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 Reporter |
Summary: This is a great family hike, particularly for younger kids. There is a great pond with ducks, a lovely forested creek, and enough easy puddle jumper stream crossings to make it exciting for the kids. I really enjoyed this amazingly peaceful and lovely setting set in the middle of suburbia. From the parking lot head down and around the pond to the fire road, which is our trail. Follow the trail north along the stream, crossing it several times. There are some interesting trees along the way that look like easy and safe climbing for the kids. At about the 3/4 mile mark, the trail crosses a paved path at the end of the park. This is our turn-around point. You can either head back to the car on paved bike path making it a loop hike, or just return down the trail (my preference). Trailhead: From the 101 freeway in Agoura Hills, exit northbound on Kanan Road (away from the beach). Go 3 miles to Hollytree Drive and turn right. About 100 years ahead, turn into the parking lot for Oak Canyon Park. Walk around the pond to get to the start of the trail. (Lat:34.18159 Lon:-118.76961) Trail Guides for Oak Canyon Park: Day Hikes in Ventura County California by Robert Stone (Day Hike Books) Afoot & Afield In Los Angeles by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: Rancho Simi Park District 818-889-9845 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jim Zuber, who has posted 104 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by BLE on 2/17/2013 Amazing park, awesome hike for a family with small kids. The trail that starts behind the pond is relatively short, but ends at a road that leads up to a dog park. If you head back down that road, it crosses the stream and leads to another trail or to an amazing park with a water play area and 2 different playgrounds with some pretty unique fixtures and lots of grassy hills for the kids to roll down. Lots of awesome oak trees make for great photo ops along with the beautiful red rock mountains in the backgrounds.
Reviewed by Viewer on 2/11/2011 Great little hike, plus the park is beautiful. We ended up just enjoying the afternoon under a tree with a book after we were done. 
Reviewed by Viewer on 9/19/2010 Lovely spot for a relatively short, shady easy hike. Lots of beautiful scenery and foliage. Wish the trails were better marked, but this seems to be used primarily by locals who know their way around.
Reviewed by Mare on 5/8/2007 This park is chock full of wonderful trails -- from the easy family hike around the pond as described here, to difficult ones heading up into the hills. My favorite time to go is early morning, when the smell of native sage, rosemary, lavendar, honeysuckle, jasmine and cistus rock rose comingles with the dryness of the oak trees and other brush. It's a uniquely southern California smell that works perfectly with the gorgeous green grass and hills that surround the park. This park is spawling and begging for discovery.
Reviewed by Viewer on 12/3/2004 This is a hike located 2 miles from my home, and I do a 5 mile loop often, it's a wonderful example of california native landscape, this is a man made setting, the creek is natural but improve with the select careful planting of native plant species. It is a restoration of nature. This is a wonderful park. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Ventura County Hiking, Ventura County Trails, Ventura County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
