Patagonia’s Great Pacific Iron Works Team Cleans Up Santa Paula Canyon

By on October 29, 2019 in Santa Paula Canyon, Stewardship, Trash Cleanups, Ventura County, Volunteer Projects
Thanks to this amazing crew for all of their hard work! Photos by Bryant Baker

On Monday ForestWatch and Patagonia’s Great Pacific Iron Works staff teamed up for an exciting cleanup hike into Santa Paula Canyon in the southeastern portion of the Los Padres National Forest. Patagonia’s first and flagship store closed for the field day so that nearly everyone who works there was able to join. All in all, over 20 people (and a very helpful pup!) hiked seven miles and removed over 200 pounds of trash.

Though the winds were howling closer to the Santa Clara River valley, it was fairly calm in Santa Paula Canyon. Before heading up the trail, the group loaded up on supplies and received a safety talk. For many, it was their first time hiking this particular trail.

Trash grabber in action with a lot of teams support.

The trail had little trash for much of the way. Some of the crew picked up pieces of trash off the trail, gracefully avoiding the often leafless poison oak. Along the the way to the primary destination of this hike—the first large swimming hole near Big Cone Camp—the group stopped here and there to learn about the local ecosystem and the native plants that have been regrowing since the area burned in the Thomas Fire nearly two years ago.

Soon the team reached the swimming hole and set about cleaning up trash. As usual, some of the most prevalent items included socks and other clothes, a sleeping bag, food wrappers, and various pieces of microtrash.

It wasn’t all cleanup business, however. What fun is a swimming hole if you don’t take a dip?

A beautiful day for swimming!

After swimming and eating lunch, the team set off back down the trail. Before reaching the paved road that serves as a portion of the hiking route, the group found countless beer bottles, cans, and other trash left at a party site that was likely used over the weekend. Everyone loaded up with the trash that had been left next to Santa Paula Creek and then continued on to the trailhead where some cold beers were waiting.

Thanks to Patagonia and their staff for taking the time to clean up one of the most scenic and well-used areas in the southern Los Padres. We were so excited that they wanted to team up for their field day excursion. This canyon needs periodic cleanups to stay beautiful, and we can’t do that without the help of amazing volunteers like them!

See more photos from the cleanup hike below:


About Bryant Baker

Bryant is the Director of Conservation & Research for Los Padres ForestWatch, where he manages scientific, technical, and volunteer projects. He is also a naturalist and photographer, spending most of his free time hiking the rugged public lands of the Central Coast region with his dog.
View all posts by Bryant Baker →
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