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
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Santa Clarita, California
Hike to Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument
3.2 mi / 153 ft gainThe Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument, established in 2019, memorializes the site where the Saint Francis Dam, built by famed engineer William Mulholland, collapsed in 1929, tragically killing more than 400 people in the middle of the night as a 150+ foot wave of water crashed through ...Read more -
Montecito, California
Tangerine Falls
4.51.15 mi / 886 ft gainThis waterfall can be fairly dry during the year, so keep your eyes out for a recent rainstorm to get things going. When you start the hike on East Folk Trail, at 0.25 miles, cross over the creek and join West Fork Trail. A little over another half mile, West Fork starts to head uphill, but you c...Read more -
Montecito, California
West Fork of Cold Spring Trail
3.45 mi / 1135 ft gainIf you love the mountains above Santa Barbara but hate the crowds, stick to the canyon trails on the east side. The trails running up Cold Spring canyon offer a variety of experiences without all the noise. To find the West Fork of Cold Spring Trail, take the Olive Mill Rd. exit from the 101 fre...Read more -
Montecito, California
Cold Spring Trail Loop
5.02.67 mi / 883 ft gainCold Spring Trail Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Santa Barbara, California.Read more -
Lake Hughes, California
Hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Horse Trail to Bear Campground
11.63 mi / 2396 ft gainThis is part of the Pacific Crest Trail. If you're through-hiking or sectional hiking, you'll have to hit it eventually. Try and avoid it in the late summer or early fall because of heat, and gnats. Find a way to check the bug report, we got marauded by gnats 90% of the way (early October) and ap...Read more -
Malibu, California
Ratner Beach
4.5Unlike most beaches in Los Angeles, this tiny little stretch of beach is usually empty, and is a little gem! It is the perfect place to get an unobstructed view of the sunset, and the sticks in the ground make for a picturesque sunset picture! Just be warned, this beach is right on PCH, so expect...Read more -
Ventura, California
Kayak Santa Cruz Island
4.5As the largest of the Channel Islands, Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Island National Park is an ecological treasure, and to kayak it is to get to experience it in a manner unlike any other. Getting to the island is easiest through Island Packers where you can also reserve a kayak (so pack effi...Read more -
Ventura, California
Cavern Point & Potato Harbor Loop
4.99 mi / 545 ft gainTucked away in the Pacific Ocean just 25 miles from the coast, the Channel Islands are one of Southern California’s hidden gems. With towering cliffs and isolated beaches that hug the coast, this place makes you feel worlds away from home. Channel Islands National Park is comprised of five island...Read more -
Ventura, California
Potato Harbor via North Bluff Trail
4.49 mi / 463 ft gainThe 4.5-mile North Bluff Trail traverses the colossal cliffs of Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park from Scorpion Anchorage to Potato Harbor. Arrive via an Island Packers boat to Scorpion Anchorage and, upon disembarking, walk straight ahead. Just past the restrooms (one of only tw...Read more -
Ventura, California
Scorpion Ranch Campground
4.00.72 mi / 43 ft gainAccessible only by Ferry, this little-known national park is a backpacker's dream. You can catch the ferry out of Ventura or Santa Barbara, only a short distance from LA. The ride to the island is around 1 hour. We chose to take Island Packers Ferry out of Ventura to Santa Cruz Island. The ferry...Read more -
Ventura, California
Potato Harbor Trail
5.04.34 mi / 404 ft gainAs California’s largest island, Santa Cruz Island of the Channel Islands is the perfect little getaway from Los Angeles. Getting to the island is possible only by a one hour boat ride through Island Packers, click here to find out more about them. Be sure to pack light since you’ll be carrying ev...Read more -
Ventura, California
Smuggler's Cove
3.57.72 mi / 1342 ft gainSave one stretch of elevation close to the cove itself, this 8-mile, round-trip hike is a leisuring trek across one of the countries most beautiful, though less famous National Parks - the Channel Islands. Smuggler's Cove is located on the Santa Cruz Island, which also happens to be the largest i...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Canyonback Nike Loop
4.06.02 mi / 1693 ft gainCanyonback Nike Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Encino, California.Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Parker Mesa Overlook via Paseo Miramar
4.25.32 mi / 1099 ft gainThis 5.4-mile out-and back trail takes off from the end of the residential area of Paseo Miramar. Once you hike a little less than a quarter mile in, you'll connect with Los Liones Canyon Trail. Continue on Paseo Miramar Trail, which in another 2.5 miles, will connect you with the Parker Mesa Ove...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Los Liones Trail
5.04.41 mi / 1115 ft gainLos Liones Trail is an out-and-back trail that is moderately difficult located near Pacific Palisades, California.Read more -
San Fernando, California
Pacoima Park Natural Wash Park
0.54 mi / 13 ft gainPacoima Park Natural Wash Park makes for a wonderful & pleasant walk. The entrance to the park is located at the corner of Newton St and 8th St and runs up to Foothill Blvd in San Fernando California. The park is ADA accessible and allows for dogs on leash. There are also picnic tables and dr...Read more
