Location: Ojai
Top Things to do in Ojai
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Things to do in Ojai, California (CA): The Best Nature & Parks
Nestled in a picturesque valley just 75 miles north of Los Angeles, Ojai is brimming with small town charm and creativity. Get lost in locally owned boutiques with hand-crafted wares, galleries, and distinctive cafes. Explore the outdoors with opportunities to horseback ride, mountain bike, rock climb, hike, golf or play tennis. Surrounded by scenic hills and aromatic orchards, Ojai is the perfect place for a rejuvenating retreat.
Restaurants in Ojai
1. Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is a community-based non-profit organization working with partners to permanently protect the open space, natural scenic beauty, wildlife, habitat, and watershed of the Ojai Valley for current and future generations. Your donation supports the protection of open space in the Ojai Valley.
Reviewed By williambJ3987CA - Ojai, United States
This amazing non-profit buys up vacant tracts of land in the Ojai Valley watershed to preserve it, restore it to a native and natural condition, and provide outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, equestrian trails, and mountain biking for both locals and visitors. Many of their trails are accessible just a short walk from downtown while others you can access with just a few minutes of driving to their trailheads. The OVLC properties encompass every type of local terrain from river bottom and heavy woods to steep climbs and incredible views. OVLC also sponsors many interpretive nature walks and talks and hosts one of the premier Ojai Valley events of the year (in September) in the Telluride Film Festival west. Check out the ovlc.org website for trail maps and complete info as well as how to become a member.
2. Libby Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By C5836ILlees - Cincinnati, United States
Traveling to Ojai we stumbled across Libby Park. So why not go to Bart’s books get a book, drop by subway grab a sandwich and just spend the rest the day relaxing in the sun in multiple places around the park. You can watch the kids play maybe even hear something at the bowl or watch some tennis. A beautiful park.
3. Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Ojai's best kept secret! Reservations required at taftgardens.org/visit! The majestic 12 acres of the Taft Botanical Gardens are home to some of the most mature and rarest species of plants that can be visited in California. Taft Gardens is a world class destination for botanists, plant enthusiasts and nature lovers. With maintained paths, seating areas and plaques, Taft Gardens provides an incredible respite and learning experience.
4. Sespe Creek
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Scenic 35-mile river run with a Class V rating.
5. Pratt Trail Loop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Citrus and avocado groves give way to beautiful mountain scenery.
Reviewed By Ramelle - Stockbridge, United States
Well marked, well traveled, not well known by the concierge at our hotel - I found this trail to be a delightful trek. I could find where I was easily, yet had expansive views of the valley, the foothills in the midst of this desert mountainous environment. The trail can connect to many others so plan your time accordingly. Find a map - not obvious where they are. I only made a part of this “loop” in 60 minutes, but that is all it will take for some.
6. Howard Creek Trail
7. Rose Valley Falls Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By TravelingMerm - Monrovia, United States
This trail has officially taken the #1 spot on my list of faves - seriously my all time fave trail of all I’ve ever done so far! Even though it’s a very short trail - the scenery is just pure beauty on a whole other level! This trail is in the Los Padres National Forest near Ojai. The trailhead is inside the Rose Valley Campground. It’s pretty short and doesn’t have much incline - we did 1.5 miles total with only 220 feet of elevation gain. The trail is mostly soft dirt and is well maintained and obvious - but there are some rocky areas and you’ll have to cross a couple of little streams - but it’s totally easy and doable. The area is still recovering from the massive Thomas Fire a few years ago - the vegetation and skeletons of burned trees made for an eerily beautiful hike! It was almost alien looking - red, pink, and yellow spindly bushes covering the ground, surrounding the twisted, charred remains of tall tree trunks, all amongst healthy green new growth that seems to be flourishing! Then there’s the waterfall - well actually there are two really gorgeous falls along this part of the trail! There’s one smaller one along the path, maybe about 2/3rds of the way in - it’s shorter but big enough to be worth clamoring down the steep path and grabbing some pics! It’s got a little tiering going on and empties into a large pool, so it looks really cool! The main falls are like something out of a Victorian gothic garden of sorts! Absolutely breathtaking- my fave waterfall EVER!! It’s about 100 feet tall, the rock is all covered in vibrant green moss, and there are all these fern-fringed little caverns and holes - just amazing! The waterfall isn’t a huge flow, but more like a wispy thin stream gliding down the moss with lots of outlets dripping out of the ferns all around. Rock scrambling is required to get up close and for any decent pics - but it’s very manageable- be aware you’ll get a little wet, mostly on your shoes but not too bad. We didn’t need any poles but definitely recommend good hiking shoes. Apparently there’s a third, even taller part - the “upper falls” that is around 200 feet tall - I didn’t know until afterwards. But the route up is very strenuous, unmarked, unmaintained, and supposedly dangerous with a history of people falling and even a tragic death from a fall back in 2015! Shame - the pics of it look even more incredible, if that’s possible lol! On the way out of the parking area, we noticed a lovely little lake that had tons of birds and waterfowl!! We stopped and walked around and grabbed some pics of course - just gorgeous!! The road around it is in pretty bad shape - but the walk around it was only 1/2 mile so it’s small. The road into the forest and to the trail is well maintained- but you do go quite a bit far into the National Forest and there’s no cell signal so be prepared. We parked outside of the gate to the campgrounds along the side of the road (free) - online it says you can pay $10 for day-use parking inside the campground. But there’s a huge puddle you’ll have to drive over and we didn’t want to take a chance on it lol. There are several bathrooms but they were absolutely disgusting- all of them- when we were there - so bad we wouldn’t even go in! There were more bathrooms near the lake outside the campgrounds that were in better shape and usable.
8. Ojai Meadows Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By DrewDoris
The Ojai Meadows Preserve is managed by the Ojai Land Conservancy and is the wetlands meadow that they are reclaiming for flood protection and returning it to it's original state. Beautiful, easy, casual stroll. No fees. Park on street near local high school. It is like your local nature center hike.
