Hiking Plus

5.3 miles, 600' gain, Easy-Intermediate
2.5 miles, 100' gain, Beginner

We start by crossing a bridge into a wooded area and continue down a relatively flat path alongside a stream. After about a mile, we'll come to a junction.

For those that want the full hike, we'll turn right and complete a 3 mile loop with 500' of gain, stopping just before the end of the loop for a social event at the picnic table on the left, where we'll share snacks and beverages for about 60 minutes.

Easier Option.
For those that want to keep it beginner, don't turn right at the junction and continue for 1/4 mile and no gain. That same picnic table will be on the right.

Return.
Continue the loop for 1/4 mile, then a relatively flat walk back for about a mile. For those that took the easy option, that same return is the way we came.

Hike Distance: 5.3 miles, Beginner option is 2.5 miles.
Gain: 600', Beginner option is 100'.
Distribution: Most of the incline is concentrated in the second quarter.
Difficulty: Easy Intermediate/Easier option is beginner.
Shape: Lollipop.
Pace: approx. 2.0 mph.
Trail Type: Fire road.
Trail Variations: The first mile is mostly flat.
All of the trail is well groomed and not rugged.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Dogs: Yes.
Restrooms: Yes, at trailhead
Drinking Fountains: No.
Parking: Free in lot next to trail head.

What to bring:
1 liter of water for every 3 miles.
Hiking shoes/boots. Not required, but recommended.
Flashlight or headlamp.
Sunscreen and/or hat as needed.
Snacks and/or beverages to share

Hosting

Route: The host knows the route. Click the link to see it.

Navigation: Host memory, enhanced by GPS navigation as needed.

Hike type: Social.
We won't be hiking at a fast pace because this is a social hike, not a conditioning hike. There is nothing wrong with stopping, even if it means every 50 steps.

Interesting Notes

Here are a couple plants you are sure to see on this hike:

Wild Oats
The mature seed of the plant is used as a cereal grain. All oats have edible seeds, although they are small and hard to harvest in most species. Oats are hard to tell apart from weedy relatives, so the term "sowing wild oats" came to be used to describe unprofitable activities and destructive sexual liaisons of an unmarried young male that could result in children being born out of wedlock.

Red Brome
Grass like with thorny appearing tops. A sub-species of foxtail chess. Can lead to flash fires. Winter fires don't kill the seeds.

Directions:

Hill Canyon Trailhead
10241 Hill Canyon Road (address is before trailhead, continue to gravel lot on left)
Santa Rosa Valley, CA 93012
Coordinates of trailhead: 34.226495, -118.930374

From CA-118:
CA-118 west to CA-23 south.
Exit 19 Tierra Rejada Rd., turn right (west) for 0.5 miles
Left (south) on Moorpark Rd. for 1.4 miles.
Right on Santa Rosa Rd. for 3.7 miles.
Left on Hill Canyon Rd. for 0.6 miles.
Parking in gravel lot on left.

From CA-101 (from Camarillo and farther west):
Exit Santa Rosa Rd. north for 4.9 miles.
Turn right (south) on Hill Canyon Rd. for 0.6 miles.
Parking in gravel lot on left.

From CA-23 and CA-101 (from Thousand Oaks):
North on CA-12 for 3.1 miles.
Exit 16 Sunset Hills Blvd. and left (west) for 0.9 miles.
Left (west) on E. Olsen Rd. for 0.8 miles.
Right (north) on N. Moorpark Rd. for 1.9 miles.
Continue on Santa Rosa Rd. west for 3.7 miles.
Turn left (south) on Hill Canyon Rd. for 0.6 miles.
Parking in gravel lot on left.

Parking can be very tight because it is also popular with bicyclists. Car pooling suggested, because it would be sad for someone to not be able to hike because there isn't any place to park.

FAQ
Hiking Plus Page Links
Disclaimer / Release of Liability

3.5 miles, 600' gain, Easy Intermediate
Easy Option: 2.4 miles, 285' gain, Fit Beginner

We enter the Los Padres trail through a spooky oak covered section, then move through until we come to a dead end. We'll turn right, and continue climbing up. We'll come to another junction, where we'll turn right onto the Los Robles trail.

After 500 feet, we'll come to a split off to the right. We'll take this split and continue along the Vista Loop until we come to a bench. Then we'll start heading down, and when we come to the "Giants Picnic Table", which I call that because its parts are super thick.

We'll stop for a social event and share snacks and drinks for 30-60 minutes, before continuing down and around for our return.

Easy Option: In the reverse direction as the rest of the group, go 350' to the end of Los Padres Dr., left on S. Moorpark Rd. for 1000'. Enter the trail and follow it for about a mile. It will curve left and you will arrive at the social event.

Hike Distance: 3.5 miles, easy option 2.4 miles.
Gain: 600', each option 285'.
Distribution: Most of the incline well distributed in the first half.
Difficulty: Easy Intermediate.
Shape: Loop.
Pace: approx. 2.0 mph.
Trail Type: Fire Road, Single-Track, and Double-Track.
Trail Variations:
Several extended inclines of 1000 steps.
Several steep sections of 300 steps, but no hands required.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Dogs: Yes.
Restrooms: No
Drinking Fountains: No.
Parking: Free along street.

What to bring: 1 liter of water for every 3 miles.
Hiking shoes/boots
Flashlight or headlamp.
Sunscreen and/or hat as needed.
Snacks and/or beverages to share

Hosting

Route: The host knows the route. A pic of the route has been posted as a link on this line.

Navigation: Host memory, enhanced by GPS navigation as needed.

Hike type: Social.
We won't be hiking at a fast pace because this is a social hike, not a conditioning hike. There is nothing wrong with stopping, even if it means every 50 steps. See "How hard is this hike" in the discussion section (LINK).

Stops:
The host may designate stopping points to let others catch up. This hike will include an extended stop for a snack and beverage share at the half way point. We will stop at junctions to make sure everybody makes any turns or chooses the correct direction at splits, else something will be used to mark the direction, usually a large arrow made of baking soda or sticks. There may not always be a sweeper designated to be the last hiker.

Interesting Notes
These are a couple plants you are likely to see on this hike:

Yucca
White flowers on stalk. Stalk is often missing, leaving only the spires from which it grows. Stalks are very strong and light, so they make good walking sticks. Needles on end of spires. Chopped up root can be uses as shampoo or soap. Roasted root can be eaten like a potato. Illegal to remove live stick in CA.

Pronounced with short u. Dried leaves make good tinder. To eat root, remove skin and core, boil 15 minutes. Then fry or bake. Flowers are mildly sweet. Adam says they taste like radishes. The fruit is also edible, but bitter if not ripe. To access fibers: Soak for a month in water, or, lightly pound leaves with rock or club, or, scrape off skin. Roll between hands, then pull and separate fibers. Weave into cordage.

Wild Cucumber
Toxic. Boil fruit in water to make spikes easy to remove. Inside is a natural luffa. Tubars (thickened part of a stem, usually underground, like the potato) can be crushed and thrown into water to immobilize fish.

Almost the entire plant is poisonous. The prickly “cucumbers” consist not of fleshy fruit, but of two seed chambers containing lacy netting.

Directions
Los Padres Trailhead
15 Los Padres Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA, 91361

From I-101
West of CA-23, I-101, exit S. Moorpark Rd.
South on Moorpark Rd. north for 1000 ft.
Left on Los Padres Dr.
After 200 ft, trailhead on the right.
Park on the street.

FAQ
Hiking Plus Page Links
Disclaimer / Release of Liability

5.0 miles, 640' gain, Easy Intermediate

Starting at the Wendy trailhead we hike about 1/4 mile and take the left fork up the Windmill Trail, a steep, but short climb (0.1 miles, 100 ft gain). At the top of this steep climb we'll take the right fork down the Wendy-Satwiwa Connector into the grasslands for about another 1/4 mile where we will take the right fork onto the Satwiwa Loop Trail. We'll hike for about 1/3 mile down to the Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center.

Next we'll cross over the paved road and continue along the Rancho Overlook Trail for about 0.8 miles. At this point we'll take the fork to the left going up a short incline (3/4 mile, 200 ft elevation gain). Then we'll take a right turn down to the picnic area. We should be able see the tables under the tree from here.

On the return trip we'll go straight on the Palomino/ Rancho Overlook Trail for about 2 miles back to the Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center. Just past the center, we'll take the first left turn (0.1 miles) up the hill along the Wendy Trail back to the cars (0.7 miles).

This is a potluck hike. Please bring food, drinks to share.
If your item requires utensils/plates/toothpicks, etc., please bring them.
You may wish to bring your own cup, plate, and utensils in case there aren't any.
Snacks and/or beverages to share

At the turning point, there is a picnic table in Olympia Farms. We'll enjoy the great views and enjoy a potluck social event at the top for 60-90 minutes before heading back the way we came. Please bring some food and drink to share, and utensils of your item requires it.

Hike Distance: 5.0 miles
Gain: 640'
Difficulty: Easy Intermediate.
Shape: Basically Out and back.
Pace: approx. 2.0 mph.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Dogs: Dogs must be kept on leash and away from picnic table.
Restrooms: No
Drinking Fountains: No.
Parking: Free along the street.
What to bring
1 liter of water for every 3 miles.
Hiking shoes/boots. Not required, but recommended.
Flashlight or headlamp.
Sunscreen and/or hat as needed.
Your own cup, plate, and utensils in case there aren't any for picnic.

Directions:
Wendy Trail Head
4128 Potrero Rd
Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
Where S. Wendy Dr. ends at Potrero Rd. 4128 Potrero Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361

From CA-118:
CA-118 west for 8 miles.
CA-23 south for 7.4 miles.
US-101 North for 2 miles.
Exit 45 Lynn Rd. and south/west for 2.5 miles.
Left on S. Wendy Dr. for 0.6 miles until it dead ends at Potrero Rd.
Park on Potrero.
From US-101 north/west of Wendy:
US-101 south, exit Wendy Dr.
South on Wendy Dr. for 3 miles until it dead ends at Potrero Rd.
Park on Potrero.