Protecting a haven for endangered wildlife in Southern California

September 18, 2026-

The Wilderness Land Trust recently purchased a 41-acre private inholding within the Sespe Wilderness of Southern California. The property sits just up the slope from the popular Agua Blanca Creek Trail, and contains a tributary to Sespe Creek, one of the last free-flowing rivers in Southern California. With it now safeguarded from development, we’re helping to ensure the wilderness experience of hikers and backpackers, connected habitat for wildlife, and protected watersheds.

The 219,000-acre Sespe Wilderness is a haven for threatened wildlife. It is home to over 40 endangered species, and about 1/4 of the wilderness area is designated as a California Condor sanctuary. The condor sanctuary was first created in 1947, but despite recovery efforts, the California Condor became extinct in the wild in 1987. In 1992, four captive-bred condors were released into the Sespe condor sanctuary as the start of a multi-year reintroduction effort. Today, it is estimated there are 392 wild condors living in California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja, Mexico. This successful reintroduction would not have been possible without large swaths of protected, intact habitat.

Video of a bobcat visiting Agua Blanca Creek, captured by Los Padres National Forest staff while on a site visit to the Trust’s Agua Blanca property.

The Agua Blanca property, and surrounding wilderness, are part of the fourth-largest contiguous roadless area in the US, and the one closest to a major metropolitan area, Los Angeles. This area provides important recreational access for millions to experience solitude and inspiration in the wilderness.

Agua Blanca is the Trust’s first project in the Sespe Wilderness. In total we have worked to protect 252 properties covering over 38,455 acres in California.