Mishe Mokwa Trail to Split Rock and Balanced Rock at Circle X Ranch in Malibu

One of my favorite hikes with the kids is Mishe Mokwa Trail to Split Rock at Circle X Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu. 

The first challenge to this excursion is getting there. We are spoiled in the Conejo Valley, with trailheads into the Conejo Open Space pretty much within a mile of anywhere you live. Getting to Circle X Ranch is a bit more time consuming, taking upwards of 30 minutes for the 12 to 13 mile drive from Thousand Oaks via Decker Canyon. But we love it.

The Mishe Mokwa trailhead is the first parking lot off of Yerba Buena Road/Little Sycamore Canyon Road from Mulholland Drive, roughly five miles of twisty, turny roads. There are dirt lots on both sides of Yerba Buena.

(If you drive another .6 miles west/southwest on Yerba Buena Drive, you'll get to the Sandstone Peak trailhead parking area...another must do hike in the Santa Monica Mountains.)

Park and head to the clearly marked trailhead and start your 3 1/2 mile round trip journey to Split Rock. The trail itself is fairly moderate but wear good hiking shoes as there's plenty of rocks you'll be stopping on and over on this hike.

Springtime is my favorite time to hike this trail, when it is still on the cooler side and there's plenty of green surrounding you on the trails. 

About .4 mile into the hike, you'll come to this sign. Continue towards Split Rock. Or you can take this short trail to the Backbone Trail and the more direct path to Sandstone Peak.

You will soon start seeing the Echo Cliffs area and Balanced Rock. The closer you get to Split Rock, the better the view.  Shout out and you will see how Echo Cliffs got its name. And there's no question as to how Balanced Rock received its moniker.

Echo Cliffs and the well known Balance Rock as you head west on the Mishe Mokwa trail.

There are a few areas where you have to do some low-key rock climbing as you get closer to Split Rock, but they are generally of moderate difficulty.

Split Rock you will clearly see is named after a very large rock that is split in several places, including one crack that is large enough to walk through. There is a picnic table at this shady area and a nearby creek for a peaceful area to take a break.

Split Rock

You can head back at Split Rock or continue onward towards the Backbone Trail and Sandstone Peak for a full six mile hike. For something a bit more daring, you can side track back to Balanced Rock via a trail that is not maintained by the National Park Service.

We took this trail roughly about a third of a mile to Balance Rock and it does get a bit challenging, between dealing with overgrown areas and finding the right trail (there seems to be multiple trails) and some challenging sections. Not for everyone but certainly do-able. And once you get to this wonderful geologically unusual formation, any frustration with the trail seems worth it.

Balanced Rock is amazing to see from all angles, from both far away and up close.

Once you reach Balanced Rock, you'll be amazed not only by its size but by the amount of shade it renders. We also discovered a "sign in" box in a crevice below the rock.

Learn more about Circle X Ranch at www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/circlexranch.htm.

Great Views at the Ventura Botanical Gardens Demonstration Trail in Grant Park

The Ventura Botanical Gardens Demonstration Trail is a 1 mile trail between Ventura City Hall and Grant Park, offering awesome views of downtown Ventura and the coastline. The six foot wide trail with a decomposed granite surface is accessible behind Ventura City Hall at 567 South Poli Street

Access to the trail is on the right (east) side of Ventura City Hall. There's a parking area at the bottom of the trail.

Parking area behind Ventura City Hall

The Demonstration Trail is a first step as the Ventura Botanical Gardens (VBG), a 501(c)3 non-profit, raises funds to expand upon it. VBG began planting its Chilean Gardens in February 2014, featuring hundreds of plants, including giant terrestrial bromeliads called Puyas, Acacia caven trees and an array of succulents and cacti. When complete, the Chilean garden will be the largest garden of Chilean plants outside of Chile.

Learn more about VBG and its efforts and upcoming charity events at www.venturabotanicalgardens.com.

The trail is decorated with pretty wildflowers and other California native plants

There are some neat rock walls on sections of the trail

A short walk will get you some pretty views!

Trail Etiquette Tips in the Conejo Valley and Surrounding Areas

The trails that surround us here in the Conejo Valley, including the Santa Monica Mountains maintained by the National Park Service, California State Parks and other organizations, as well as the Conejo Open Space, are a year-round wonderland for hikers, bikers, runners and equestrians. As such, it’s good to be reminded of the rules for trail etiquette.

Here is a summary of tips summarized in a brochure posted at trailetiquette.org:

Hikers, runners and mountain bikers must always yield to equestrians. Do so by immediately stopping and waiting on the downhill side of the trail. Greet the rider, as your voice also signals to the horse that you’re human and not a potential threat. Communicate with the rider and ask how to proceed. As beautiful as the horses are, do not approach or pet them without asking for permission first. If you are a cyclist, after communicating with the horse rider, pass slowly and steadily, without sudden movements or noises.

Hikers should always listen for cyclists, runners and equestrians approaching from behind. Listen for “on your left” so that you can stay to the right and let them by. Hike single-file on narrow trails and try to stay to the right on wider trails. Keep your dogs on short (6 feet maximum) leashes and of course, clean up after them. If you wear headphones, consider wearing only one earpiece or turning the volume down so you can hear your surroundings.

Bikers should slow down and yield to hikers and horses. Consider using a bell to alert others you are behind them. On a single track trail, downhill cyclists should yield to uphill cyclists.

And some other reminders…stay on the trails, don’t litter, don’t block the trail if you need to stop and don’t use the trails when the are wet and muddy.

And of course, be nice, smile at and greet your fellow trail users! We love our local trails!

GREAT TRAILS AND HIKES IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Views Abound at the Zev Yaroslavsky Las Virgenes Highlands Park in Calabasas

In greener times (April 2018).

The Zev Yaroslavsky Las Virgenes Highlands Park is located on Las Virgenes Road, just south of Mureau Road and north of Highway 101 in Calabasas.

In greener times (April 2018).

This is not a park in the traditional sense, with grass, a playground and BBQs. This park is nearly 200 acres of grasslands dotted with oak trees facing drivers on the 101 as they reach the bottom of the Calabasas Grade.

A steep trail takes you to peaks that offer panoramic views towards the Santa Monica Mountains, Agoura Hills, Calabasas,  Simi Hills and beyond.

View from near the top facing south.

These photos were taken in November 2015, after four years of drought. After the winter rains, these hills green up quite nicely.

The land is also known as "Firehouse Hill" as it is situated next to Los Angeles County Fire Station 125 on Las Virgenes Road.

To access the park from the 101 coming east, you go north on Las Virgenes and there's a small, dirt parking lot on the left. Problem is, there's no left hand turn lane to the lot and there are "No U Turn" signs for like a mile. So you could make right on Mureau Road and turn around and make a left turn back onto Las Virgenes to get to the parking area. Or you can drive half a mile north and do a U turn at Thousand Oaks Blvd.

This land was acquired by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) for $6.25 million in 2010. It was previously owned by Fred Sands and at one point was owned by Bob Hope. 

The park was named in honor of former long-time L.A. County Supervisor and City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, who retired from office in 2014. Zev worked with a coalition of parties to make this preservation of land happen.

About MRCA: MRCA is a local government public entity established in 1985. It is a local partnership between state agency Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, watershed lands, trails, and wildlife habitat. MRCA manages and provides ranger services for almost 72,000 acres of public lands and parks that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy or other agencies and provides comprehensive education and interpretation programs for the public.

The Annex at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard Features Eateries and Boutiques

If you haven't already checked it out, The Annex, located within The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard, is worth a visit.

This 16,000 square foot is home to a dozen micro shops, artisan boutiques and craft food and beverage eateries. Tenants as of April 2024 include the following:

• Bottle & Pint

• Burnin’ Mouth Nashville Hot Chicken

• Burrata House

• Love Pho Cafe

• PizzaMan Dan’s

• Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters

• Silverlake Ramen

• Sueño Jewelry Studio - handmade and custom jewelry

• The Blend Superfood Bar

• Tow Hands Corn Dogs

• Mong Q Mongolian BBQ (coming soon)

The Collection at RiverPark has become quite an incredible destination within Ventura County in recent years, with so many great eateries all in one place as well as The Container Store, a fantastic Whole Foods Market, REI, Target store, movie theaters, Levity Live Comedy Club and more. Quite impressive what they have done over there off the 101, Oxnard Boulevard exit. thecollectionrp.com

Roller Dome Thousand Oaks Originally Opened in the Spring of 1995

Roller Dome, which was located at 950 Avenida de Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks, closed its doors in October 2010.

Roller Dome originally opened in May 1995. "Roller Dome, a new roller skating facility...might be the best new rink in the country." - Richard Graham, Inline Hockey News.

Ah yes, the good ole days, with the occasional kids' birthday parties at Roller Dome.

The 99 Cents Only Store has been thriving in this spot since 2013.

COMPILATION OF ROLLER SKATING, ROLLER BLADING, ICE SKATING AND SKATEBOARDING VENUES IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY