Ventura River Preserve - Oso Crest Trail

Date:  July 31, 2013
Hikers:  Beth & Nathan
Dog:  Bodee
Time of Hike:  6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Length: 6 miles - Loop

Nathan and I left in the cool of the evening from the Rice Trail Head and headed over the Ventura River Bed through the Oak Forest of Willis Canyon.  The light in the Oak Forest in Willis is ethereal in the evening as it filters through the trees.

 



The trail meanders through Willis Canyon at a slight incline until you get to the Rice Canyon connector.  At this point you need to take the very steep trail that is just left of the bridge to Oso Crest.  The trail goes for about 1/2 a mile and wraps around the backside of Willis Vanyon until you are on the far side of Oso Crest Ridge.  You continue on the trail to the left until you get to a junction to either take the Chaparral Crest Trail or Oso Crest.

Once you are over the crest the view is phenomenal looking over Rancho Matilija and Lake Casitas.  Remember that you are walking on the top of the crest and each crest varies in steepness and length.  There are 10 crests ( I counted this time).  We caught a little bit of a pink moment on the Topa Topas.

 As you leave Oso Crest you pass over the Casitas Canal Road and the gate to Rancho Matilija.  The trail continues down the hillside and back over the riverbed.  It was getting dark by 8:20 and luckily I had my headlamp handy.  It was a lovely hike, we only ran into two people on the trail and Bodee had a great time!