The Devil's Gateway

The Potholes are a forgotten, hard-to-reach corner of the Sespe Wilderness. Decades ago, this series of swampy meadows used to be a popular destination for weekend backpackers, but then the road to it was gated off, requiring a long walk on a closed asphalt road. The trail’s tread wore faint, and people gave it up for other destinations.

But when we found out that a dedicated trail crew had brushed out the trail the previous spring, we figured now was the time to explore the area. Sure enough, the trails were clear and inviting. Abundant winter rains after years of drought had finally turned the hills green, and early wildflowers were peeping out left and right: poppies, lupine and dichelostemma.

Our timing was as good with the weather. We knew going into it that some light rain was forecast, and most people hate backpacking in the rain. Wet, muddy gear is a mess. But after a nice hike, and a roaring campfire, we were all safely cozied up in our sleeping bags under sentinel oaks when the rain blew in for a couple hours in the middle of the night, tapping on the tin roof of a nearby cabin. When we were ready for coffee and breakfast on Sunday morning, the sun was already peeking out, and our walk home along a high ridge treated us to delicious views of the wild and lonely Piru Creek far below. 

On this one-night backpack, we’ll explore geological oddities hidden in the quiet, rarely-visited east end of the Sespe Wilderness - including a deep gorge called "The Devil’s Gateway" - and enjoy a creekside camp under sprawling live oaks.

This will be a moderately strenuous backpack, covering nearly 15 miles in two days at a purposeful pace over difficult trail and rugged terrain, so this trip is suitable only for experienced backpackers in very good condition. We’ll cheerfully face the possibility of occasional bushwhacking, ticks, and poison oak. Because of the strenuous nature of this trip, the leader reserves the right to qualify participants. This is a consciously low-impact outing, so carpool participation is encouraged and participants are urged to contribute to their vehicle’s shared mileage and parking costs. (Concessionare parking at the trailhead costs $13 per day).

This trip is strictly dependent upon a favorable weather forecast. A National Weather Service forecast of rain within 72 hours of our start will cancel or re-route this trip at the sole discretion of the leader, as will fewer than three confirmed signups as of 8:00pm, Thursday, February 23. This trip will be by individual commissary, and we’re not planning any shared meals, so please plan to provide your own supply of food.