I thought this was a hidden gem in Santa Rosa Valley, but apparently everybody knows about this…read morebeautiful trail. Once you arrive at this park, there are multiple trails to enjoy that will satisfy different hiking levels. Some of the trails at this park go into the mountains with some significant elevation. The hill canyon trail is a flat trail at this park. As it was a super-hot day, my hiking group and I took an easy, and we just did a 3.7 mile out and back trail that was quite easy and took under hour and 20 minutes to do at a causal pace. The trail followed the river, which I heard bass can be seen in the water. The trail was very pretty and relaxing. While on the trail you need to be alert. You may encounter mountain bikers zooming through the trails. Plus, you also get horseback riders in this area. On a hot sunny day you always need to be alert to snakes. At the trailhead there is a small parking lot. I heard on the weekends this parking lot gets super busy early in the morning. Not too far away there is a larger lot available. This park is worth a visit for beginner hikers as well as advance hiker. Bring plenty of water and hat as most of the area is not shaded! Happy trails!

Love love love this trail!…read more Definitely one of my go to trails. You can either hike up the mountain that has a gradual incline. This trail leads to lizard rock once you get to the top and continue on. If you keep going it will lead you to paradise falls . If you plan on going that far, plan to take a lunch and water and comfortable hiking shoes. Or take a walk across the bridge and down a pathway where you'll see the creek which is so peaceful .

Arrived at around 4pm on a Monday and there was no one in sight. Parking was easy and from the…read moreparking lot and back it was an easy 2mi hike, mostly flat and straight with signages along the way, the last .4mi was steep though but still very manageable. Best to come in for the sunset (but people do start coming in at around 530pm-sh so can get crowded during this time). Zero shade along the way so be prepared with sunscreen and water! The trail is a little bit unkept probably due to covid (heard they closed down for a bit). But as of 07/27 all trails and parking lot are all open (even Paradise Falls).

Canyon Overlook or the path up to it wasn't too bad until about 1/2 way up. It's gets pretty steep…read morewith lots of rocks and loose dirt so it's very easy to slip. The path to Lizard Rock from Overloop is pretty technical on the way down and some tight turns on the incline toward Lizard Rock. Lizard rock itself was fine with but with some tight switch backs. All in all, not for the faint of heart but I would do it again. FYI, did this trail on my Specialized Levo SL Comp

The beauty and quality of this trail vary greatly depending on how much rain has recently fallen…read more(which tends to be rare). Normally, I consider this trail a solid 3-stars, mostly for the views from the top. However, the recent fires that hit this mountain, followed by abundant rainfall has created an explosion of color! The trail is moderately easy for most of the length, with a few fairly steep sections. Suitable for any age group other than young children. The initial climb is steep and leads to a "T". Go right for the longer gentler ascent or go left for the steep and shorter climb (you can also just do a loop, in which case I recommend climbing the steep ascent and walking down the gentler slope). The gentler ascent actually has notably better views. Ocean views, the naval air field, and one of the most scenic stretches of the PCH in California await. If adventurous, take the 6-mile loop trail around the summit before ascending. Gorgeous flowers (after a spring rain), mountain vistas, and various wildlife (including rattlesnakes)

Entry into this 600-acre preserve is limited to those who can make it up a steep oceanfront…read moremountain trail. The 0.9-mile Chumash Trail is located off PCH, across from a Navy Seabee shooting range. It is the most direct route and also happens to be the oldest trail in continuous use in the Santa Monicas. A farther, an more indirect route, is from Ray Miller Trailhead at Thornhill Brooke Beach via La Jolla Canyon Trail. The valley is sprawling mountain meadow circled by mountain ridges with Boney Mountain in the background. Chumash Indians inhabited this area for over for 7,000 years. It's located next to Mugu Peak which has become extremely popular since I last visited. Both destinations start with the Chumash Trail. At the top of the mountain the majority of the crowd bears right at a junction, heading towards Mugu Peak. You will need to continue straight and shortly you will soon be in almost complete solitude. With the solitude also comes the eerie reminder that you are also in mountain lion territory. The main trails of the preserve are La Jolla Valley Loop Trail and La Jolla Canyon Trail. They branch off in different directions allowing access to 70 miles of hiking trails within Point Mugu State Park. Over the northern section of the loop there is La Jolla Valley Walk-In Camp and a nearby pond. In my opinion the most important landmark along La Jolla Valley Loop Trail is the old water tank located under an oak tree at the base of the mountain near a dry creek. It's located at 6 o'clock along the loop (for reference the Chumash Trail enters at 9 o'clock position). This is the point where you can either cross the creek to ascend the mountain, continuing on Mugu Peak Trail, back to Chumash Trail. This way overlooks the ocean and has some great scenic views. You can also complete the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail in a clockwise direction and link back up with the Chumash Trail or you can continue on a little further and head down the canyon via La Jolla Canyon Trail to Thornhill Broome Beach. Unfortunately, there are no bathrooms and dogs are not allowed in the park. Parking is free but it can be really crowded on the weekends so you may want to arrive early.

This trail travels through Serrano Valley in Point Mugu State Park, the westernmost park of the…read moreSanta Monica Mountains. This area is pretty isolated and not well-known so chances are you'll be the only visitor. Nearby Circle X Ranch and the trails of Boney Mountain have more visitors. You will enjoy a peaceful and easy 1.4-mile walk through a rolling grassland meadow with Boney Mountain and Boney Peak in the backdrop. At the homestead site you will get to view old farm equipment and other household items, including the kitchen sink.   To get to the site you will need to drive to the intersection of Yerba Buena Rd and Cotharin Rd. From there you will need to take a right and carefully drive down an old and narrow road into the valley down below. Park outside the metal gate and walk the rest of the way down the mountain. After walking past a dry creek, make a left and head straight along a paved road. You'll come to a junction where you will need to make a left where the road transitions to a dirt path through the grass. Pass through the open main gate.   If you're feeling really motivated, Serrano Valley trail connects with Serrano Canyon trail and heads south to Big Sycamore Canyon and eventually Point Mugu beach.

I really loved this National Park! Not too far from LA in Ventura and you have to take a ferry to…read moreget to it. Your America the Beautiful Pass does not work for the ferry. We went in January so the greenery was still that winter brown but it was not very busy which is nice. We decided to do a kayaking tour with the Santa Barbara Adventure Group so they booked our ferry times for us. Beware of the specific ferry times cause if you miss it your S.O.O.L After the kayaking tour we got to walk a little bit around parts of the island before heading to the ferry. On the way home on the ferry we say killer whales which was truly mesmerizing! One of the best things I've ever seen.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Channel Islands National Park was one of the most unique adventures. Unlike most national parks, getting there is part of the experience. There are no roads leading into the park, you have to take a ferry from Ventura across the Pacific Ocean. Just boarding the boat and watching the mainland disappear behind you makes the trip feel like an expedition to somewhere special. We visited Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Islands, and immediately understood why these islands are often called the "Galápagos of North America." Thousands of years of isolation have allowed unique plants and animals to evolve here, including the adorable island fox, found nowhere else on Earth. Seeing one of these tiny foxes wandering near the trails was an unexpected highlight. The hiking was beautiful, with dramatic coastal cliffs, sweeping ocean views, wildflowers, and peaceful trails. One of the things we appreciated most was the feeling of solitude. Unlike many of California's more famous parks, Channel Islands feels wonderfully wild and uncrowded. The absolute highlight of our visit, however, was kayaking through the sea caves. Paddling into enormous ocean caves carved by the Pacific was an unforgettable experience. The water changed from deep blue to brilliant turquoise as the sunlight reflected inside the caves, and every turn revealed another incredible rock formation. It was exciting, peaceful, and just a little adventurous all at once. It became one of the most memorable experiences of our entire six-week trip. Because there are no restaurants, hotels, or stores on the islands, you need to come prepared with food, water, and everything you'll need for the day. That lack of development is exactly what makes the park so special. It feels wild, protected, and beautifully untouched. Channel Islands National Park is unlike any other national park we have visited. Between the ferry ride, spectacular coastal scenery, abundant wildlife, wonderful hiking, and unforgettable sea cave kayaking, it was an experience we will never forget. If you're willing to plan ahead and make the journey across the water, you'll discover one of America's true hidden gems.

Wow what a BEAUTIFUL hike! There's a bit of everything on this hike…read more PARKING: off YERBA BUENA, look for CIRCLE X RANCH , it comes up quick so be ready! Windy road for those with motion sickness issues be aware. Parking is free, there's a toilet and water fountain to fill bottles as well. There's 2 ways you can go, this hike is a loop. We started off going west down hill past the little lodge with the pay phone. Once you get to picnic tables down the trail you'll see a fence, go past the fence and down continue on the trail. You'll get to boulders and there is the grotto! This trail is pretty toddler friendly however, we did not take our toddler down to the grotto Due to the fact that there is bouldering involved, and at one point, there's a rope that you need to be able to "climb"to get down into the grotto area. The friends we went with were able to go, and they said that it was very cool down there and definitely worth the hike. Some people said that they spotted rattlesnakes we didn't see any however.

Five stars with a caution‼…read more The writers of the reviews here must be totally fit‍‍ My husband and I were dying on the trail coming back from the grotto area. It was almost all incline, like no joke. Our dog was so tired (She's young and only two.) she quit walking at one point refusing to move! Another disappointment was that we weren't even able to get to the grotto area, which involved some rock climbing, because we had our dog.‍ With that said, however, the view was spectacular, and it was a great hike (going to the grotto, not on our way back!). I loved the streams and watching the tadpoles! (I don't remember the last time I'd seen tadpoles,) It was wonderful to experience such beautiful nature not so far from the middle of the city. To sum it all up; the full hike is highly recommended for people who are fit. But, I'd say to the people who aren't that fit (like us!), just to enjoy the hike up to the first stream and waterfall then turn back. You'd not enjoy the hike coming back from the grotto!

Absolutely beautiful hiking destination whiling visiting Santa Cruz Island. Breathtaking views over…read morethe water and surrounding island. The absolute best time to make this hike is in time for sunset. Get here early just to take it all in - perfect location, relaxing, peaceful, and beautiful. We started the hike from the group campsite area, and it was about 2 miles one way. Strenuous at the onset but then levels out and is super easy. Since all day visitors have left by sunset, the only way you can be here for sunset is to camp. If you're camping, definitely recommend adding it to your agenda. There's no beach access, but we did see a couple kayakers paddle out and enjoy the area. Great choice when visiting Santa Cruz Island.

Date of the hike: 3.19.2011…read more According to my friend's GPS, we hiked 8.2 miles round trip with an elevation gain/loss of 2,000ft. We kind of just winged it and parked right at the end of Wendy Ave when you exit on the 101fwy. I think other websites out there say to park somewhere else. The hike itself had a couple signs here and there but we were still a little confused on which path to take. There's a nice waterfall about a mile into the hike and you'll have to cross a little stream. There's a lot of shade near the waterfall so it's a perfect area to rest or have a quick snack. I wish I read the description on LocalHikes.com (http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/BoneyMountainOverlook_4472.asp) a little better. Instead of making a left towards Danielson Monument we took the other path which had a gradual incline, no switchbacks here. We did get to a different hill that has a good view and found the correct way to go to the overlook. If it wasn't for our time constraints, we would have back tracked and went up the right way. We'll have to go back and see the view from the top. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lamb1028/sets/72157626248248337/

I don't really know how far this hike is. I'd say is around 8 or 9 miles…read more You're not really hiking when you go here. I see it more like as if you're climbing up a big rock. IT's nice. Pretty popular. And, sometimes you see horse poop on the trails. I'd say 1/4th of the way in, there's a beautiful waterfall you can hang out at. Walking up the trail, you're surrounded by big green mountains. At the top of Boney Mountain, there's a 360 view of the city. Really nice. It just takes awhile to get up there. It's not too bad though. Parking here is free.