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Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center

Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center - located just 8 miles north from Ojai on beautiful Highway 33 at Wheeler Gorge, the gateway to the southern Los Padres National Forest, the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center is the first dedicated visitor center in the almost 100 year history of the Forest. The Center operates under a permit from the Forest Service. Since opening in June 2001, the Center has served over 15,000 visitors.

The Center provides public information about Los Padres National Forest. In addition to the sale of maps, trail guides, Forest-related books, Adventure Pass, and other items to the public.

Our trained staff can help guide you to the many and varied recreational and educational experiences available in the Forest. We can also help with extended backcountry trip planning for our local wilderness areas.

A Wheeler Visitor Center also serves as a hub for interpretive and educational activities and programs. These include membership functions, presenters about the resources and issues of Los Padres National Forest and such programs as our Introduction to Backpacking course.

We consider ourselves a community center that integrates the local communities of Ojai, Oak View, Santa Paula and Ventura/Oxnard into the Forest. The Center facility has a kitchen, classroom, library, audiovisual equipment, large parking area, outside picnic areas, and tools/equipment storage. The Center will also serve as a staging area for forest projects, such as trail work and campsite maintenance in the southern Los Padres National Forest.