The Marvelous 6-Mile Trail In Southern California Leads Adventurers To A Little-Known Overlook
For serious hikers, a challenging hiking trail is especially satisfying. A strenuous journey is made even better by epic and diverse scenery, and the icing on the cake is a grand finish, especially one that not everyone knows about. This adventurous hike in Southern California is all of that and should be on your must-do list.
Editor’s Note: Please exercise using caution here. Be sure to check road conditions before you travel.
This six-mile hiking trail in Southern California begins in Ojai’s Marietta Canyon at the North Fork Matilija Creek Trail. The trailhead is accessed by taking Highway 33, exiting Matilija Canyon Road, and heading west to the end.
The Marietta Canyon to Ocean View Trail route route closes when there is severe weather, but is open in the spring, which is perfect to enjoy new plant life and the stunning colors of the mountains.
There is so much to enjoy on the trail, from the grand vistas to the smallest of details. If you are a plant lover, you will find this hiking trail even more interesting with its diverse flora to be found.
Especially during spring, after a good rainy season, the trail provides beautiful natural landscapes including meandering creeks, mineral springs, boulders, trees, and wildflowers.
Several trails connect to the Matilija Divide Trail. One of these trails, the Monte Arido Trail takes you to the Divide Peak Route, which connects to the final leg of the hike, the Ocean View Trail.
Your adventurous spirit is rewarded at many points along the trail, well before you reach the final overlook. Some vistas depend on when you visit, such as when low clouds roll in and make the canyons even more dramatic.
As the Divide Peak route meets the last trail segment, the Ocean View Trail, the landscape changes a little, with steep rocky mountainsides and more lush greenery.
Only intrepid hikers will be gifted with the incredible views from Ocean View Trail which overlooks ridges and canyons below, Ojai’s pristine Lake Casitas, the shores of Ventura County, and the Pacific Ocean.
Ocean View Trail was left unmaintained for decades but is again ready to be explored. On a clear day, this breathtaking overlook includes the string of islands known as the Channel Islands, on the horizon off the California coast. It just seems right that your adventure be celebrated with a scenic picnic before heading home.
If you are early enough, you may not immediately be able to see the lake or the ocean, but a sunrise over the early morning fog is equally, if not more, spectacular.
This trail to the little-known ocean overlook is absolutely worth the effort. Do you love a good hiking trail? What do you think about this adventurous hike? We want to hear from you in the comments. Since one adventure is never enough, check out this article on epic adventures every SoCal resident should experience.
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