This hike starts at Castillo Trail to Wildwood Park. In the spring, it’s spectacular with an abundance of mustard greens, wildflowers and California poppies in addition to bountiful water in the waterfalls and creeks. Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks is one of the most versatile local parks with 27 miles of trails skittering through this […]
Parking is limited, please consider carpooling! This hike will take us about 8 miles round-trip with 1800 feet of elevation gain on winding trails to dramatic rocky overlook with striking views of the Pacific, Stunt Ranch State Park, Calabasas Peak, and Old Topanga and Cold Creek Canyons. There are also longer vistas northwest into Ventura […]
BIKE RIDE FROM VENTURA TO RINCON AND BACK We'll be riding from San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura to Rincon Point and back. Afterwards, as an option, we'll head (via bike) to Dukes Bar and Grill at 1124 S Seaward Ave, Ventura for a debriefing. Make sure you bring along a spare inner tube. **MEETUP […]
Fit Beginner, 4.1 miles, 720' gain. Easier route: 3.9 miles, 500' gain. Is it Talepop or Talopop? Maps and signs that I have seen, use the 2nd spelling, but a lot of references use the other. We'll meet in front of the facilities building at the center of the park. This is a lollipop hike. […]
Let's hike. The roughly 7 miles with 680 elevation gain includes some rolling hills and flatter parts as well as a nice viewpoint at the top of BIG RED! Enjoy walking along eucalyptus trees and looking at beautiful homes. Bring sun protection, layers, water, and a snack. Wear shoes w/good tread as the soil can […]
This will be a figure 8 loop throughout the upper mesa of Rancho Sierra Vista. We will enjoy green vistas and hopefully some flowers. We will still start at 8:30 but bring plenty of water, wide hat, sturdy shoes or boots and hiking poles if you favor them. Total distance is roughly 6 miles, with […]
Time and date are as noted above. We will start this hike at Santa Rosa Regional Park at the parking area in Hill Canyon, cross the bridge over the runoff creek, and stroll a mile before turning onto the fire road up the Western Plateau. We will continue straight at the crest of the fire […]
We did this one recently with Jim and it was so great we really need to do it again. This trip will have a different lunch destination. We meet up in the parking lot near the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. We proceed south on Crystal Springs Drive into the suburban hills above Los Feliz Blvd and […]
This hike will be about 5.4 miles total with 820 ft. of elevation gain. We are starting at the parking lot at the Wahoo's parking lot. We will take Live Oak Trail. This turns into Serrano Road which will take us to Serrano Cow Trail. At this part of the trail, we usually see a […]
This 11.7-mile lollipop route including a section of the Pacific Crest Trail offers a compelling journey through one of Southern California's most distinctive geological landscapes. The moderately challenging route takes an average of 6 hours to complete, delivering hikers through lush desert canyons, dramatic rock formations, and seasonal creek crossings before culminating at the iconic […]
This outing follows a counterclockwise lollipop loop that blends wide canyon roads, singletrack, and ridgeline views for a well-rounded, moderate hike. We’ll start from the Rivendale Ranch trailhead and head up Towsley Canyon Road, an easy, gradual warm-up through oak-studded canyon bottoms. From there, we’ll turn onto the Towsley View Loop Trail, climbing steadily through […]
The hike we will be doing will be around 5 miles long with 875 ft. of elevation gain. This will be a loop starting at the parking lot of Nix Nature Center. As you will see on the map, this is at the main park entrance off of the 133 (Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area). […]
Stay cool on our bicycle ride on the beach bike path from Marina del Rey to Redondo Beach. There's always a cool breeze at the beach, so come and get some exercise. E-bikes are welcome too! This beautiful beach bike ride is 26 miles roundtrip on flat bike paths and roads. See a map of […]
3.0 miles, 800' gain, easy-intermediate. Moonrise 5:27 pm, Sunset 5:25pm Photo by Helen Let's enjoy the gorgeous sunset, full moon, and fun loaded potluck picnic at the beautiful Angel Vista! This is a potluck hike. Please bring food, drinks to share. If your item requires utensils/plates/toothpicks, etc., please bring them. You may wish to bring […]
Let's try Santa Paula's back roads, streets and bike paths. After the ride, as an option, we can have lunch at the Flight 126 Cafe at the Santa Paula Airport. MEETUP LOCATION AND TIME: At the Veterans Memorial Park in Santa Paula at 9:00am. RESTROOMS: At the beginning and end of ride ROUTE This will […]
With warmer weather still forecast, we'll try to stay in the shade as much as possible. We'll hike down the paved road, turn left after crossing the bridge, and head up the Fossil trail. At the top we'll turn right on Old Boney and continue until we can overlook the stunning mountain views. We'll turn […]
The hike begins near the beginning of Regal Oak Ct. on the lower Rosewood Trail, a dirt trail heading up a shaded ravine at the base of the mountains, and continues to the usual Rosewood trail. Rosewood trail presents a clear view over the 101 Freeway carving up the Conejo Valley. This is a preview […]
5.4 miles, 1050' gain, Easy Intermediate This hike is one of the most beautiful hikes in Simi Valley. There are 3 extended inclines, about 1000 steps each, on fire road. They are not especially steep, but they do continue for some time, which is why it is rated "Easy Intermediate." There are also several small […]
Rather than doing any loops in the Lang Ranch Open Space we will start at the Albertson Fire Road (aka Motorway) trailhead and stay there for a 5 mile in/out. We will take a slight detour onto the Long Ridge Trail in order to get by the gates. Hopefully, we won't get lost, as it's […]
Instead of our usual starting point at the Conejo Playfields, this shorter, gentler hike will start at the top of Camino Magenta, in the beautiful unincorporated Lynn Ranch neighborhood surrounded by Thousand Oaks. Before the mustard gets too high, we’ll do a loop around the gated Lynnmere community and wind up back at our starting […]
4 miles, 950' gain, Intermediate 2 miles, 550', Fit Beginner Last year (2025), we celebrated here for our 1000th meetup event since the group started. We have such a great bunch of people that attend these hikes! This is a modified version of the famous Rocky Peak hike. It gives those that want something easier, […]
This ride has us travel on the back roads of Avila Beach as we head inland on beautiful, quiet, shady and narrow roads towards San Luis Obispo. We'll start-off on the Bob Jones Trail. Near the midpoint of our ride we'll have an awesome view as we look down to Morro Bay and Morro Rock. […]
Hike Leader: Gary S. (Looking for Sweep volunteers) This hike is part of my ongoing search for lesser-traveled local routes. It’s not flashy, but it delivers: wide-open mountain scenery, big views, a solid conditioning workout, and a good chance of wildlife and February wildflowers. And no people! When Paul and I pre-hiked it in late […]
This hike will be about 5.4 miles total with 820 ft. of elevation gain. We are starting at the parking lot at the Wahoo's parking lot. We will take Live Oak Trail. This turns into Serrano Road which will take us to Serrano Cow Trail. At this part of the trail, we usually see a […]
The hike will be about 5.7 miles with about 750 ft. of elevation gain. We will start on Peters Canyon Trail and take this to East Ridge View Trail. This is where we will go up Big Red. Then we will continue on this trail until we get to Eucalyptus to loop back. We will […]
Join us for a scenic bike ride on the beach bike path and road from Long Beach to the Newport Beach peninsula. We will continue on the ferry to Balboa Island and bike up to Inspiration Point in Corona del Mar. Please bring $4.50 in cash for the ferry to cross from Newport Beach peninsula […]
6.5 miles, 1300' gain, intermediate This hike is longer and harder than our regular hikes. We start at 3:00PM to make the most of the sunlight time. Beautiful spring is here! Let's enjoy hiking to the Danielson Monument in the Boney Mountain Wilderness, potluck, and "Peace, Love and Joy"! Please bring food and drinks to […]
Let's try Santa Paula's back roads, streets and bike paths. Near the end of the ride, we'll stop at Rabalais Bistro for lunch MEETUP LOCATION AND TIME: At the Veterans Memorial Park in Santa Paula at 9:30am. RESTROOMS: At the beginning and end of ride RIDE WITH GPS ROUTE: ROUTE This will be our planned […]
This hike begins from the top of King James Court, a cul-de-sac off Lindero Canyon Road. Begin up the trail at the top of the road, passing through a gate by a sign that reads “China Flat Trail Head.” It will pass through the branch of Suicide Trail and another branch of China Flat Trail. […]
Let's head out to the famed Peace, Love, Joy arch at the Danielson. This out and back hike wanders through grasslands and chaparral from the Rancho Sierra Vista trailhead, then climbs up Danielson fire road for some fantastic views north to Port Hueneme and Oxnard and west toward the Pacific Ocean. If it's really clear, […]
Distance: 3.5 miles, Gain: 700', Intermediate. This was previously designated easy-intermediate, but some thought it should be labeled as intermediate because of the extended inclines. A strong and motivated beginner can do this hike. They would be challenged and slow during a few of these climbs. That's OK, because this is not a conditioning hike, […]
We will start this hike at 8:30 because it is getting warmer. We will start at Santa Rosa parking lot, cross the bridge over the water and hike down to the new bridge. So we will not start up the road in the parking lot, instead we will cross over the bridge and go to […]
If you've ever read "Wind in the Willows" you'll know just how much fooling around in beautiful creeks and rivers plays a part in the story of Mr. Toad and his friends. This hike will follow the various forks of the Arroyo Conejo and Indian Creeks around Wildwood Park. On Sunday, the creeks were flowing […]
4 miles, 700' gain, easy-intermediate Easy option: 2.5 miles, 500' gain Parking on the south side of the CA-118 at the Rocky Peak exit. We'll walk west along the Santa Susana Pass Rd. for about 500 feet, and directly across from Lilac Ln, we'll enter a trail. We'll move along a relatively flat section for […]
BIKE RIDE TO OJAI...With A Twist This is a favorite any time of the year. A great ride to invite friends to, but please have them join the group and RSVP to the event. This trail starts at the beach and meanders up to Ojai on an old rail line that was converted to a […]
We are going to be starting at the Canyon View Staging Area. This hike will be about 6.2 miles with around 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. We will be starting at Canyon View Park and taking Cholla up to West Ridge and comic down Mathis. Link to Parking from Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Canyon+View+Staging+Area/@33.585273,-117.7465062,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x80dce61b6bd45c2d:0x5ef3f1ad687cc8b5!8m2!3d33.585273!4d-117.7443175 Dogs are not […]
Ready to earn those mountain views? The Pratt Trail is Ojai's classic "no pain, no gain" adventure—a 9.7-mile out-and-back beast that'll have you climbing 3,103 feet through Los Padres National Forest. When we’re at Nordhoff Ridge, those who want to can hike the extra .75 miles/388 feet gain to the peak (details below). Plan on […]
Join us on a beautiful 36 mile bicycle ride through the San Gabriel Valley on bike trails and streets. E-bikes are welcome also. We'll ride over the Santa Fe Dam on the San Gabriel River Bike Trail to the Whittier Narrows Dam where we'll cross over to the Rio Hondo Bike Trail and ride past […]
The hike I am planning is around 6.3 miles with about 700 ft. of elevation gain. It starts at the very end of the paved road, the long gray strip that can be seen on the map. We will begin at the Bell Canyon Trail head. We will continue onto that and then take it […]
Fit Beginner - 4 miles, 600' gain The gain is well distributed, with half being on the return. We start at the Las Flores trailhead where Las Flores dead-ends at Wildwood Park, and head west. After 1/3 mile, the trail becomes Wildwood Canyon Trail. We continue for another 2/3 mile and cross a bridge just […]
An HWD Classic! This hike is sponsored by Amazon - https://amzn.to/2GnCP0a During the 1950s, when Ronald Reagan hosted TV's "Death Valley Days," he wanted a more rural retreat than his home in Pacific Palisades. So he bought a 305-acre ranch in the hills of Malibu as a place to raise thoroughbred horses and dubbed it […]
This is a 20 or 30 mile (your choice) beach ride. We'll start at Temescal Canyon and take the Marvin Braude bike trail south to Fishermans Village, with a small side trip to potentially see some very large boats. At this point, anyone wanting to do only 20 miles can relax with some coffee, ice […]
This hike begins from the top of King James Court, a cul-de-sac off Lindero Canyon Road. Begin up the trail at the top of the road, passing through a gate by a sign that reads “China Flat Trail Head.” It will pass through the branch of Suicide Trail and another branch of China Flat Trail. […]
This hike starts at Gold Canyon Trail to Wildwood Canyon Trail and passes through various trails with a long creek, crossing streams and bridges, Indian caves, volcanic rock cliffs, water falls, cacti-filled desert environs, riparian forest, and wildflowers. Highlights of the hike include waterfalls incorporating 40’ Paradise waterfalls along tree canopies over approximately 5 miles […]
The weather hasn't been cooperating for our night hikes lately, and it looks like we are going to be rained out again this Tuesday. In the past, we have hidden from the rain in a fun, favorite spot, The Junkyard Cafe. Time to return for a night enjoying some food and friends indoors for a […]
If you love hiking, backpacking, and camping, but find yourself constrained by the overwhelming and mysterious permitting system, then we are here to help. In this class, we'll talk about permits for: * National Parks and Forests (Recreation.com) * CA State Parks * Backcountry vs car camping permits * Local camping opportunities * Six month […]
5.75 miles, 700' gain. Easy Intermediate. Do not park on Potrero else risk getting a ticket. You need a permit to park on this street. Side streets such as Pinehill or Greenwood are good to park. This hike is a great trail when it might be muddy because almost the entire hike is on an […]
Paradise Falls is Thousand Oaks’s version of Towsley Canyon—with similar canyon scenery, a rewarding waterfall destination, and the bonus of actual restroom facilities. Located in Wildwood Park, we will explore the scenic route to the falls before climbing up to Wildwood Mesa for sweeping canyon views and a great look toward Mount Clef Ridge. Along […]
This is a 20 or 30 mile (your choice) beach ride. We'll start at Temescal Canyon and take the Marvin Braude bike trail south to Fishermans Village, with a small side trip to potentially see some very large boats. At this point, anyone wanting to do only 20 miles can relax with some coffee, ice […]
"Satwiwa" is Chumashan and directly translates to "the bluffs," which can also translate to "higher places," and is the Chumashan name used for a former village near the current culture center. The Ranch Overlook Trail extends from just west of the culture center to the Palomino Trail in the Rancho Potrero Open Space. https://www.conejovalleyguide.com/dosomethingblog/ranch-overlook-trail-in-rancho-sierra-vistasatwiwa-in-newbury-park This […]
DESCRIPTION: Our adventure begins near the parking area off The Old Road. This moderately challenging hike takes about 4 hours to complete. Depending on the season and recent rainfall, you may encounter a few creek crossings along the way. It has a gradual incline that makes the hike enjoyable without being overwhelming, and we may […]
Trail statistics are approximate. For safety purposes always assume they are underestimated. But don’t be disappointed if they are overestimated. Bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need. Trail descriptions are based on previous hikes. Current conditions are unknown until arrival. Expect the unexpected and plan accordingly. The Organizers and members of Hiking With Dean are not professional leaders, guides, or mountaineers. The function of the member or organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who shows up for a trip/meetup (and their guest or guests) is responsible for his or her own safety. By attending a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you and any guests that you bring are aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with the activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizers, Members of the Hiking With Dean Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your participation in the group activities per our ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND LIABILITY WAIVER and Section 6.2 of the Meetup.com Terms of Service. |
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