Details Of Rescue Of 10 Teen Hikers Reported Missing And Lost In Santa Paula Canyon

Tuesday May 16, 2023

(Photos courtesy VCSO)

     The Ventura County Sheriff's Office has released details of a rescue of 10 teenage hikers on the night of May 12th in the Santa Paula Canyon area.

     It was around 8 PM that the sheriff's office received two reports, one from an Apple Emergency SOS feature from the hikers themselves indicating they were lost somewhere in the "Last Chance" area of Santa Paula Canyon and the other report was a call from their guardians at the trailhead saying the hikers were missing.

     The Upper Ojai Search and Rescue Team was dispatched and they made their way to the area where they believed the hikers would be.

     Their 4 mile hike into that area was made even more difficult because it was night, there was low visibility, the rescuers had to cross several rain swollen creeks and streams, and the trail was damaged due to the winter rains.

     But by 11:15 PM, the SAR team located the 10 hikers, both males and females between the ages of 16-18.

     The sheriff's office says the teens were not prepared for such a hike and were given food and water and lighting equipment before being led to safety and reunited with their guardians at the trailhead around 2:20 AM.

     The hikers did not require any medical aid.