Matilija Wilderness California - Backpacking in Los Padres National Forest

The Matilija Wilderness is truly a wild place. Follow my Two night backpacking trip into the heart of the Matililja Wilderness where I lose the trail repeatedly and eventually have to turn back.
Want to read more about the North Fork Matilija Creek Trail in Matilija Canyon: mylifeoutdoors....
Transcript:
I recently did a 2 night backpacking trip up the North Fork Matilija Creek Trail in the Matailija Wilderness.
I was going to be in southern california for a few days and decided I wanted to spend a couple nights in the woods.
So I found this little trail in the Los Padres National Forest…loaded up my pack and headed out.
I wasn’t looking to do to many miles…Really I just wanted to spend some time in solitude.
And let me tell you….I found it…
Not another living soul on this trial…and from what I can tell…not very many people come out here…the trail was almost completely grown over…down trees…washed out…not a lot of maitinnence.
Although someone (forest service) or someone has tied a few ribbons along where the trail should be…
but I found out even they lost the trail…becaues as I was hiking back out I found a pretty good section of trail that passes uphill of a narrow section in the canyon…
making that portion of the trail that much easier.
but whoever was tying ribbons led me right up through the narrows… practically in the creek
and even beyond that… the ribbons were difficult to follow.
So ultimately I ended up cutting my trip short because I had such a difficult time following the trail.
Its pretty good until you get to about the Middle Matilija campsite.
then after that I kept finding myself climbing up over trees and rocks…searchign for the trail…backtracking...all with a heavy pack on…
Thats when I realized…I had already found what I was looking for...solitude….so I spent the night by the fire….just savoring this wild place.
Want to read more about my Matilija Wilderness trip? Check out my blog at mylifeoutdoors....

[@jacoblehman2873]

If only you could have seen the canyon before the last couple years of floods it’s still amazing just feels like a different place

[@Lex-Hawthorn]

New here, and I'm sure i will watch all in time, and catch up with your content. Glad you found your solitude mate, it is so hard to find it these days, too many folks getting out and about.

[@traileagle9247]

Great video! I like to see videos that include you actually hiking somewhere. You can always talk about gear but it’s nice just to see you doing your thing.

[@Takeahike1987]

Great video!

[@lopezexplora]

Amazing 🤩 sadly very short video

[@thelonehiker4698]

I have hiked to Matiljia Falls and it’s a beautiful trail

[@KyleGraham19]

Great video! The pictures and drone shots are breathtaking! Wish I could have been there with you, but then you wouldn't have "gotten" to experience that solitude junk!

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Thanks Kyle Graham I’m sure you would have loved it. Next time I’ll be sure to invite you

[@HikingwithGus]

It's the little outta the way places that are the best.... I am on an eternal hunt for those places, many of which I never share for fear of spoiling what I have found.... well, I share them with close friends.

[@BrosephRussell]

Very nice

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Thank you

[@tonytoes2]

Great secrets trail

[@joec2286]

Enjoyed the video, thanks. Question on the gear, the boots and pants you used looked sturdy yet comfortable. Do you recall what brand they were?

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Joe C the pants are REI. I absolutely love them! I have worn them out and had them patched up because I couldn’t find a suitable replacement. The boots are Ahnu. I also love these. Accidentally set my first pair on fire a few years back (trying to dry them by the fire) and found out this model was discontinued. I found the last pair in my size gently used on eBay and snatched them up.

[@joec2286]

@@MyLifeOutdoors Yeah, I have an old pair of Prana pants that, from what I could tell in the video, look to be made from the same fabric. I'll have to check out the ones from REI.

[@mr.vergasachi7370]

No homo, cool beard man👍🏽

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Mr. Vergasachi ummm..thanks

[@theflux00]

Hey cool video, was this the North Fork Matilija Trail?

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Anthony Vasquez Thank you for watching. Yes it is the North Fork Matilija Trail.

[@bewhiskeredjuarez6851]

I love solo backpacking it's the only kind that I do.

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

I love it too. But I also love going with friends and some of my best trips have been with my wife. But not everyone wants to get out as much as I do.

[@jcole1679]

I've used drones in Los Padres as well as point magu with no issue

[@do378]

Hello! Are drones now allowed in the wilderness? I thought they were banned..

[@sz7360]

the trail is bad or non-existent because of the thomas fire and the ensuing floods that occurred afterwards. the people living in that area were under constant evacuation this past winter. most of the canyons have been filled in because of it. so not because of lack of maintenance.

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Hey Steve, Thanks for watching. I could see evidence of the Thomas Fire while I was there. And I made note of that in my written trip report. Even taking into account the the damage from the fire and the flood it did not appear much has been done in the 2 years since the fire. But I know the forest service is understaffed and underpaid... and as you say still under threat of further damage. I was unaware of the fire and the flooding when I set off on my hike. Either way I had a great time in the Matilija.

[@rickkaylor8554]

I grew up in Ojai so this was a common place to go. I went there just before the Thomas fire. The trail back then was really easy to follow and I ran into a lot of people. Since the fire it looks like the undergrowth has gone crazy. I've backpacked from Cherry Creek and then down Matilija canyon a few times but I'll bet it is hard to follow now too.

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Rick Kaylor it’s been more than a year since I was there. I wonder what it’s like now?

[@rickkaylor8554]

@@MyLifeOutdoors I appreciate you making the video. It came out really well.

[@tripshripwithzoya2251]

can you please tell me about your background sound track where to download from? is it the no copyright claims?