Outdoor Recreation in Ventura County is bountiful. The views and landscapes are awe-inspiring and can be enjoyed while participating in a number of outdoor activities such as hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, and off-roading in a four wheel drive or all-terrain vehicle. Among the choices for these activities are the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area Trails, Point Mugu State Park, Big Sycamore Canyon Horse Trail, and Paradise Falls.
Off-Road
For those who enjoy getting off the well-traveled highways and enjoying the beautiful scenery on a motorcycle, in a 4x4, or on an all-terrain vehicle, the off-road area of Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area has hills and valleys, grasslands and coastal sage scrubs, and oak woodland It is the second largest recreation area for off-road vehicules in California.
This 19,000 acres natural area has approximately 130 miles of marked trails, ranging from flat and level to steep and narrow, which have been set aside for off-road activities. An additional 150 miles of Natural Forest off-road routes are also available. Beginners can enjoy the trails in the Native Grasslands Management area, but the trails in the adjacent Los Padres National Forest are for the more experienced riders only. A closed Motocross track is available in the Quail Canyon area of Hungry Valley.
Hiking and Water Sports
As in Hungry Valley State Park, hikers will find plenty of hiking trails within Point Mugu State Park located in the Santa Monica Mountains just 15 miles south of Oxnard. The Park features five miles of ocean shoreline with sandy beaches and rocky bluffs, rugged hills, two river canyons, and wide grassy valleys. In addition to the more than 70 miles of hiking trails, the beach in the Park also features swimming, body surfing, and surf fishing.
A part of the Conejo Recreation and Park District, Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks has over 1,750 acres with Indian Caves and 14 trails covering 17 miles for hiking. It has two year-round waterfalls; one of which, Paradise Falls, is 70 feet high.
The Big Sycamore Canyon Trail is a multi-use 8-mile long trail. It runs in the Santa Monica Mountains, between Rancho Sierra Vista and Satwiwa, then through Big Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park to the ocean. This trail is for the moderate to experienced hiker. Care is advised on the steep hill entering into Point Mugu State Park. Also in the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa is the Trail to the Waterfall, a one-way trail about 1.5 miles long which comes off the Big Sycamore Canyon Trail. Horse and bicycles are not allowed on this trail.
As a matter of courtesy and safety, hikers must yield to horseback riders, and bicycles must yield to both hikers and horseback riders. Bicycles are allowed only on trails designated for bicycles.
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