VOLUNTEERS LEAD THE WAY: REROUTING OSO RIDGE TRAIL FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY

Community volunteers have done an incredible amount of work for OVLC’s 27-mile trail system. Over the past few years, our trail stewardship program has found a steady rhythm: starting the year with storm repairs during winter rains, shifting to vegetation clearance in spring, clearing rocks from river-bottom trails in summer, and tackling deferred maintenance projects each fall. Year by year, our dedicated group of volunteers has sought to do even more to care for this essential community asset—now, they’re taking on the complex task of designing trail re-routes. 

While volunteers have long assisted with new trail layouts and construction, until now they haven’t taken the lead in designing new trail layouts. This year, however, some of our experienced volunteers, including Jon Hill and Rob Young, along with Volunteer Crew Leaders Anthony Avildsen, Dave Fleischman, and Emma Nathan, stepped up to spearhead the rerouting and construction of a section of the Oso Ridge Trail on Ventura River Preserve. 

The top of Oso Ridge, the high point of the preserve, has sharp switchbacks with steep segments in between. The terrain is rugged and southwest-facing, factors that reduce vegetation density. Together, these conditions contribute to “tread creep,” where trail edges slowly erode outward as users skirt damaged areas. This erosion not only widens the trail but also leads to the trampling and destruction of surrounding habitat. The ideal solution was to reroute the trail to a more stable location, reducing erosion and preserving the vegetation. 

This section of Oso Ridge was the perfect setting for our experienced volunteers to advance their trail stewardship skills. After staff outlined the area to be rerouted, the volunteers took charge. Over several weeks in late summer, they navigated the challenging hillside to determine a more sustainable path. Laying out a new trail is never straightforward—one stretch might be scattered with rocks, while another is dense with vegetation that obscures potential routes. Finding a corridor with a gentle enough grade for a stable trail tread proved to be an elusive but rewarding task. 

To assess the grade, we use an inclinometer—a handheld tool similar to the equipment used by orange-vested surveyors on construction sites. Our volunteers took on the challenging work of trudging back and forth through thick chaparral, using inclinometers to survey potential routes with partners holding measuring sticks. Thanks to the diligent efforts of Anthony, Jon, Dave, Emma, and Rob, they found a route that would work. As fall began, they launched into constructing the new section of the Oso Ridge Trail. 

Designing new trails is one of the most complex tasks in trail work, involving countless decisions about routing, drainage features, and turns, with constant uncertainty about what lies just below the soil surface. By taking on this challenge, our volunteers are expanding their skills and playing a critical role in trail stewardship. Their growing expertise helps ensure that our trails remain enjoyable for everyone while protecting the preserves from avoidable damage. It’s this commitment from our volunteers that makes it possible for OVLC to keep our trail system open, accessible, and sustainable for the entire community. 

Brendan Taylor, Director of Field Programs