Filed under: hiking, outdoor recreation, top-feature, walks
Hiking in Downtown Ojai
Recently, I extolled the virtues of Ojai, California (map) – a quaint town that’s just 90 minutes away from Los Angeles. While I thought the wine was the amazing, the food was delicious, and the hospitality way beyond expectations, there was one activity that I really thought was a bit underrated: hiking.
Ojai does have a fair bit of tourism even though it is still a bit unknown – but as I went around on some of the various trails during my weekend trip, I noticed that many of the folks on the trails were, in fact, locals. That’s a shame, because you can definitely get some great hikes in this area – Ojai is in a valley but due to the topography of the mountains, there are several plateaus of varying elevations, so natural hiking paths seem to be abundant.
I wasn’t in Ojai long enough to hike everywhere, but I can recommend a handful of trails that you can access right in or nearby downtown Ojai. Within minutes it will just be you and the mountains.
Head for the Sea
Strangely, despite being close to the sea, you can’t see any water when in Ojai. That’s because a line of mountains sites between you and the ocean – and I that’s partly what creates this hot microclimate here in the Ojai Valley. As you arrived into Ojai, you probably drove in via Route 33, which is the road coming in from Ventura.
Alongside Route 33 is a hike/bike/walking path that takes you right into downtown Ojai. It’s probably a little more suited for biking because it’s about 17 miles, which is a bit far to go in just your sneakers. And despite the fact that parts of this walk run next to the main road, which can get a bit busy, I do like this route because you get some fantastic views of the mountains, and you also can pause and look at some of the beautiful fields and homes along the route that most just zip on past.
There are also a number of companies that offer horseback riding in Ojai – and the Route 33 trail also has a horse-only lane! And if you’re headed this direction, you may well end up at Lake Casitas (just in case you were confusing the lake with the ocean), with more hiking trails, camping, and picnicking areas.
Idea: You can make a loop from downtown Ojai, but you could also drive into Ventura to have a look around, and then do a loop from the Ventura side before driving back into Ojai.
Get some Perspective
Out of all the hikes I did make it to while in Ojai, Shelf Road was without a doubt my favorite. It is very easy to get to; just walk up Signal Road (one of the main cross streets in Ojai) until it ends at the foot of the mountains. Signs are posted not allowing car traffic to continue further, but bikes and cars can continue on to the unpaved portion of the road.
Initially, this road is a little steep but nothing too seriously strenuous – next to you is an orchard so you can always stop and grab a piece of fruit if it’s ripe. After 10-15 minutes, the road levels out and then undulates only a bit. From here on, you have some fantastic views over the Ojai valley such as the picture above. You can see the town and where it ends, and where all the orchards and farms begin. The road is a very good trail – the signs say it is not maintained but it looked very well maintained to me, with lots of locals taking their morning hike, a jog with the puppy, or just out for a power walk and to chat with a friend.
What’s really nice about Shelf Road is that you do not have to double back on yourself to get back to Ojai. The road continues on for a few more miles and then intersects at Gridley Rd, which will take you back down into town. There are a also few other roads and trails if you wanted to continue further.
The entire loop from town, up and around, and back again is probably 2-3 hours, depending on how quickly you want to walk.
Weather Warnings
FYI, just because you’re walking from town doesn’t mean you should not be prepared. I was here in January, and it was warm, so I can only imagine the summer. Water is a must, and so is a hat, and plenty of sun screen. And while I think these trails are ok, do be mindful of snakes and other critters who might be more interested in you than you are in them!
Photos Copyright Andrew Hayes.
Disclosure: This trip was sponsored by the Iguana Inns of Ojai, but the opinions are of the author.
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