Maricopa CA & Taft CA are not typical tourists destinations. But if you're passing thru, a good stop for gas & decent Mexican food. They've been mining for oil out here since the early days & there's even a extensive museum about it. Rumor has it, that the whole region is sinking, geologically speaking. Off-road trails, canyon hikes, and wildflowers in spring.
taft, California
Country


recreation:

parks, forests, rivers & lakes:

taft campgrounds
Reyes Peak Camping 33
Mount Pinos Camping
Ballinger Canyon OHV
Nettle Springs Campground
Pismo Beach Camping
Oceano - Pismo Dunes OHV
Mount Abel - Cerro Noroeste
Ojai Camping

description:
Oiltown USA -- Taft was incorporated in 1944. West Kern OHV Haven: ATV's & motorcycles like the high desert hills surrounding Maricopa & Taft w/ miles of dirt trails. Ballinger Canyon, not too far away. They even have a Taft Grand Prix. Hollywood film crews like to shoot on location, w/ tree-lined downtown streets, old brick buildings & no crowds. Town is not the destination; it's all the wildflowers, plus outdoor recreation around here that is the draw. Or maybe it's the prison.

local links:
Taft Chamber of Commerce
314 Fourth St. Taft, CA 93268
661-765-2165
https://www.taftchamber.com/
Taft Grand Prix Motorcycle Race
The Historic Taft Fort
West Kern Oil Museum
Taft College
Taft PC Services
Taft Midway Driller
Los Padres Forest Watch
Los Padres National Forest Map
Dick Smith Wilderness Map
Sespe Wilderness Map
Taft Prison
Black Gold Brewing Company
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