Overview of adjacent areas

Trails of

Wood Ranch, Lang Ranch, Sunset Hills, Woodridge and Oakbrook Regional Park
 


View from Oakbrook Vista Trail, looking north. Albertson Fire Road is in the foreground and Lang Ranch is at the left. Wood Ranch is out of view behind the hills.

Overview

This area lies between the Wood Ranch area of Simi Valley to the north, the Lang Ranch area of Thousand Oaks to the west, and the Palo Comado / Cheeseboro Canyon area to the south-east. There are some nice single tracks although it is mostly fire roads, connecting to Palo Comado and Cheeseboro Canyons through China Flat. There are no shady oak groves as in Cheeseboro, but the jagged sandstone ridge that includes Simi Cave is beautiful to view from below, and spectactular to hike through. In the summer this area is stinking hot and there is little shade. For geocachers, caches are not allowed in Cheeseboro and Palo Comado, but there are quite a few of them in this area.

For hikers, the eastern sections of the Sandstone Hills Trail provide some great views up to the sandstone rocks of the bluff that forms Simi Peak. The Secret Passage to Simi Cave follows along the edge of this bluff, immersing you in these rock formations and giving spectacular views of Oak Park down below. In the spring, the Oakbrook Vista Trail is lined by blooming purple sage.

In the fall of 2016, COSCA embarked on a trail naming project for this area, giving tentative names to some previously unnamed trails. I assume those tentative names will be approved, so I have used them on this map.

Map Key

  Printable map (2.4 MB)

 

Trailheads

a. Lang Ranch Parkway, a few hundred yards east of Westlake Blvd. There is plenty of parking here. Map and directions
b. The east end of Lang Ranch Parkway. There is plenty of parking here. Map and directions
c. Westlake Blvd at Oak Valley Ln. Map and directions
d. Sunset Hills Blvd. There is plenty of parking here. Map and directions
e. Wood Ranch Parkway at Long Canyon Rd. There is plenty of parking here. Map and directions
f. Westlake Blvd near Allyson Ct. There is no parking on Westlake Blvd. Map and directions
g. The west end of Falling Star Ave. There is plenty of parking here. Map and directions
h. Pathfinder Ave.  Map and directions
i. North-west end of Forest Knoll Dr.  Map and directions
j. Rayburn Street, just north of Kanan Rd.  Map and directions
k. Erbes Road, just east of the 23 freeway. There is plenty of parking here. Map and directions

Trails

[1] Albertson Fireroad T1
[1b] Long Bridge Trail T2
[12]Montgomery Fireroad
T1

Description Except for the 0.75 mile-long Long Ridge Trail single track to bypass private property, this is 100% fireroad, and mostly climbing. This is one way to get to China Flat and the Cheeseboro area. In the summertime this area is very hot and there is no shade. Take lots of water and brush up on your first aid for victims of heat exhaustion. The profile below pretty much tells the story: lots of climbing to get to China Flat. About 2.5 miles from the trailhead there is a gate on the north side of the road that blocks a short connector to the Ridgeline Singletrack.

The road connects to the Edison road that is part of the Bell Canyon Loop. About 5.5 miles from the trailhead it turns east through a locked gate but continues straight ahead as Montgomery Fire Road. Less than a mile further on Montgomery Fire Road dead ends at a locked gate.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T1

 Length (miles)

3.0 to China Flat Access. 6.2 to the locked gate on Montgomery Fire Road

Climb (feet)

1700, 1200 to the China Flat connector

Descent (feet)

900, 240 to China Flat connector

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

 

[2] Autumn Ridge Trail T1
[3] Alapay Trail (AKA Lang Ranch Ridge Trail)
T1

(AKA Lang Loop Fire Road)

Description With a little piece of Albertson Fire Road, these two trails form a loop through Lang Ranch. The trailhead for the Autumn Ridge Trail is at the end of Westlake Blvd where it intersects with Autumn Ridge Drive. The trail is well maintained. It mostly climbs, in one spot very steeply, up to the Sunrise Trail. The second part of the loop, Alapay Trail, continues to climb to the Rocky Incline Trail. From there it descends remarkably evenly to the Albertson Fire road. The Albertson trailhead is 0.6 miles west at the end of Lang Ranch Parkway. To complete the loop, head west on Lang Ranch Parkway (not up the hill; that way is north) a couple of blocks to Oak Valley Lane, turn right and continue until Westlake Blvd comes in from the left.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T1

 Length (miles)

Autumn Ridge Trail: 1.3, Alapay Trail: 1.1, Total: 2.4

Climb (feet)

Autumn Ridge: 500, LAlapay Trail: 120, Total: 620

Descent (feet)

Autumn Ridge: 100, LAlapay Trail: 480, Total: 580

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

[4] Sunrise Trail T2
[5] Meadow Vista Trail
T2.5

Description These trails are fire roads but most doesn't seem to get much if any vehicular traffic so would be better classified as a double-track. In some spots it's barely wide enough to be called even that. There are three sections to this road. The first, Sunrise Trail, the first 200 yards of which encompasses part of Woodbridge Loop and then climbs up to a ridge where you overlook Wood Ranch to the north and the Lang Loop trail on the other side. Expect some ruts here and a couple of steep and nasty but not very long climbs. Sunrise Trail ends where it meets Autumn Ridge Trail, and where Meadow Vista Trail and the second section starts. Until the intersection with Ridgeline Trail, the road is very well maintained and climbs gently. The last section is downhill to Albertson Fire Road. It's rocky at first where it's steepest, but soon becomes pretty smooth. It's all downhill to Albertson Fire Road except for the last few hundred yards.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T2.5

 Length (miles)

Sunrise Trail: 1.4, Meadow Vista Trail: 1.2, Total: 2.3

Climb (feet)

Sunrise Trail: 500, Meadow Vista Trail: 250, Total: 750

Descent (feet)

Sunrise Trail: 300, Meadow Vista Trail: 370, Total: 670

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

 

[6] Rocky Incline Trail (AKA Hidden Canyon Trail, Rocky Singletrack) T3.5

Mark took the photos that make up this panorama - Thanks, Mark!

Description This single track starts at the highest point of the Alapay Trail and descends to Meadow Vista Trail about 0.4 miles before it meets Albertson Fire Road. It is very rocky in many sections and ins not appropriate for inexperienced mountain bikers.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T3.5

 Length (miles)

0.6

Climb (feet)

130

Descent (feet)

320

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

[7] Ridgeline Singletrack T2.5

Description For mountain bikers this is a very fun single track that starts at the top of Meadow Vista Trail and follows the crest of a ridge. Some of the climbs are a little steep but not technical, except for the last descent which ends at an equestian road. The road is on private property belonging to the Bridle Path Homeowner's Association. They really really don't like outsiders on their property, and mountain bikers especially are not welcome. You've been warned! Even though you can't get out at the east end, an out-and-back ride is okay because this trail is equally fun to ride in both direction.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T2.5

 Length (miles)

1.0

Climb (feet)

280

Descent (feet)

230

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

  


 [8] Long Canyon Trail T3.5

Description This is a single track that starts at the Sunrise Trail not far north of where the Sunrise Trail meets the Autumn Ridge Trail and ends at the parking lot on Long Canyon Rd. Most of it is steep and loose so this is not a good trail for novice bikers. Recommended direction of travel on a bike: down.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T3.5

 Length (miles)

0.9

Climb (feet)

50

Descent (feet)

430

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

 

[9] Woodridge Connector T2

Description This trail starts very close to the parking lot at the south end of Wood Ranch Parkway and ends at west end of the Woodridge Loop. To get to the trailhead, head from the parking lot to the short paved road that extends Long Canyon Road west about a block. At the west end go through the gate, following the fence line of the houses. Shortly you'll come to a concrete drainage ditch. Be very careful if you ride back this way - it will be downhill then and the ditch isn't visible until the last moment! The trail will continue past "Micro Moab" and skirts some new development before ending at the Woodrige Loop. This is a pretty easy trail with no strenuous climbs or technical sections.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T2

 Length (miles)

1.2

Climb (feet)

300

Descent (feet)

180

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

 

[10] Woodridge Loop T2

Description This short loop of just under 3 miles encircles the gated community at the end of Sunset Hills Blvd. It is mostly well-travelled and firm singletrack but includes a little doubletrack/dirt road and even a short stretch on the pavement. It's perfect for a short hike or run after work.

There is a short spur about 360 yards north-east of the Sunset Hills Blvd Trailhead. This spur leads west and down to a drainage basin where a number of BMX stunts have been built.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T2

 Length (miles)

2.8

Climb (feet)

650

Descent (feet)

650

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

[11] Sunset Hills Trail T2

Description This singletrack connects the north-west corner of the Woodridge Loop to Erbes Road just east of the 23 Freeway. It is quite well travelled but could be overgrown with mustard in the spring. The tread is mostly smooth and firm.

In October 2011 during the COSCA Annual Trailwork Day, slightly more than 1 mile was added to the trail by about 170 volunteers. The new section, in the very top-left corner of the map, in part follows an old roadbed, but also contains a newly built section that provides great views of the Wood Ranch (Bard) Reservoir. The new trail is less steep than the old trail (shown in red on the profile below) so makes for a fairly easy hike or ride. The old trail still exists and can be used to make a 1.8 mile loop, starting from the Erbes Road parking area.

From the loop at the north-west end, the trail heads south-east close to a ridgeline and along a fence for much of it. The fence defines the boundary between Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. (It is there to keep us out of the reservoir watershed, not to keep us out of Simi Valley!) and ends at the Woodridge Loop Trail. Along the way there are excellent views down into the neighborhood and the city beyond.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T2

 Length (miles)

2.5 to Woodridge Loop

Climb (feet)

700 (from Erbes Rd trailhead to Woodbridge Loop)

Descent (feet)

350

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

[13] Oakbrook Vista Trail T2.5

Description This is the main trail to get you into the Oakbrook Open Space. The photo at the top of this page of Lang and Wood Ranches was taken from this trail. It starts on Lang Ranch Parkway where there is plenty of parking and climbs quickly to give you a good view of the Lang Ranch houses and a very good workout at the same time. The lower sections are lined by purple sage so you will see lots of color in the spring. About a third of a mile from the trailhead, the trail joins an old road and opens up a bit. (At this point there is an old trail that forks downhill to the south. That trail starts out pretty well, but quickly deteriorates after passing a geocache. Some bushwhacking through the old trail will get you out to Westlake Blvd near an apartment complex.)

Continuing up the Oakbrook Vista Trail, about 0.9 miles along and near the top of the climbing, the Oakbrook Water Tank Road leads doward to the south-west, and eventually to Westlake Blvd. Shortly after passing the Oakbrook Watertank Rd, this trail forks with the main trail narrowing and veering left (a rough, loose and steep doubletrack continues up the ridgeline and rejoins the main trail across from the Secret Passage Trail). At about 1.3 miles from Lang Ranch Parkway, the trail emerges into a meadow. To the right (north) and sometimes difficult to see is the Secret Passage to Simi Cave. Forward another 200 yards is an Edison Road (Sandstone Hills Trail) that can take you east along the base of the rocky bluffs of Simi Peak, or south-west back to the pavement. Continuing east on the Sandstone Hills Trail will bring you to the very fun (to ride) Hidden Meadows Trail singletrack.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T2.5

 Length (miles)

Climb (feet)

Descent (feet)

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

[14] Sandstone Hills Trail T1 , T3
[14b] North Fork Sandstone Hills Trail T1

Description The Sandstone Peak Trail starts at the west end as a double-track trail that climbs from Rayburn Street up to an Edison Road. At the Edison Road, take the right fork to head east and continue on the trail.

Once on the Edison road, you pass the east end of the Oakbrook Vista Trail and then the top of the Hidden Meadows Trail. A half mile east of the Hidden Meadows Trail, the Edison Road forks. The northern fork dead ends after 0.6 miles, but provides access to the Secret Trail up to the Secret Passage to Simi Cave. The Sandstone Hills Trail continues on the southern fork and the Edison road ends after 0.6 miles, but the trail continues as a singletrack on to Forest Knoll Drive or Pathfinder Avenue.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T1 (Edison Rd), T3 (Doubletrack and Singletrack sections)

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

[15] Hidden Meadow Trail T2

Description This trail is a pleasant hike of a bit less than a mile, or a really fun ride on a bike! It leads from the end of Falling Star Avenue to Sandstone Hills Trail. It was rerouted and rebuilt in 2007 during the COSCA Trailwork Day from a treacherous steep trail to the great trail it now is. View the photo gallery of the rebuilding effort.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T2

 Length (miles)

0.8

Climb (feet)

250 (Falling Star Ave to the Sandstone Hills Trail)

Descent (feet)

125

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

[17] Secret Passage to Simi Cave (AKA Rabbit Ridge) HO T4.5

Description This is by far the most interesting trail in the region and traverses one of the prettiest areas in Ventura County. It starts at the Oakbrook Vista Trail 1.3 miles from the trailhead on Lang Ranch Parkway, and ends a bit beyond the Secret Trail. Along the way are some fantastic rock formations beside the trail and visible in the distance. Of particular note are the formations 0.2 miles from the start off to the north (there's a spur that leads to these rocks; a great place for a snack after a short hike), the old gate at the highest point and the small cave about 0.15 miles beyond that, shortly before the top of Secret Trail. Much of it travels along or close to the rideline, giving great views north towards Simi Valley and south overlooking Oak Park. Like the surroundings, the trail is rocky and quite steep in a number of places. It is too rugged for horses and strong legs will be needed to carry hikers to the top. The is generally not too hard to follow but there are some sections where it it ambiguous, especially up the steep section about 0.65 miles from the start, so it is recommended you download the track to your GPS and use that to help you stay on the correct trail.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating HO T4.5

 Length (miles)

1.4 (Heading east from the Oakbrook Vista Trail)

Climb (feet)

700

Descent (feet)

180

Trail Profile      Back to the Top

 

 

[18] Secret Trail HO T5

Description The Secret Trail provides the fastest way up to Simi Cave from Oak Park, and an alternative route back from the Secret Passage to Simi Cave trail. It starts at the east end of the north fork of the Sandstone Hills Trail and climbs very steeply to the Secret Passage trail, giving spectacular views of the rock formations above. From there it is about 0.1 miles to Simi Cave. As noted, the trail is very steep and also loose in some sections. Some parts are hard to follow, so it is recommended you load the following track into your GPS and use that to help you find your way.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating HO T5

 Length (miles)

0.2

Climb (feet)

270 (From the Sandstone Hills north fork to Secret Passage trail)

Descent (feet)

35

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 [19] Oakbrook Watertank Road T1

Description This trail starts at Weslake Blvd as an Edison Road. When travelling east, at the top of the first hill, turn left and up the doubletrack (the Edison road continues straight down the hill and across private property). When the doubletrack meets the paved drive to the water tank, turn right and after a short distance, bear right onto the dirt track. This dirt road continues past the tank and then runs along a ridgeline to join the Oakbrook Vista Trail.

This route is quite a bit less steep than the up the Oakbrook Vista Trail from the Lang Ranch Parkway trailhead. The downside is that there's no parking at this trailhead on Westlake Blvd.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T1

 Length (miles)

1.0

Climb (feet)

380 (travelling north-east)

Descent (feet)

40

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[21] Bell Canyon Loop Connector (AKA "The Chute")

Description This short single track starts with a short scramble down from Albertson Fire Road to a lovely, easy and shady ride through the trees. It joins the Edison road 0.3 miles west of the single track that is part of the Bell Canyon Loop.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating

 Length (miles)

0.3

Climb (feet)

zero (when starting at the Albertson Fireroad)

Descent (feet)

140

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This page last updated on December 15, 2020    

 

Thanks for looking at Steve's guide to trails in Ventura County, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) and other locations.