Hiking Plus

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

Easy Intermediate, 3 miles, 600' gain
Easier Option: 2.4 mi, 530' gain. 5 Washburn St, Simi Valley, CA 93065

We'll meet in the parking lot at the northeast corner of Madera and Royal, just south of the Donut Delite, on the east side of the Clinicas office. We'll walk from there to the trailhead at 2 Washburn St. where it meets Los Amigos Ave.

The Hike
Easy end of the Intermediate Spectrum, due to the 1 mile continuous incline that can get exhausting. A fit beginner can easily complete it.

We cross Madera and continue through the neighborhood for about 1500', to the intersection of Washburn St. and Los Amigos Ave. This is also the starting point for the easier option.

We enter a path behind the houses and proceed for 250' to the entrance. So far, there will have been very little elevation gain.

We'll enter a series of switchbacks (zig-zag trail) for 1.2 miles to a large cross at the top. This is a steady climb across the face of the hill, always in full view of the neighborhood below. Beginners may find this climb difficult to continue at a fast pace. There is nothing wrong with slowing down while faster hikers move ahead, or resting for a minute several times during this climb.

It may seem easy to get lost because there are many different cross-paths up the face of this hill, but they all lead to the same place. Generally, whenever there is a choice of "left or right", we take the easier and more worn path. If you happen to find yourself alone and take a wrong turn (aka steep cut), all paths lead up.

At the top by the cross or one of the nearby benches, we'll enjoy the gorgeous 360 degree views and share beverages and/or snacks.

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

Black Sage
Multiple brown buttons going up the top of the stalk, that may have white flowers. Green leaves. Purple or white flowers that are dark brown as they dry on the plant. Squish the leaves and smell.

A rare and sought after Black sage honey is also made from the honey of bees that pollinate the Black sage plant. Black sage is utilized in the culinary world as an aromatic and flavorful herb. It can be used in recipes wherever traditional sage is called for, however keep in mind that foraged Black sage has a much stronger flavor than that of traditional store bought sage.

Its flavor goes well with winter squashes, brown butter, poultry, venison, pears, cheese, potatoes and other herbs such as rosemary and thyme. Use fresh in a variety of different preparations or leaves. Can be dried and stored for future use as a dried herb. Black sage was used traditionally by Native Americans known as the Chumash people to form an herbal soak for the bath to be used in the treatment of bodily pain, specifically for the feet and lower legs.

Purple Sage
Grey-green leaves. Aromatic when crushed. Purple flowers. Aka, Tobacco Sage, with mild hallucinogenic properties when smoked. Can be used as a spice or made into a tea. Tea has medicinal affects: Antiviral, gargle for sore throats, reduce hay fever symptoms and other drying actions.

Distance: 3 miles (round trip)
Elevation Gain: 700'
Difficulty: Easy Intermediate
Duration: 3 1/2 hours
Pace: 2.0 mph
Dogs: Yes.
Restrooms: Yes - at nearby places of business
Drinking Fountains: Yes - at nearby places of business
Parking: Free
Trail: Mostly single-track, excellent condition
Hiking shoes preferred, but athletic shoes will be OK.

What to Bring
1-2 liters of water.
Snacks and/or beverages to share
Hiking shoes preferred, but athletic shoes will be OK.
Flashlight or headlamp.

Directions
For those doing the regular route:
1424 Madera Rd, Simi Valley, CA 93065

FAQ
Hiking Plus Page Links
Disclaimer / Release of Liability

Prior events to the festival:
October 2021
October 2022
October 2024

Train Schedule, $20 each way:
Simi Valley 10:11a Carpentaria 11:32a

Return Train Options
Carpentaria 2:03p Simi Valley 3:37p
Carpentaria 4:50p Simi Valley 6:23p
Carpentaria 7:15p Simi Valley 8:48p

Link to Amtrak

Train Trips
There are no machines to buy Amtrak tickets at the station and they cannot be purchased onboard. If you try to use their website from your phone, it isn’t optimized for phones and you may end up having some obscured buttons. Download the app.

Sign up for guest rewards before you purchase your ticket. Otherwise, if for any reason you don’t receive their e-ticket, you won’t have a number for recalling your purchase and you’ll have to call their customer service number to get it resent.

Meet near the tracks in Simi Valley starting around 9:20 AM.
The first photo attached represents out "approximate" path:
Link to Route

We'll start with a hike (an easy walk, no hiking shoes or poles needed) to Carpinteria Bluffs & Beach with its tide pools & tar pits, then trip around (and back & forth between) Islands Brewery, the Avocado Festival, Rincon Brewery & Giovani's Pizza, other great restaurants, etc. We'll let AMTRAK take us back to Simi Valley at the end of the day!

ALTERNATIVELY: Drive yourself and meet at the Carpinteria station around 11:32a, or look for your hiking friends on the beach-front trails, along Linden Ave, and nearby breweries.

AND: You may be able to book passage from other start locations, e.g. Chatsworth, Van Nuys, Ventura, (but Not Camarillo), etc...

Festival Link
The festival runs from 10a - 10p on this day.

Please comment when you have purchased your train tickets!