| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 33 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 82 fpm |
| Gauge | Sespe C Nr Fillmore |
| Flow Rate as of 48 minutes | 13 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | February 12, 2010 |
River Description
Paddling Time: 3-4 days
Portages: Many! Rock climbing skills (and hardware) useful.
Put In: Lion Campground, 5 miles east of Hwy.33 on FS Road 6N31. (Elev: 2980') google map
Take Out: Shiell's Park at Old Telegraph Rd Bridge, in Fillmore (Elev: 400') google map
Shuttle: 45 miles, 1.25 hours
Average Gradient: 82 fpm
Mile by Mile Gradient_1_2_3_4_5_6_7_8_9_0Mile 1-1040604050805070505060Mile 11-2070705070508012010013090Mile 21-30120140170190140140130403050Mile 31-324545
Season: Winter
Topo Maps: Lion Canyon, Topatopa Mountains, Devils Heart Peak, Fillmore 7.5 min. quads
Geology: Tertiary marine and non-marine sedimentary rocks, featuring the 54 million year old Sespe Formation. Oil and gas exploration began here in the 1860's, and the area's first oil wells were drilled in 1887 in Sespe Creek.
Notes: Data provided by H. Charles Foster
Sespe Creek, by H. Charles Foster
The helicopter came thumping up the Santa Clara River Valley, then veered left up the lower reaches of Sespe Creek. 'Sure hope he's not looking for us,' I said to Keith. Keith Dinger, Patrick Kruse and I had set off on our first trip down Sespe Creek three and a half days earlier. The problem was, it was only supposed to be a three day trip. We all had people worrying about us at home. Sespe Creek is legendary amongst Southern California boaters. First run by Yvonne Chouinard, Royal Robbins, Reg Lake, John Wasserman, and Jackson Frishman in May 1984, it has since been successfully navigated by
...River Features
Put In
Access PointDistance: 0 mi
The easiest put in appears to be at the first parking loop on the left as you enter the campground.
Wide and shallow
OtherClass: IDistance: 30.83 mi
Around this area after Sespe exits the narrow canyon, it spreads out over a very wide stream bed and gets very shallow. Flows which are excellent for boating in the canyon, are too shallow to boat from here on down. Boaters will have to find access points along Goodenough Ave on the east side or along Grand Ave to the west.
Take Out
Access PointDistance: 33 mi
In order to boat all the way to Sheill's Park, flows will have to be quite high as the streambed spreads out tremendously in the last few miles to Fillmore.
Trip Reports
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Sespe at Lion Campground; Low Water - Paul Martzen
Nov 8, 2020
RP
Richard Penny
Feb 19, 2010
The last quarter-mile or so of Sespe before the canyon mouth is the most interesting. In this section, known as 'Devil's Gate,' enormous piles of boulders largely prevent boating and turn the trip into a caving adventure with kayaks. The largest free-standing boulders I have ever seen were here; they dwarf those found in Yosemite Valley. As Charles Foster puts it on his Sespe Creek page, 'these are the sequoias of the boulder world.'
Richard