10 Best Hiking And Trekking Spots In Ojai, California

hiking in ojai
Shamika
Shamika 
Published
| 5 min read

Right in the midst of the exceptionally beautiful Topatopa mountains lies the quaint little town of Ojai. Hailed as a travel destination for outdoorsy tourists and nature enthusiasts, this town has slowly grown to become a prominent hiking destination in California’s Ventura County. In addition to the town’s amazing geographical location facilitating adventure sports and hiking tours, this town also has a very quaint and well-cultured town centre filled with unique and amazing art galleries, vintage shoppes and handicraft stores where you can buy adorable souvenirs and other trinkets to take back home. In addition to the above, Ojai is also hailed as a spiritual centre for travellers wishing to retreat away from their worldly worries. So if you are an outdoorsy adventurer, book your next trip to Ojai and read on as we explore the best hiking and trekking spots in Ojai, California!

1. Fox Canyon Trail

Posted by Henrik Lehnerer on Tuesday, 22 October 2019

Fox Canyon Trail is a fairly beginner hiking trail. It is moderately crowded to hike during weekends, and you can see the valley flowers blooming in the distance. This is a dog-friendly hiking trail so you can bring your furry friend along, although it is compulsory to keep the dog on a leash so as to prevent accidents. There is excellent street parking and it is a great early morning hike if you wish to go for an easier trail. If you are looking for more intense exercise, you can use this trail to connect to other more intense trails as well.

Fox Canyon Trail

Address: Shelf Rd, Ojai, CA 93023, United States

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2. Sisar Canyon

Posted by Mary Beth Brown on Sunday, 14 July 2019

The Sisar Canyon trail is a fairly popular trail that is another beginner trail, or if you wish to introduce older children to hiking at more moderate levels. You can witness the beautiful views on one side of the mountain as you hike upwards along the slopes, and during the spring and summer seasons, you can even see wildflowers sprinkled across the mountains. This trail is perfect for mountain-biking as well, so you can rent a bike and bring it here. In addition, this trail is also dog-friendly provided the dog is on a leash, in case you wish to bring your pet along with you.

Sisar Canyon

Address: Sisar Road, California 93023, USA

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3. Piedra Blanca Trailhead

Fall in full swing

Posted by Sean Dana on Saturday, 24 November 2018

If you are an avid and experienced hiker, beginner trails may be great for a leisurely hike or to bring your family along, but you may be craving for a greater adventure. The Piedra Blanca Trailhead offers exactly that – approximately 16 miles (25 kilometres) of fast-paced adventure. Located near Rose Valley Road, this trail offers an adventure-packed ever-changing trail that offers a wide variety of different views from mountains to creeks in your way. The trail gets quite steep sometimes, so you might need to bring a hiking stick with you to maintain balance, but for the most part, it is sure to be great fun for anyone with a moderate level of fitness.

Piedra Blanca Trailhead

Address: Rose Valley Rd, Ojai, CA 93023, United States

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4. Gridley Trail

Gridley trail
Source: Photo by user Lelah Baker-Rabe used under CC BY 2.0

Spanning approximately 11.1 miles (17.8 kilometres) of the hiking trail, the Gridley Trail is another popular trail if you wish to go mountain biking, hiking or trekking. Street parking may be available if the trail isn’t too crowded, so go early on weekends when it is likely to be well-trafficked. This trail creates a nice variation between rough terrain and smooth roads so you can get some exercise initially and then catch your breath on the smoother terrains. The views are beautiful as well, and you will encounter a variety of different types of lands such as an avocado farm and a rock garden on your way.

Gridley Trail

Address: Gridley Trail, CA 93023, USA

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5. Cozy Dell Loop

Trailhead-Cozy-Dell
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Niceley used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Cozy Dell is a wonderful beginner-friendly hiking trail where you can bring your dog along for a light stroll. This trail is only 3.6 miles long (5.7 kilometres) and you will be able to enjoy the scenic route as you walk without finding yourself out of breath towards the end. The loop has a bit of incline, but it is a lot of fun to climb and descend, so bring a hiking stick with you for support. You may find woodland creatures nearby, so be careful with the fauna.

Cozy Dell Loop

Address: 15150 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai, CA 93023, United States

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6. Horn Canyon

Posted by Henrik Lehnerer on Friday, 16 August 2019

Horn Canyon is a more beginner-friendly hiking trail that lasts for about 5 miles (8 kilometres) and requires you to have fairly moderate fitness levels. You will encounter views of beautiful flowers along the mountainside, and you can also bring your dog along. The trail is intercepted by babbling streams where you can relax for a bit before continuing on.

Horn Canyon

Address: Forest Rte 5N10, California 93023, USA

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7. Sulphur Mountain Road

sulphur mountain road
Source: Photo by user snapper used under CC BY 2.0

Sulphur Mountain Road is a slightly more advanced hiking and trekking trail, perfect for avid hikers who have a bit of experience with hiking and moderate to higher levels of fitness. However, this does not mean you cannot enjoy it if you are a beginner! Plenty of people engage in mountain biking and motorbiking along the steep inclines, and you can try that out if you are into a bit of adventure. This trail is about 10.4 miles (16.7 kilometres).

Sulphur Mountain Road

Address: Sulphur Mountain Rd, California, USA

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8. Shelf Road

Posted by Vina Lustado on Saturday, 23 November 2019

Shelf Road is one of the most popular hiking trails in Ojai. Spanning about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometres), this trail features panoramic views of the mountainside as you climb the inclines, making for a very scenic and casual walk. This trail is perfect for beginners, and you can even bring your dog along for a leisurely evening walk.

Shelf Road

Address: Shelf Rd, Ojai, CA 93023, United States

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9. North Fork Matilija Creek Trail

Matilija Creek Bed
Source: Photo by user Greg Casperson used under CC BY-SA 2.0

North Fork Matilija Creek Trail is a trail for the beginner to intermediate hiker. Do bring along a hiking stick as some parts of the trail can get a bit steep or unstable. Heavily trafficked, this trail features beautiful wildflowers sprinkled across the mountains and a lovely waterfall where you can dip your feet in the cool water to relieve your sore muscles. There are also various campgrounds available here in case you wish to go camping out in the wilderness, which can be a lovely experience for a single night (or more if you wish).

North Fork Matilija Creek Trail

Address: Matilija Canyon Rd, Ojai, CA 93023, United States

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10. Pratt Trail

foothill trail 2-18-08
Source: Photo by user snapper used under CC BY 2.0

Last but not least, Pratt Trail is another wonderful trail meant for beginners to intermediate hikers. Unfortunately, the hike is in an open area throughout, so you may have to aim to go during early morning or evening times so as to avoid the harsher sun rays. You can witness spectacular views of the valley for as far as the eye can see, and the hike is a fairly easy one to get through. The hike is about 9.6 miles total (15 kilometres) but there is a loop in it so you can extend the walk if you wish to.

Pratt Trail

Address: Pratt Trail Loop, Ojai, CA, USA

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Explore a unique vacation destination in Ojai...

From its lovely homestays and boutique hotels to its yearly farmers’ markets, Ojai represents the new age culture in every way. You can find a ton of attractions and activities to engage with the culture, but the best part about this city is the great outdoors. So book your tickets now, and check out the lush green paradise awaiting you in Ojai!

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Being a military kid, Shamika has lived and travelled all over India, and her nomadic childhood has fueled an immense hunger and fascination for new cultures and languages (she's a polyglot!)...Read more

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