Search within reviews . Kennedy Ridge Trail Up to the 1st Picnic Trail Using Rice Canyon. Please do not go south on the private access dirt road. The luxury 220-acre property is surrounded by ancient oak and olive trees and lined with fragrant sage and lavender. Happy Camp, Moorpark. Username. Shaded canyons, the views when cresting the saddle, and friendly people are some of the many draws to this trail. 0. Eek! If you don't find parking at the trailhead, you may be required to park up to 5 miles away, as there is no parking along the road leading to the trailhead. The Wills-Rice Canyon Trails Loop is one of my favorites. Take highway 33 north from 101 in Ventura. Ojai, CA 93023. Shared By: Kurt Canfield. Wills-Rice Canyon Trails -- Ojai, CA. Continue west along Chaparral Crest Trail, which essentially traces the top of Willis Canyon, and offers views out across the Ojai Valley, El Nido Meadow and out towards the Santa Ynez Mountains. Up to the 1st Picnic Trail Using Rice Canyon. 2017/9/16 Rice Canyon Trail, Ojai, SYVR A ride in Ojai, the Valley of the Moon. Learn more. March 13 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm $45 « February Full Moon Sunset Nature Hike; March Supermoon Sunset Nature Hike » REGISTER. Contacts. If you're looking for the best trails around Point Mugu State Park or Leo Carrillo State Park, we've got you covered. Because this trail is located along a north-facing canyon, you can see all types of vegetation from Douglas fir trees to spruce, oak, yucca and sycamores. (We stayed for about two hours at the campground) Rating: DIfficult. The trail gradually ascends while offering nice views of the Ojai Valley. As you pass through a gate, you'll enter Los Padres National Forest. Chaparral Crest Trail then returns back down the canyon and rejoins Willis Canyon Trail at El Nido Meadow. Nearby Cities: Ojai. The Ventura River Preserve is a quite sensibly managed section of river bottom and adjacent canyons passing through Ojai , very close for residents to access for riding, biking, and hiking, making it a true multi-use recreation area. When this video was shot in January 2015, water was running in the river, grasses were green, and the neglected orange orchard was in place. One ride that’s almost all downhill is the Ojai Valley Trail, linking Ojai to the coast, with epic views along the way. Join me Saturday, March 13, for a nature hike in Rice Canyon on the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Ventura River Preserve. We started off this day knowing it would be a challenge because we know this trail well, what to expect at each hairpin turn, the views and valleys, the beautiful manzanita that we loved. Lanny Kaufer offers herb walks, nature hikes, and workshops focused on edible and medicinal plants of Southern California. Land Manager: Ojai Valley Land Conservancy. All in all, a fun ride that has a lot to offer riders of all skill levels. Get directions. 1 star rating. The trail proceeds west toward the river. Stay on the 33 until it turns off from highway 150. Cross Canal Road and a bridge over the canal. On a clear day you can see both Anacapa and Santa Cruz in the Channel Islands. This trail continues south through an old orange grove to a fork; turn right to head west along Rice Canyon Trail. There wasn’t a trail I took that didn’t have a sign in front of it. I'm a fan. Turn left onto Rice Road, travel a few hundred feet and the parking lot is on the right. Be warned that Ojai gets very hot during the summer months, so bring plenty of water. Location. See my photos … Hiking back down Sisar Canyon Trail. An experienced and knowledgeable Trail Guide will lead the group on the 4.6 mile loop with 580 feet of elevation. 509 S Rice Rd. The areas close to the parking lot can get busy on weekends. To access the preserve’s trails you’ll walk or ride though a gate and follow a dirt road winding down toward the river bottom. The trail begins along a seasonal creek and quickly climbs about 640 feet in elevation along a well-forested and wild-flowered canyon to a ridgeline knoll with spectacular views of the Ojai Valley. Local mountain bikers know Ojai and Simi Valley offer both rolling hills and lung-searing climbs: Ojai’s Sisar Canyon trail goes up and up and up, but rewards with horizon-wide views. Walk along a red-soil service road through oaks and grasslands before taking a narrow diverging trail up a sage-covered hillside. Less than two miles uphill, then a downhill cruise to the end. More to come soon! Once you come to a private gate and a bunch of cars parked around, you’ve found it. Trail Ratings 3.4 from 7 votes #1 in Ventura River Preserve #2928 Overall. Rice Canyon Nature Hike. www.venturacountytrails.org/...canyon-and-rice-canyon-trails-loop-in-ojai Follow the trail out of the river bed and merge with a fire road, soon reaching the junction of the Willis and Rice Canyon Trails. Recommended Reviews. Directions: Google Maps. The trail has held remarkably well over the summer and is getting use thanks to the new bridge put in by OVLC at the Rice canyon entrance. Ojai - Phoenix Rising from the Ashes Friday, February 23, 2018 . The trail begins along a seasonal creek and quickly climbs about 640 feet in elevation along a well-forested and wild-flowered canyon to a ridgeline knoll with spectacular views of the Ojai Valley. We started off this day knowing it would be a challenge because we know this trail well, what to expect at each hairpin turn, the views and valleys, the beautiful manzanita that we loved. from scottinojaivideos. 0. The park has two entrances, with the best trailer parking located off Highway 23. Search within reviews. There is another trail-head on the way; it’s for The Shelf Road Trail, pass it up and park at the end of the road. Lanny “ethnobotanizing” with herb walkers of all ages on the Horn Canyon Trail in Ojai. I found Rice Canyon Trail, the first major trail I would take today. The Lion Canyon Trail borders the Great Sespe Wilderness and the Condor Sanctuary, has year-round water, and was recently maintained in the 2016 National Public Lands Day stewardship event. Time: 3-4 hours. It’s clear this property was a former working ranch. Middle Fork of Matilija Canyon Directions: Head east on Highway 33 for about 4.7 miles to Matilija Canyon Road. Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. See more hiking trails in Ojai on Tripadvisor. Horn Canyon Trail: To The Pines. 0:17 – Oak in Rice Canyon The loop can be done in either direction, but by going counter-clockwise, you can knock out the less attractive portions of the hike first and save the scenic descent through Willis Canyon for last. Meh. Looking for a great trail near Ojai, California? 2 star rating. When the downtown district of Ojai, California gets busy with shoppers, art enthusiasts, spa-goers, and Los Angelenos looking to get out of the city for a few days, the hiking trails scattered in and around Ojai become a popular alternative.The trails allow explorers to escape the hustle and bustle of the town and re-discover a connection with nature. The equipment is tested and ready for action. AllTrails has 69 great hiking trails, trail running trails, mountain biking trails and more, with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you. At a few places in the park, you can see both the sky and the foothills above Grand Avenue and mountains of the Wills Canyon/Rice Canyon ridge line and escarpment toward Meiners Oaks, and into the far reaches of Matilija Canyon. Full Details. The trail begins along a seasonal creek and quickly climbs about 640 feet in elevation along a well forested and wild-flowered canyon to a ridge line knoll with spectacular views of the Ojai Valley. On a clear day you can see both Anacapa and Santa Cruz in the Channel Islands. Rice Canyon and Wills Canyon Trails Loop – 4.5 miles – On our last day let’s explore a different part of Ojai. “We are constantly walking on herbs, the virtues of which no one knows.” – Chumash tradition* What are Herb Walks? Methinks not. Note: If you drive up to the top of Gridley Road, you should find it. Less than two miles uphill, then a downhill cruise to the end. Ojai’s Wills-Rice Canyon trail offers an easy/moderate 2-hour hike through three Ecosystems: Oak Meadow; Riparian Canyon including the “Enchanted Forest” and Chaparral. The Lodge at Bryce Canyon: All the creature comforts in a rustic setting - See 2,222 traveler reviews, 1,158 candid photos, and great deals for The Lodge at Bryce Canyon at Tripadvisor. From there, junction signs point the way to Kennedy Ridge Trail (via Rice Canyon Trail), leading you past a small stand of peppertrees, eucalyptus, and giant flowering agaves to a bridge over Los Robles Diversion Canal. Edit business info. This preserve is extremely well marked. The 2017 Thomas Fire destroyed the Rice Canyon Bridge and cut off an access point to the northern-most trails in the Ventura River Preserve. When the guests at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa request a guided hike, the Hiking Guides have a number of options. The Ojai Valley Inn is the place to do just that. 5 years ago. This trail follows Rice Creek, which is shaded by oak and sycamore trees. Hill Canyon Trail joins up with Wildwood, a trail that winds between houses for a short distance, eventually coming out on a ridgeline with fantastic views and then drops back down toward the canyon. 6. Elevation Gain: Nearly 1800ft. A-OK. 4 star rating. 3 star rating. I've experienced better. Posted on March 25, 2014 by administrator Explore Ojai, Festival Blog. It’s so well marked that not only are you given the name of the trail, but beneath it is often the name of the next major trail to which it connects. Four trails are featured, the Pratt Trail, Horn Canyon, and upper Sisar Canyon on the north side of Ojai, and a loop trail on the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy's Ventura River/El Nido Preserve (Wills and Rice Canyons) west of Meiners Oaks. Yay! You will continue going straight farther up Wills Canyon. Distance: 4-5 miles round trip. Photo: Rondia Kaufer “We are constantly walking on herbs, the virtues of which no one knows.” – Chumash Tradition* Lanny Kaufer offers herb walks, nature hikes, and workshops focused on edible and medicinal plants of Southern California. We had planned to be up all of last weekend working the trail for three days but the conditions were too hot to be safe for trail work. Read More. February 7, 2018. Wills Canyon Trail » High-quality Grand Canyon Bumper pillows, tapestries, mugs, blankets, shower curtains, aprons, jigsaw puzzles, and magnets by independent artists. Nearby Cities: Ojai.