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This hike will include two of the trails in the Conejo Open Challenge: The Lichen Trail and the Plateau Rim Trail.
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Details
The trail up Elliot Mountain was built May 2015. The mountain, a bench and the trail are named after Burt Elliott who was very active with Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency. Burt died of cancer in the Spring of 2014. He was the go-to guy for all things Conejo Open Space. We use the 2015 trail these days but here is what it looked like before that — just a little use trail that gave us something to complain about 🙀
We began exploring this area in 2008 when we were the original “The Weekday Hikers.” At that time there was a system of old use trails known mainly only to a few local equestrians. It soon became a favorite and regular hiking location for us. From 2008 to 2011 Hill Canyon was the location of our unofficial club house.
A few years later, open space agencies and other trail-builders literally followed in our footsteps and began converting the use trails to official “new” trails, erected trail signs and built bridges. This photo is from February 2012 when we attended the bridge opening. See more (http://www.meetup.com/localhikers/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=5956072)
Here is a slide show of a February 2015 hike
Hike will be about 9 miles with 1700 ft total ascent
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Hike is rated “MEDIUM”. See the Hike Ratings Guide
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POST-HIKE LUNCH
Don Cuco, Moorpark
254 Los Angeles Avenue
About Hill Canyon
Hill Canyon is part of a system of deeply eroded canyons, plateaus and ridge lines now known as the Conejo Canyons Open Space. On clear days, trails in this area afford dramatic views of Ventura and the coastline, as well as inland to the Topa Topa mountains north of Ojai. This area also conserves a variety of habitats, including coast live oak woodlands, riparian habitats, interior sage scrub/chaparral, and coastal sage scrub. The hike will be about 8 miles with moderate elevation gain.
Prior to 2000 plans for high end homes were made to be built on the Western Plateau above Hill Canyon. There were a couple of problems. An access road would be a very expensive addition to the cost of the properties. Fire access requires a separate emergency access which was not feasible without access through city property. A bordering golf course would add to the property values and if done right would provide the emergency access at little cost. A win-win for the developer. No problem. He got city officials to spend about $2.6 million to plan a golf course with the emergency access.
But then Audubon members and other environmentalists showed pictures of the flood plain under water after a big rain. The club house would have to be up on the ridge above to be feasible. Golfers would have to be driven down to tee off. The golf course plans got canceled and a land trade was worked out by the same city officials who caused the $2.6 million to be wasted.
Hill Canyon and the Western Plateau is now the Conejo Canyons Open Space.
Who is that guy up there?
Bring 2 Qt water, lugsoles, snacks, sunscreen, hat
Parking
There are two parking lots — one at the trail head and one at the Park/corrals. The trail head lot is free. The corral lot was $4.00 but by the time of this hike its supposed to be free. We’ll meet at the trailhead lot (past the Park).
“If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late…don’t bother showing up”
