Very late post I went back in '21 and I had been wanting to go since '14. I read about it on a…read morenewsletter and pinned to go one day. I didn't do my homework so of course the first time i went to it was closed and the second time i ended up going to an outdoor sunset concert in the garden so i still haven't really been for meditation lol i follow you guys on the socials so i am planning to return a third time. Ojai over all is a beautiful little town and this place is the icing on the cake picture attached and from my trip back in 21.

What a beautiful relaxing place! We only visited the gardens but did not attend any event or…read moreretreat. The gardens are beautiful and lush, and we spent about 30min doing the walking loop. It's so calm and an ideal place to practice mindfulness and meditation. I'm curious now about the events and will look into staying overnight one day!

Amazing place!! A must Hike!! Come early for good parking…read moreand bring water. It's scenic and beautiful!

A new favorite hike of mine mainly for the destination, not the actual trail. The trail itself is…read moreactually pretty tough even thought it's only 8-10 miles round trip depending on where you start. There are a lot of rocks to walk over, and few river/creek crossing to go through that also have slippery rocks to walk over, and even though the inclines aren't the biggest I've ever done on a hike, the combo of hiking through rocks and sandy parts of the trail can wear you down throughout the hike so it gets more challenging as you go on. To stay on the trail without wandering over to the nearby dry creek keep an eye out for the pink paintball shots and white and black arrows pointing you to the right direction. Also the All Trails app map worked great in offline mode to stay on track with the path. As tiring as this hike was the water fall and punch bowl areas absolutely made this hike worth it. The only downside to the hike are the people that come due to the popularity of the trail and leave their trash and water bottles all over the place. Besides that this should be a buck list hiking spot for anyone that loves hiking adventures.

Beautiful views and worth the 7.25 mile round trip hike. It was about 2.45 h in and 2.5 h out…read more Plenty of arrows to help lead the way. If you can weather the whole hike up to the punch bowls, you won't regret it! Lots of maneuvering rocks and it can get sketchy at some times. But there are plenty of families and furry friends that take this hike so that should give you an idea about difficulty. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen and you will be fine. You might step in some water crossing a pond or two so bringing an extra pair of socks wouldn't be a bad idea either. Have fun and don't leave your trash behind!

DO NOT LET YOUR DOGS GET IN THE WATER AT THE START OF THE TRAIL!!!!! I'm not sure how it is further…read moreup, but we got in the water as soon as we could, and our three dogs immediately covered themselves in thick tarry oil. We had to rush to the nearest park bathroom and scrubbed them as much as we could, but it ruined a bunch of clothes and towels, and I'm worried for their health after watching them drink some of the water and try to lick themselves clean. There needs to be some sort of warning sign about the oil in the water.

Ventura County has a few Landmarks. Two Trees, the San BuenaVentura Mission and the Ventura Pier to…read morename a few. One the most distinguished is the looming mountain range visible from all points north of the Grade, known as the Topa Topa Bluffs. The granite cliffs mark pronounced diagonal etches across the mountains face. Often when one thinks of going to the mountains, these are the mountains one had in mind. Usually when venturing into the Los Padres National Forest the highest Mecca available is Reyes Peak atop Pine Mountain road, and that is where we often end up. Indeed Reyes Peak is a sight to behold, and arguably one of the best campsites in the tri counties. But to truly reach "those mountains" the Topa Topa Bluffs, you have to do your homework. You cannot simply drive up the "33" and get there like you can with Reyes Peak. Access is available by permit only, through the Ojai Ranger station. The road to the bluffs is OHV access only; therefore a locked gate bars access from the general public. The ranger district only allows 15 vehicles up per day. Unbelievably, after roaming these mountains for decades, I had never been to the Bluffs. But a year ago, I did some research and found the way to get to the Bluffs. Once I had my permit, and access code, I headed into the forest. Arriving at the gate, I felt like a kid with a backstage pass to Disneyland. As I unlocked the gate, headed thru and locked from behind, I felt the puzzled stares from other less fortunate campers. They didn't have access! Huahhhh...Hauuhhhh! Only I did, I alone had domain over this sacred land! Sorry, back to reality. I engaged four wheel drive, and proceeded to tear up the road. There are miles and miles of off road travel to be enjoyed, steep ascents, and uneven road abound. Off the main road it splits to the left or right. To the right the road leads to a old fire watchtower. Convivebly you could camp here, but there is one site with a fire ring and bench a few miles before you get to the tower. Taking the road to the left your journey hugs the mountain edge then dips into the valley for unspoiled views of Pierda Blancas, and Rose Valley Lake. Once on the mountain edge the road ends at a trail head that will take you directly to the Topa Topa Bluffs. A mile before the road ends there is the one singular campsite. From the site, you have clear views of the Oxnard Plain, the Ojai Valley, and the Bluffs themselves, so close you can make out the diagonal ruts visible form the city. On May 23rd 2008 I visited the Bluffs for the second time. The weather did not cooperate and while we did stay the night, the temperature stayed at an icy 36f degree. Visibility was only 15-20 feet, so we did not get the views I have loved. I cannot wait to return. The solitude of the place inspires meditation, with only 2 campsites off the entire road, you can be assured privacy and silence. Just you and the bluffs.

Great views. We climbed up the Pratt Trail which gave us great views all the way up. Be sure to…read morelook for the geological stamp while you are up there . Views are spectacular. You can see the Channel Islands and Topa Topa on a clear day. Breath taking. We took the Gridley back and that was a nice and less steep trail back down.

I turned on Google navigation, but it led me to a completely wrong mountain road. I wandered around…read morein the mountains for about 20 minutes before finally getting out, so I just came back home. If you plan to go, make sure to double-check the route at least once before heading out.

A friend and I came here to hike on a recent visit to Pine Mountain Club. We didn't camp, so this…read morereview is for hiking only. We took the Tumamait trail to the weather station at the Mount Pinos summit and picnicked at the top by the Iwhihinmu plaque. After returning to the first fork in the trail, we then hiked to the meadow and back. Altogether, this was a full day of beautiful hiking. The crisp mountain air, pine trees, high elevation buckwheat and lichen meadows, and views were all fantastic. As other reviewers have said, the hikes aren't intensely strenuous, but they can be long if you want them to be. Both Tumamait and the meadow paths are partially shaded with sunny patches. Going to the meadow, most of the hike is a small downhill slope, so keep in mind it will be mildly strenuous coming back up. For hiking, my friend and I did not have a parking pass nor could we find a place to buy one at the Nordic Station parking lot (the drive up the mountain to the lot is lovely, by the way!) We were slightly concerned, but nothing happened. No ticket, no ranger presence. Our visit was in late April, 2022. Spending time in this powerful Chumash site was wonderful. We stayed on the mountain peak for at least an hour feeling the wind whip our faces, enjoying our picnic and the views, looking at the trees and plants and snow, and enjoying being at the "top of the world." There weren't many people around, and we said hello to everyone we passed. It felt convivial and isolated at the same time. A pretty cool combination.

Fantastic cool morning break on the summer heat made for a great hike before church. The clouds…read morewere gray and preparing for a summer storm and the humidity was low. I set out from Drown Ave and walked all the way up Signal Street to the trailheads. I decided to ascend Luci's trail and descend John's Fox trail. It was a great decision and I made it back home just in time for church. Left at 7:30 AM and got home at 9:10 AM. Just under 6 miles total

My husband Matt B. and I spent our twelfth anniversary in Ojai, away from our kids and dogs. We…read morewoke up from an uninterrupted night of sleep with no one to take care of, and used that surplus of time and energy for a morning hike at the Valley View Preserve. I'm a reluctant hiker, but I admit that it can be nice to go outside, especially if it makes your husband happy. This was a lovely hike, scenic and mostly relaxing. We didn't go as far as we could have, but we made it pretty deep, hiking at a leisurely pace for a little under two hours. It was peaceful, with great views, and we got ideal weather. A very Southern California paradise kind of morning. The trail was rocky and sometimes slippery, so I'd recommend hiking shoes if you have them. I wore my regular sneakers and almost slid to my demise a couple times. It would've looked bad for Matt if I'd died in a hiking accident on our anniversary. My friends would've been like, "Steph doesn't even hike." I'm glad we visited the Valley View Preserve and would recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy some outdoor time in Ojai. The trails are easy enough for a novice level hiker. Just bring water and good shoes and maybe a spouse who doesn't want to kill you.

Nice little hike and a pretty waterfall tucked away and a beautiful forest. Was easy to get up to…read morethe waterfall and takes around 10 minutes each way. Is ample parking and even a little picnic area that we stopped at as we've got a sandwich in Solvang to eat before we took our little hike. Quiet little spot not a lot of people in very peaceful How to recommend this quick spot it's a little gem

This was my second time visiting Nojoqui Falls. There wasn't much water this time, but the lush…read moregreen surroundings still made the waterfall feel beautiful and peaceful. The hike itself is short, easy, and refreshing about 1.3 miles round trip. You can finish it in around 15 minutes, but I took my time (about 30 minutes) enjoying the breeze and stopping for photos and videos. I definitely recommend it if you're visiting Solvang. It's very close to downtown, has plenty of parking, and even a playground for kids perfect for a quick nature stop.

We had a really wondeful time. James is incredibly nice and professional. He really made our…read moreexperience memorable. The horses (Anya and April) were such good horses. They were extremely well mannered and easy to ride. James took us on a very beautiful trail and took many really nice pictures of us. He also told us many interesting stories and provided information about the trail itself. He also provided cellphone holsters which came very handy. He treats the horses really well. They were happy, well-fed with fresh hay and they ate fresh plants along the trail. The ranch itself is very nice and beautifully made and it's also very clean for a ranch. Over all 10/10 experience.

I had a great time with my family. James was very patient and accommodating, and helped all three…read moreof us enjoy a beautiful ride through the hiking trails, and took some amazing photos. He also surprised us with some cookies during a break in the ride. He has a vast amount of knowledge of the local area, but that is dwarfed by his knowledge and skill with his horses. They were all extremely impressive in how well they handled my 7 year old's high energy, and had a very calm demeanor the whole time. We also followed up with an archery session, and James is just as patient an archery instructor as he is a riding instructor, giving us tips on proper stance and handling of the bows. It was a great experience, and I would definitely like to plan another visit!

Libbey Park is a wonderful place to spend the day! The park is beautiful, well-maintained, and…read moreperfect for families. We especially enjoyed the farmers market, which had a great variety of vendors, fresh produce, and local goods. The live band created a fun and welcoming atmosphere that made the experience even more enjoyable. There was plenty to see and do, and everyone had a great time. Highly recommend visiting if you're in the area!

What a beautiful park in the middle of downtown Ojai! It's a really nice space if you wanna sit and…read moreread a book or take your kids to the playground or even go birdwatching! There is a big beautiful amphitheater towards the back. It's very clean and I love it!

Another amazing night spent at Mountain Park. Took about 9 kids for my sons party. Awesome place…read morefor the kids to play and explore. Roasting hot dogs and eating s'mores, what more could you want on a beautiful Tehachapi night? Highly recommend if you have never been here.

If you're looking for a park in the middle of nowhere, but still just outside town, where you can…read morecamp or visit on a day trip, this is your place. Granted you have to be in Tehachapi, or know where Tehachapi is, or be wanderIng around southeastern California, or have a sweet GPS. Given all the above transpiring, if you find yourself in the lucky position of needing to do a summer XC run with your sophomore weak-of-heart running daughter, just don't tell her about the steep uphill. You do get to run back down afterward anyway. Should you be able to trick your kids into the run or perhaps a hike, magnificent views await at the overlooks partway and all the way up. We're talking Twitter-background-wallpaper-quality shots (not that I would know). Should I wind up randomly or intentionally in T-town, I'll take another hike, provided I can talk the daughter into it ("no honey this isn't the one you remember, it's an easy hike":).