flowers along Murietta drainage
Flowers along Murietta drainage - Murietta Camp Survey - 07-31-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 07-31-2016 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Recent Noozhawk article by Dan McCaslin about hiking up Murietta Canyon: https://www.noozhawk.com/article/dan_mccaslin_murrieta_trail_ojai_20160726Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Murietta Camp Survey - 06-18-2016 - by James Wapotich
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 06-18-2016 Surveyor Name: James Wapotich Camp Description: No water at camp, there is good water about a half mile before the camp. That is, on the hike from the road along the trail, just when the trail first gets near the creek there's water there. The two crossings before camp and the camp itself however are dry. Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Murietta Camp Survey - 04-02-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 04-02-2016 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Report from Ranger Heidi: There is water ½ mile from lower trailhead and about ¼ mile above the camp. No water at the camp.Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Murietta Camp Survey - 02-12-2016 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 02-12-2016 Surveyor Name: Shaddus Maximus Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Murietta Camp Survey - 01-17-2016 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 01-17-2016 Surveyor Name: Shaddus Maximus Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: There is water in the creek about a half mile down from Murietta Camp. If you're going to camp at Murietta, stock up there. Weather Conditions: - Murietta Camp Survey - 11-20-2015 - by Bryan Conant
Link: Murietta Camp Date: 11-20-2015 Surveyor Name: Bryan Conant Camp Description: Camp looked clean, a few flies, overall a very pleasant place to hang out. Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: I didn't spend too much time looking around but didn't see or hear any water in the creek. Weather Conditions: Low 80's, warm in the sun and cool in the shade.
Leave A Camp Report
Survey / Report Form Last Updated: Monday, January 4, 2016
