2018 Map of Bates Canyon

About this map

The Sierra Madre Mountains define the high country of this interior section of the Los Padres National Forest. The landscape is a complex drainage system of steep canyons and ridgelines, where seasonal water sources like Little Spring, Big Spring, and Hidden Spring provide critical moisture in an otherwise arid environment. Access to the backcountry is primarily facilitated by the winding Sierra-Madre Rd, which traverses the high ridges, while lower elevations are reached via Bates Cyn Rd and Jones Ranch Rd. The nomenclature of the land, including names like Schoolhouse Canyon and Mustang Canyon, points to the historical use of these remote valleys for ranching and early rural infrastructure. Riparian corridors such as S Fork La Brea Cr and N-Fork La-Brea Cr carve through the terrain, serving as natural boundaries for the surrounding forest service lands.