DAY 86: ARROYO CONEJO TRAIL

DAY 86: ARROYO CONEJO TRAIL

Date: Tuesday February 8, 2011

Miles: 4.00

Elevation Gain: 375 Feet

Time: 1.5 Hours

Difficulty: Easy trail with a mild decline/incline (in and out).  Good for kids & dogs! 

Reward: You wouldn't expect to find a creek of this size around here!  Peaceful hike without all the comotion at Wildwood. 

Description: Look for the hidden waterfall and then prepare to cross the creek several times.  Even after the rain, the creek shouldn't be too difficult to cross because large rocks are positioned strategically

Where: Newbury Park, CA

Directions: From the 101 Freeway in Newbury Park exit on Ventu and head North toward Amgen.  Less than a quarter mile past Hillcrest Dr. turn right into the parking lot at the Rancho Conejo Ball fields. 

 The trailhead.  Go to the left...

The trail is easy going, great for a jog.  No switchbacks, just a slow gradual downhill.  There is a single track trail that crosses the wider main trail about a mile into it.  Ignore that, just follow the trail (road) downward.  Near the bottom, look off to the left between the shrubs:

 

 Hidden Waterfall

 First creek crossing

It's easy to pass.  On the other side, the road goes left and right.  I did both.  To the right, the trail dead ends at the creek but gives you the option to head uphill.  If you go uphill, it will lead you to the Lynmere Trail which loops around the Lynn Ranch neighborhood.  If you follow the creek, there is no true trail but it is negotiable.  I hiked this portion with Ian on  Day 8.

**Back to the creek crossing, if you turn left the trail is simple and you will cross the creek several more times.

Quack!

This was my lunch break so I ran a quick 4 miles and went back to work.  There is much to explore down here.  Have fun!  I am mapping out this area to meet up with the Rancho Conejo Open Space.  Bottom line, this trail is the true legit way to hike down to the Arroyo Conejo, hence the name of the trail.