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Santa Paula, California

The best Trails and Outdoor Activities in Santa Paula, California offer a variety of top outdoor adventures. The Santa Paula Canyon Trail is a must-visit, known for its scenic beauty. It's a moderate difficulty hike with a stunning waterfall and natural rock slide at the end. This trail also features the Punch Bowls, unique rock formations that are a highlight of the hike. For a more relaxed activity, the Santa Paula Creek offers excellent fishing spots. The creek is home to a variety of fish species and is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. Nearby, the Los Padres National Forest offers numerous trails for hiking and mountain biking. Its diverse landscape includes towering mountains, deep canyons, and vast wilderness areas, making it a top choice for outdoor activities. For a unique attraction, the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula gives a glimpse into the history of flight with its outdoor displays. It's a must-visit for any history buff. These are just a few examples of the best

Top Spots in and near Santa Paula

  • Santa Paula, California

    Santa Paula Punch Bowls

    3.6
    6.5 mi / 1037 ft gain
    This is a 6.5 mile trail, out and back. Parking is available along Ojai St, and the trail starts at the entrance of Thomas Aquinas College. Follow the paved road that goes around the school, until you reach a fork on the road, then stay right. The trail will take you through Ferndale Ranch, just ...
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  • Ojai, California

    Camp at Dennison Park in Ojai Valley

    Great little campsite very close to the town of Ojai.  My discovery of this gem was totally coincidental. I was trying to book a hotel room in Ojai; however, that particular weekend all the rooms that were within my budget were sold out. Instead of giving up, I looked for alternative options and ...
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  • Ventura, California

    Hike Arroyo Verde Park

    3.5 mi / 800 ft gain
    Arroyo Verde Park is a small parked tucked in the hills above Ventura, California, and has a network of trails running up and down the hills surrounding the valley in the center of the park. The entrance to the park is at the intersection of Foothill Road Day Road, east of downtown Ventura. There...
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  • Ojai, California

    Couch Rock

    3.5
    1.3 mi / 627 ft gain
    Driving up Gridley Road away from Ojai you’ll come upon a small parking lot on your left and a gate barring the way to a dirt road. Park here, as close to the mountainside as possible and head onto the trail.  Follow the trail until you see pass a bench, and start heading downhill. Keep your eye...
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  • Thousand Oaks, California

    Paradise Falls Loop

    4.3
    2.26 mi / 300 ft gain
    The hike to Paradise Falls is about 1.5 miles one way with around 300 feet elevation change. Take it easy starting the hike because the real challenge is the change in elevation going back to your car since you'll be going uphill. At the trailhead, follow the signs indicating the location of Para...
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  • Thousand Oaks, California

    Hiking Wildwood Regional Park

    3.8
    Wildwood Regional Park is open year-round, easily accessible, and offers great routes for hiking, running, biking, and even horseback riding. There are also two waterfalls inside the park—the larger of the two, Paradise Falls, cascades 40 feet into a large pool. To catch some beautiful views of t...
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  • Ojai, California

    Rock Climb at Foothill Crag

    2 mi
    From downtown Ojai, head north on N Signal Street. Head up the hill and turn left onto a gravel road next to a chainlink fence once you get to the top.(There should be a sign that points to "Pratt/Foothill Trailhead.") Continue past a water tank on the right to a trailhead parking area.  I've gon...
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  • Ventura, California

    Stand Up Paddleboard the Ventura Harbor

    The Ventura Harbor provides a protected entry/exit to the Pacific Ocean and is a great place to start a paddleboarding adventure.  Marina Park, at the end of Pierpont Boulevard, has a ton of parking, a free public launch, and there are boards to rent along the harbor. From the launch you can head...
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  • Ventura, California

    Bike the Sulphur Mountain Loop

    28.6 mi / 2884 ft gain
    The Sulphur Mountain Loop is a 28 mile cycling and mountain biking loop that begins in Ventura Canyon at the Sulphur Mountain Trailhead and loops through Ojai Valley. Beginning at the Sulphur Mountain Road trailhead off Highway 33, follow the road up and over Sulphur Mountain and down until it co...
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  • Ventura, California

    Backpack to Del Norte Campground on Santa Cruz Island

    5.0
    7 mi / 700 ft gain
    Del Norte Backcountry Campground is located on Santa Cruz Island, one of the islands that makes up Channel Islands National Park. It is California's largest island and is almost three times the size of Manhattan. The easiest way to get to the island is to take Island Packers, a ferry service that...
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  • Ojai, California

    Rose Valley Falls

    5.0
    0.68 mi / 256 ft gain
    ...It's not often that you come across 100 ft waterfalls. This moderate to easy hike to Rose Valley Falls leads you to one of the tallest waterfalls in the Los Padres National Forest. The hike begins at Rose Valley Campground. If you're not staying at a campsite, park outside the entrance of the ...
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  • Ventura, California

    Cycle Santa Ana Road

    6.5 mi / 500 ft gain
    The Santa Ana to Lake Casitas via Foster Park segment of Santa Ana Road is a gorgeous, 6.5 mile road that cuts through the heart of Ventura Canyon. Santa Ana Road eventually ends at Casitas Road and the Lake Casitas Recreation Area. From there you can go west over over the pass and down to the Ri...
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  • Ventura, California

    Bike the Ventura Promenade

    0.5 mi / 0 ft gain
    The Ventura Promenade is a .5 mile long biking and walking trail that runs from the Ventura Pier to Sufer's Point, eventually connecting to the Ventura River & Ojai Bike Trail. It is also part of the the larger "Omer Rains Trail" which runs some 3.5 miles to the south through Buenaventura Sta...
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  • Ventura, California

    Bike the Ventura, Santa Paula, and Ojai Loop

    48.8 mi / 2081 ft gain
    The Ventura - Ojai - Santa Paul loop is a classic half-century loop throughs some of the most beautiful cycling roads on the Central Coast. Beginning in Ventura and heading on the off-road (but paved) Ventura / Ojai trails, this loop then heads into downtown Ojai before following Ojai Valley Road...
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  • Ventura, California

    Bike the Rincon Trail

    5.0
    28.4 mi / 720 ft gain
    The Rincon Trail between Ventura and Santa Barbara is part of the wonderful Pacific Coast Bike Route, and features two-wave paved cycling lanes with beautiful views up and down the central coast. There are numerous places to stop along the way for food and relaxing, including the great seaside to...
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  • Ventura, California

    Surf Ventura Point

    4.0
    Surfer’s Point, off Figueroa Street, includes one of California’s premier surfing and windsurfing spots. A landscaped promenade and the Omer Rains Bike Trail connect this sandy beach to the Ventura Pier. Promenade Park, next to the beach commemorates the site of an ancient Chumash village. Beach ...
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Camping and Lodging in Santa Paula

Ventura Ranch KOA Holiday
Santa Paula, California

Ventura Ranch KOA Holiday

Wheeler Gorge
Ojai, California

Wheeler Gorge

Holiday Group Campground
Ojai, California

Holiday Group Campground

Pyramid Lake   Emigrant Landing Day Use Area
Castaic, California

Pyramid Lake Emigrant Landing Day Use Area

Pyramid Lake   Los Alamos Campground
Castaic, California

Pyramid Lake Los Alamos Campground

Santa Cruz Scorpion
Smugglers Road

Santa Cruz Scorpion

Guides, Insights and Stories from Santa Paula

Velo Ventura: The 5 Best Cycling and Mountain Biking Trails in the Heart of the Central Coast

Velo Ventura: The 5 Best Cycling and Mountain Biking Trails in the Heart of the Central Coast

Josiah Roe

By Land & Sea: 72 Hours in Ventura, California

By Land & Sea: 72 Hours in Ventura, California

Josiah Roe

The Galapagos of California

The Galapagos of California

Kyle Frost

Boats, Backpacks and Booze: Why You Should Try Island Backpacking

Boats, Backpacks and Booze: Why You Should Try Island Backpacking

Kristen Fuller

11 Photos That Will Make You Want to Hike Channel Islands National Park

11 Photos That Will Make You Want to Hike Channel Islands National Park

Katie Y

One Ideal Day on Santa Cruz Island

One Ideal Day on Santa Cruz Island

Leigh Maneri