Trip Date: 3/12/2017

Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ojai Ranger District

Permit/Pass: None

Trail maps: NA

Directions: Take CA Highway 33 north out of Ventura for 13 miles to the Ojai area. Take a left onto Maricopa Highway (still technically Hwy. 33) and drive north another 3.3 miles to a left turn into a roadside parking area. The trailhead is a few yards further north on the opposite side of the road.

Synopsis: This hike begins with a challenging climb but eventually levels out and opens onto some very nice views of the hills around Ojai. Be aware that even though you may find some nice breezes up on the ridge this is a hike best not taken on a hot day.

Trail sequence: Cozy Dell Trail (Foothill Trail)

Type: Out and back

Distance: 2.8 miles

Elevation: Min. - 820', Max. - 1504'

Profile:

Rating: Moderate (factors: heat, steep sections)

Notes: We took this trail after some fairly heavy rains and it was pretty rutted and difficult in some spots.

Track: Cozy Dell Trail - Los Padres NF: AllTrails, GaiaGPS

Turn by Turn:

  -- Walk across the street and pick up the trail as it dips down into a creek bed. Follow as the path crosses through the creek area, climbs some rocks, then finds the hillside to the right and begins to climb.

  -- There are quite a few switchbacks and some decent vertical footage to ascend as you trend eastward up to the ridge. After leveling out the trail straightens and continues toward the east as it drops again then rises to another hilltop at about a mile and a half. (We were looking for a loop that we had been told to take but weren't sure which side spur actually was the correct one, so we opted to try again some time when we had more info.)

  -- The trail continues on, but if you haven't the time for a longer hike this is a good spot to turn around and work your way down the hill and back to the trailhead.

Photos: