Thank you for your patience and understanding as we recover from the damage from the Thomas Fire on our trails. In the coming months trails will likely open and close depending on rain and changing trail conditions. Click here for current information and trail notifications »
Trails across the Ventura River are open to all users.
All three trailheads at the Ventura River Preserve are open.
The upper and lower river bottom loops are open, but the loops do not connect at this time.
Please give plants a chance by staying on trail; this includes staying on trail in the river bottom.
Conditions are subject to change. Be aware of your surroundings. Rain, wind, and even snow can create new hazards and amplify existing hazards on the preserves. Watch out for falling trees, branches, slides, sinkholes…etc.
Valley View Preserve is open. The trails are cleared and safe for travel, but we still have more work to do to prevent erosion in the future. In the meantime, enjoy the trails.
Ojai Meadows Preserve is open.
Want to care for the trails we all love? Sign up to volunteer with us!
Why do we close the trails when it rains? We close the trails when they are wet for the safety of users and to prevent the negative impacts soil displacement can have on the trail tread and the surrounding environment.
For your protection and the safety of others, please respect trail closure signs and do not enter preserves when posted. Thank you for your assistance and understanding.
How do we determine how long the trails are closed for after rain? The duration of a trail closure is determined by the amount of rainfall we receive. 1/4″ rain = 1 day of closure
If other factors are present, like severe trail damage that deems the trail unsafe for users, then the trail closure will be extended until the proper repairs are done.
Mountain Lions
There has been a lot of mountain lion and coyote activity in the valley recently. Please remember to have your dog leashed at all times (this is an OVLC rule) and we highly recommend carrying an air horn. Noise is your best defense against a mountain lion. We do not condone shooting a mountain lion and weapons are not allowed on the preserves.
If the cat attacks and you have to fight back, throw rocks at its body. Injuring the mountain lion’s head can lead to loss of sight and cognitive function that can actually provoke the cat to become a greater threat to other users and their pups. Plus, we do not want to harm these beautiful creatures. This is their home and they are an important keystone species of our local ecosystem. Mountain lion attacks are rare, but due to the increased activity on the preserves and around town, it’s best to be on high alert.
Every March, cattle graze on the US Forest Service land in Rice Canyon, and the bovines would like us to remind everyone to please close the Rice Canyon Trail gates when you go through them—even if the gate is open when you get to it. Keeping the gates closed helps keep the cattle off of the preserve and near their ‘Cows Only’ water tank. Thank you!
Trails across the Ventura River will continue to remain closed to all users due to the recent rain.
Oso Trailhead is closed until further notice.
The upper and lower river bottom loops are open. However, the upper and lower river bottom loops do not connect at this time.
Please give plants a chance by staying on trail; this includes staying on trail in the river bottom.
Conditions are subject to change. Be aware of your surroundings. Rain, wind, and even snow can create new hazards and amplify existing hazards on the preserves. Watch out for falling trees, branches, slides, sinkholes…etc.
Forest Service Closure – Los Padres National Forest
A 60-day closure order for four ranger districts (Monterey, Santa Lucia, Santa Barbara and Ojai) has been issued in response to the extreme winter storm that delivered heavy rain and wind across the Forest last week.
Valley View Preserve is open. The trails are cleared and safe for travel, but we still have more work to do to prevent erosion in the future. In the meantime, enjoy the trails.
Trails across the Ventura River are now closed to all users due to inclement weather in the forecast. Yes, the trails across the river are closed to hikers too.
Oso Trailhead is closed until further notice.
The upper and lower river bottom loops will remain open. However, users should be on high alert that the weather and the state of the river could change at any moment. Please use the trails with caution.
Please give plants a chance by staying on trail; this includes staying on trail in the river bottom.
Conditions are subject to change. Be aware of your surroundings. Rain, wind, and even snow can create new hazards and amplify existing hazards on the preserves. Watch out for falling trees, branches, slides, sinkholes…etc.
Trails across the Ventura River are open for use to all users (hikers, bikers, and equestrians) thanks to the hard work of volunteers and our partners The C.R.E.W. However, there are measures in effect that all users must abide by. Please read the following conditions of use before you take off on your next adventure and refer to the updated map for access:
•While the trails across the river are open for safe passage, they are still far off from being fully repaired and there are several detours in the canyons. All users must follow the detours in place and stay on trail at all times. There are signs in place to guide you. Do not try to find your own way around these detours.
•All treks across the river are to be treated as an out and back via Wills Crossover. The only sanctioned trail for accessing the other side of the river at this time is Wills Crossover. Oso Trailhead does not connect to Orange Grove Trail and the river bottom loops do not connect to the eastern end of Oso Ridge Trail.
•0.4 miles of Rice Canyon Trail are closed until repairs can be made. Please use the detour via Kennedy Ridge Trail to access the rest of Rice Canyon.
•The Upper and Lower River Bottom Loop trails do not connect at this time. We are in the process of planning a new route to connect the two loops.
•Please give plants a chance by staying on trail; this includes staying on trail in the river bottom.
•Conditions are subject to change. Be aware of your surroundings. Rain and wind can create new hazards and amplify existing hazards on the preserves. Watch out for falling trees, branches, slides, sinkholes…etc.
Crossing the River at Wills Crossover (Closed Effective 2/18/2023)
•Note that water is still flowing at Wills Crossover, which makes crossing the river a challenge. Crossing the river at this time is not easy.
•For your safety, we recommend taking your shoes off and wading through the water rather than attempting to rock hop. Rock hopping is dangerous and the majority of the rocks in the river are loose and unstable after being moved around during the storm.
•Placing rocks in the flowing water to form a crossing is highly prohibited. There must be an unimpeded migration passage for steelhead trout and other aquatic wildlife. This is why we have not placed rocks where the river is still flowing. Please do not place rocks in the crossings to aid your passage. Leave the river for the wildlife. Thank you.
•Please do not attempt to use the crossings at Oso trailhead or the lower connector to Oso Ridge. These sections of trail are under repair and not permitted nor currently safe for travel.
2/9/23: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve: • All three trailheads are open starting 1/21/23. • Lower and Upper River Bottom Loop Trails are open for all users starting 1/21/23. • All trails west of the Ventura River are closed until further notice.
Valley View Preserve is open. The trails are cleared and safe for travel, but we still have more work to do to prevent erosion in the future. Enjoy the trails.
Ojai Meadows Preserve is open.
1/31/23: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve: • All three trailheads are open starting 1/21/23. • Lower and Upper River Bottom Loop Trails are open for all users starting 1/21/23. • All trails west of the Ventura River are closed until further notice.
Valley View Preserve is open. The trails are cleared and safe for travel, but we still have more work to do to prevent erosion in the future. Enjoy the trails.
Ojai Meadows Preserve is open.
1/20/23
Ventura River Preserve: • All three trailheads are open starting 1/21/23. • Lower and Upper River Bottom Loop Trails are open for all users starting 1/21/23. • All trails west of the Ventura River are closed until further notice.
Valley View Preserve is closed until further notice while our staff and volunteers work to repair the trail damages caused by the recent rain.
Ojai Meadows Preserve is open. Please be advised trails at the meadows are saturated and muddy. Happy Valley Drainage by the Eucalyptus Grove is not crossable at this time.
1/18/23 VRP Conditions Update
The Ventura River Preserve and access to the river is closed due to hazardous conditions until further notice by order of the Ventura County Fire Department. We know everyone wants to see the river, but for everyone’s safety, including first responders, please respect this closure.
The river currently poses life threatening conditions. The strong currents are not swimmable, cold temperatures will cause hypothermia, unseen hazards beneath the surface like branches, trees, tumbling boulders could easily cause you or a loved one to become trapped and or smashed, and the riverbank is unstable. Standing at the edge of the water seems fun until the edge is no longer there.
While Casitas isn’t currently diverting water due to damage caused by the river at the Robles Diversion Facility, when they do start diverting again, water levels downstream can change quickly.
Also 14 million gallons of sewage spilled into San Antonio Creek over the past 48 hours, heightening the rainfall advisory that’s already in effect. There’s high potential for storm water runoff carrying disease-causing bacteria. Please stay out of the water and respect the closure of the Ventura River Preserve. Parents please educate your children about these conditions.
1/11/23: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve is closed until further notice due to substantial flooding and the anticipation of weather in the imminent future. This closure is for the safety of all users, our community, and to give the nature the time it needs to take its natural course. Thank you.
Valley View Preserve is closed until further notice while our staff assess trail conditions and damages.
Ojai Meadows Preserve is open. Please be advised trails at the Meadows are saturated and slippery. Rain boots are recommended.
1/3/23: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians due to rain. Once we have a total rainfall accumulation for the recent storm(s), a reopening date will be posted here.Thank you for your patience and enjoy the rain.
Valley View Preserve – Foothill Trail Reroute
The reroute on Foothill Trail is almost complete. We will be opening the new section of trail soon. Please respect the hard work of our volunteers by staying off the reroute until we officially open the trail. Thank you. 12/29/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians due to rain. Once we have a total rainfall accumulation for the recent storm(s), a reopening date will be posted here.Thank you for your patience and enjoy the rain.
Valley View Preserve – Foothill Trail Reroute
The reroute on Foothill Trail is almost complete. We will be opening the new section of trail soon. Please respect the hard work of our volunteers by staying off the reroute until we officially open the trail. Thank you.
12/26/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians due to rain. Once we have a total rainfall accumulation for the recent storm(s), a reopening date will be posted here.Thank you for your patience and enjoy the rain.
Valley View Preserve – Foothill Trail Reroute
The reroute on Foothill Trail is almost complete. We will be opening the new section of trail soon. Please respect the hard work of our volunteers by staying off the reroute until we officially open the trail. Thank you.
12/19/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River are open to all users. Enjoy!
Valley View Preserve – Foothill Trail Reroute
The reroute on Foothill Trail is almost complete. We will be opening the new section of trail soon. Please respect the hard work of our volunteers by staying off the reroute until we officially open the trail. Thank you.
12/13/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River will remain closed to mountain bikers and equestrians through the upcoming weekend. We received approximately 4 inches of rain at the Ventura River Preserve which means 16 days of closure. However, we anticipate having the trails open sooner than that. Thank you for your patience while the trails dry out.
Oso Trailhead
Oso Trailhead has reopened to the public. Enjoy the river!
Valley View Preserve
Foothill TrailReroute
The reroute on Foothill Trail is almost complete. Due to recent rains and the upcoming storm, the trail needs time to dry, compact, and settle before we can allow users to enjoy it. Please respect the hard work of our volunteers by staying off the reroute until we officially open the trail. Thank you.
12/9/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River will remain closed to mountain bikers and equestrians through the weekend and into next week due to rain in the forecast for this weekend. Once we have a total rainfall accumulation for this upcoming storm, a reopening date will be posted here.Thank you for your patience while the trails dry out.
Oso Trailhead
Oso Trailhead is closed until further notice to prevent negative impacts after rain. The Ventura River Preserve is open for use from 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset. Please park at our other trailheads to access the preserve. Do not attempt to open the gate. Thank you.
Valley View Preserve
Foothill TrailReroute
The reroute on Foothill Trail is almost complete. Due to recent rains and the upcoming storm, the trail needs time to dry, compact, and settle before we can allow users to enjoy it. Please respect the hard work of our volunteers by staying off the reroute until we officially open the trail. Thank you.
12/5/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
Over the past five days, Ojai received 1.5 inches of rain. 0.25 inches of rain equals one day of closure. Meaning six days of closure. The trails west of the Ventura River will reopen Sunday, December 11 to mountain bikers and equestrians. Thank you for your patience while the trails dry out.
Oso Trailhead
Oso Trailhead is closed until further notice to prevent damage to the wet and muddy parking lot.
Valley View Preserve
Foothill TrailReroute
The reroute on Foothill Trail is almost complete. Due to recent rains the trail needs time to compact and settle before we can allow hikers and bikers to use it. Please respect the hard work of our volunteers by staying off the reroute until we announce that it is officially open.
12/1/22: Trail Update Ventura River Preserve The trails west of the Ventura River are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians until further notice due to forecasted rain. Once we have an official rainfall count, a reopening date will be determined. Thank you for your patience.
11/30/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, December 1 to mountain bikers and equestrians until further notice due to rain. Once we have an official rainfall count, a reopening date will be determined. Thank you for your patience.
11/12/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River are open to all. Enjoy!
11/7/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians until further notice due to rain in the forecast.
3/28/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians until further notice due to rain.
1/19/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River are open to all!
1/4/22: Trail Update
Ventura River Preserve
The trails west of the Ventura River are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians.
Valley View Preserve
Trail damage on Fox Canyon Trail and Foothill Trail. The trails will remain open, but users should proceed with caution and hike at their own risk.
12/22/21: Trail Update
Due to rain, the trails west of the river on the Ventura River Preserve are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians.
12/17/21: Trail Update
Trails west of the river are open to all! Enjoy!
12/13/21: Trail Update
Due to rain, the trails west of the river on the Ventura River Preserve are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians.
11/18/21: TrailheadUpdate
Oso Trailhead is open!
The gate is repaired, new speed bumps have been installed, and the driveway has been freshly paved. We hope this new facelift makes access to the north side of Ventura River Preserve a little more welcoming.
Please remember that Oso Trailhead is open from 7:30am to 5pm this time of year. Any car found parked at the trailhead outside of these hours is subject to towing. Nothing good ever happens at the trailheads outside of operating hours. We find people camping illegally, drinking, littering, hanging out by the swimming hole, and vandalizing Conservancy property. All of these things negatively impact the resources we are trying to protect.
Also, please be courteous to neighbors of the trailhead. Thank you.
10/29/21: TrailheadUpdate
The trails west of the Ventura River at the Ventura River Preserve are OPEN to all users. Enjoy!
Update: Wednesday 4/15/20
All trails on the Ventura River Preserve are now open to all users.
Update: Sunday 4/12/20
Due to rain, the trails west of the river on the Ventura River Preserve are closed to mountain bikes and equestrians.
Update: Friday 4/2/20
All trails are currently open on the Valley View Preserve, Ventura River Preserve, and Ojai Meadows Preserve. Ilvento Preserve is closed until further notice.
Update: Tuesday 2/25/20
All trails on the Ventura River Preserve are now open to all users.
Update: Saturday 2/22/20
Due to rain, the trails west of the river on the Ventura River Preserve are closed to mountain bikes and equestrians.
Update: Saturday 1/4/20
All trails on the Ventura River Preserve are now open to all users.
Update: Sunday 12/22/19
Due to rain, the trails west of the river on the Ventura River Preserve are closed to mountain bikes and equestrians.
The new Allan Jacobs Trail is open between Oso Ridge and Chaparral Crest Trails on the VRP.
Update: Tuesday 12/10/19
All trails on the Ventura River Preserve are now open to all users.
Update: Wednesday 12/4/19
Due to rain, the trails west of the river on the Ventura River Preserve are closed to mountain bikes and equestrians.
The new Allan Jacobs Trail is open between Oso Ridge and Chaparral Crest Trails on the VRP.
Update: Monday 12/2/19
All trails on the Ventura River Preserve are now open to all users.
Update: Wednesday 11/27/19
Due to rain, the trails west of the river on the Ventura River Preserve are closed to mountain bikes and equestrians.
The new Allan Jacobs Trail is open between Oso Ridge and Chaparral Crest Trails on the VRP.
Update: Tuesday 3/12/19
The trails west of the Ventura River on the Ventura River Preserve are now open to all users, though the river itself is inundated and a risk to cross. But if you do get across, enjoy!
Update: Saturday 3/2/19
On the Ventura River Preserve due to the rain, all trails west of the river are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians as of today. Usually, it takes 2-3 days of dry weather for the trails to dry out and harden up, and at that point, the trails will be reopened. The river bottom trails are open to all.
Update: Thursday 2/21/19
The trails west of the Ventura River on the Ventura River Preserve are now open to all users, though the river itself is inundated and a risk to cross. But if you do get across, enjoy!
Update: Wednesday 2/13/19
On the Ventura River Preserve due to the rain, all trails west of the river are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians as of today. Usually, it takes 2-3 days of dry weather for the trails to dry out and harden up, and at that point, the trails will be reopened. The river bottom trails are open to all.
Update: Thursday 2/7/19
The trails west of the Ventura River on the Ventura River Preserve are now open to all users, though the river itself is inundated and a risk to cross. But if you do get across, enjoy!
Update: Thursday 1/31/19
On the Ventura River Preserve due to the rain, all trails west of the river are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians as of today. Usually, it takes 2-3 days of dry weather for the trails to dry out and harden up, and at that point, the trails will be reopened. The river bottom trails are open to all.
Update: Tuesday 1/22/19
The trails that were closed west of the Ventura River on the Ventura River Preserve are reopened to all users.
Update: Saturday 1/12/19
On the Ventura River Preserve, all trails west of the river are closed to mountain bikers and equestrians as of today, due to the rain. Usually, it takes 2-3 days of dry weather for the trails to dry out and harden up, and at that point, the trails will be reopened. The river bottom trails are open to all.
Update: Thursday 1/10/19
The trails on the Ventura River Preserve, west of the river, which had been closed since the weekend due to rain, are open as of this afternoon. More rain is expected for Friday 1/11/19, and if it comes, the trails may be closed again for several days to mountain bikers and equestrians to allow the tread to dry and harden.
Update: Friday 11/30/18
The trails are now reopened.
Update: Thursday 11/29/18
The trails on the Ventura River Preserve, west of the Ventura River, are closed today. They will remain closed until the tread has a chance to dry out after the rain, so potentially through Friday, November 30.
Update: Thursday 5/24/18
The Los Padres National Forest has issued an order rescinding the Thomas Fire Closure. Pratt, Foothill, Fuelbreak Road, and Gridley trails are now open to use. For more information about the LPNF, please visit their website.
Update: Thursday 4/19/18
The lower portion of Chaparral Crest between Oso Ridge trail and Fern Grotto trail is now closed permanently for restoration of sensitive wildlife habitat. Additionally, the bridge over the Casitas canal into Rice Creek canyon is still out, but will be replaced eventually. All other trails on OVLC preserves are open to use.
Update: Saturday 3/24/18
Trails on Valley View and Ventura River Preserve are reopened. However, Chaparral Crest between Oso Ridge and Fern Grotto trail is closed, and Pratt, Gridley, and Fuelbreak Rd Trails are closed adjacent to Valley View Preserve. There is still no bridge over the Casitas canal into Rice Creek canyon.
Update: Tuesday 3/20/18
With the storm that is arriving this afternoon, we have closed Valley View and Ventura River Preserves to all use. Please stay off of the trails for your own safety and to prevent damage to the trails. Additionally, it is very dangerous to be traveling in the river bottom on Venture River Preserve because the river can increase flow dramatically and quickly. After the rain has passed and the tread has dried, likely later this week, we will open the preserves again.
Update: Wednesday 3/7/18
Trails on Ventura River Preserve and Valley View Preserve are open again after last weekends rain storm. If it rains again this upcoming weekend, we will have to close the trails during and immediately after the rains. This is because our trails get very muddy when wet and much damage can occur if people even walk on them. Additionally, with no vegetation after the fire, chances of slides during rain events is high so for safety reasons we keep the trails close during these times.
Chaparral Crest, Pratt, Gridley, and Fuelbreak Road trails all remain close and the bridge over the canal to Rice Canyon is still out.
Update: Friday 3/2/18
With the storm passing through this weekend, all trails on Ventura River Preserve and Valley View Preserve are temporarily closed. After the storm passes through tonight, we will assess the trail conditions and likely reopen them on Saturday, March 3. Additionally, the Gridley and Pratt trails will remain closed due to the Thomas Fire closure order from the Los Padres National Forest (visit LPNF Thomas Fire page for more information).
Update: Wednesday 1/31/18
The Los Padres National Forest Service still has a closure listed for the trails that OVLC adopts, including Pratt, Gridley, and Fuelbreak Road. For that reason, these trails near our Valley View Preserve are closed, and since users cannot access Fuelbreak Road Trail legally from either side, that trail is closed as well. Please respect these closures as they are for your safety as well as for the benefit of the surrounding landscape: if we stay off of the trails, it will help the area recover quicker. Check back here regularly for updates on when the trails will be opened and for information about the forest closure, visit the LPNF Thomas Fire page.
Update: Friday 1/26/18
Thanks to the great efforts of 5 volunteers, we were able to replace the burned out culvert on Wills Canyon Trail, on the Ventura River Preserve. Now that the tread is stable again, all trails on the VRP, except for Chaparral Crest Trail, are open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians. Our great trail system is repaired and maintained by our wonderful volunteers, so be sure to sign up on our website to volunteer and help us keep them open for all to use!
Thanks again to those who helped today, and for everyone, happy trails!
Update: Tuesday 1/16/18
Wills Canyon Trail is back open to hikers. The field crew spent the day clearing a large tree blocking the trail.
The trail is not yet open to bikes and horses as there is hazardous culvert that needs to be repaired. The more people ride over it the more damage it will incur, so we ask you please not to ride the canyon just yet.
Just a reminder please stay out of the canal and off the Casitas Road – these are not public access areas.
Update: Friday 1/12/18
Unfortunately due to hazardous trees falling unexpectedly and blocking pathways, the trails west of the Ventura River are closed until further notice. We are sorry for the inconvenience and we hope to have the trails open sometime next week.
Update: Friday 1/12/18
A dedicated group of volunteers worked tirelessly yesterday to open the Valley View and Ventura River Preserve trails Thursday. The Field Crew will finish clearing Wills Canyon tomorrow and will open the trails when finished. Trails west of the river will be open to foot traffic only as there are unstable trail conditions in the canyons. Please respect posted signs and help spread the word.
Update: Monday 1/8/18
It’s not just raining, it’s pouring – 5-7″ of rain predicted for the mountains and town today, 1/8, and Tuesday, 1/9. With all of that rain, we are expecting the hillsides to be sliding right down onto our trails and the trees to start falling over again. That means, for the time being, all trails on Valley View Preserve are closed, and all trails that lead up canyons on Ventura River Preserve are closed as well (the Lower River Loop and Upper River Loop trails remain open on VRP, however, be mindful of potential water flow through the wash). The trailheads to closed trails are currently fenced off and signs are up alerting users to the closures: please respect these closures for your own safety, and to allow the area to recover from the fire and water damage.
We will have the trails reopened to use as soon as possible, so check back here regularly and keep an eye out on the trails to see when the fencing goes down. Until then, enjoy a good rainy day movie or board game!
Update: Friday 1/5/18
Great news – most all of OVLC trails are reopened on the preserves as of January 5th! The only trail that remains closed on Ventura River Preserve is Chaparral Crest. Additionally, the bridge over the Casitas diversion channel on Rice Canyon Trail is out due to the fire. Users can still enjoy Rice Canyon and Kennedy Ridge trails, but for the time being, you’ll have to go the long way round over Wills Canyon trail, past El Nido Meadow (and then come back out that same way remember – no bridge!). Most of the Valley View Preserve is open and ready to be tread on, so get out and enjoy!
But do it this weekend because with the looming rain on Monday, January 8th and Tuesday, January 9th and the lack of vegetation after the burn, we are expecting slides and downed trees that will require trails closures temporarily until, with the help of our dedicated volunteers, we can get out there and repair the damage. So look for the trails to be closed again starting on the afternoon on Monday the 8th and check back on our webpage for regular updates.
Just a reminder, please stay on the trails and off the burn – let nature heal!
Happy hiking, biking, and riding!
Update: Sunday 12/31/17
Happy New Year from the OVLC! We have exciting news – Fox Canyon, Luci’s, and Foothill trails on the Valley View Preserve are officially open.
When hiking please stay on the trails and off the burn areas so they can recover. Use caution as there are still potential rockfall zones and be mindful of those below you as the trail treads are loose.
We would like thank our dedicated team of highly trained trail experts who worked tirelessly to reopen these trails much quicker than expected. There is still lots of work to be done to stabilize areas of the trail, rebuild water bars, and even more work once the rain comes. We may have additional closures if we get storm damage.
If you would like to volunteer on the trails you can sign up at ovlc.org/volunteer. No time to volunteer but still want to help? Donate today at ovlc.org/give to support the trails you love.
Update: Tuesday 12/26/2017
On Saturday we were able to complete our assessment of the trails on the Ventura River Preserve. We are grateful to Jim Downer, horticulture advisor at the University of California Cooperative Extension who volunteered his time to help identify hazard trees along the trails. We spent five hours hiking Rice and Wills Canyons assessing the trees and identifying those that pose an imminent threat to the trails and trail users. Our next step is to hire a professional to clear those trees, then we can clear the rest still blocking the trails. We hope to get the trails west of the river open within a few weeks. Thank you for your patience and support. Continue to keep yourselves safe by respecting the trail closures.
New volunteer opportunity – help us grow trees and shrubs! Learn more »
Update: Thursday 12/21/2017
Yesterday we were able to assess Wills Canyon. While the trail itself is in good shape, there are many downed and hazard trees. The Field Crew began clearing the trail this morning and we hope to have it open in a few weeks. The good news is that the fire did not crown (burn in the canopy) in most of the canyon and the oaks will survive. The trails west of the river remain closed until we can deem them safe enough to pass. Please respect the closure signs for not only your safety, but the health of the land. There was evidence of both hikers and mountain bikers in the canyon before us. Please help spread the word and ask your friends not to hike the closed trails. We understand the desire to see your favorite trails and we promise we are working as quickly as possible to get them open for all to enjoy.
Update: Wednesday 12/20/17
We have been working on damage assessments for two days and we are switching up our priorities again based on our findings. Please read the updates below as they are very important for the future of our trails.
First, the bad news. It looks like the trails on the Valley View Preserve above Shelf Road will remain closed for some time. Our inspection showed severe trail damage on the Fox Canyon Trail and the Foothill Connector Trail between Fox Canyon and Luci’s Trail. In some places, the trail tread is gone and covered with very unstable landslide debris. This is very dangerous to traverse and will take substantial work to stabilize. The fire has also caused loosening of rocks on Luci’s Trail and created rock fall hazards. With no vegetation to stop rolling rocks, hikers risk dislodging rocks and hitting people below on the trail. We have seen people trying to hike these trails and we must implore our community not to do this. Every hiker traversing these trails will cause more damage, make it harder to repair, and lengthen the time it takes to re-open the preserve. Please pass the word because the future of these trails depends on everyone’s cooperation.
Better news. Things are looking better on the west side of the Ventura River at the Ventura River Preserve. However, the trails remain closed at present. Despite the loss of vegetation, the trail treads sustained little damage and the substrates are more stable than those at Valley View. There are still some obstructions to clear and we need to place some temporary signage as some trails are hard to find under the ash and debris. Please give us some time to work out these issues before venturing out. Wandering off the real trails will damage very fragile recovering areas. For now we will be focusing effort at the Ventura River Preserve to see if we can get it safe to open.
Ilvento Preserve is still closed and will remain so until we can open the Ventura River Preserve.
Update: Monday 12/18/17:
Ventura River Preserve: As of Monday, December 18, the trails along the river bottom east of the Ventura River are now re-opened. These areas did not burn and no safety problems have been identified. Closures remain for all trails west of the Ventura River, so please do not cross the riverbed. Safety assessments should begin west of the river later this week or next week. Please note that open trails may be more crowded due to closures on other trails, so please have your dogs on a leash and help ensure that trash and dogs waste is properly removed. Thanks!
OVLC Trail Closures continue on the Valley View Trails (Fox Canyon Trail, Luci’s Trail, and Foothill Trail): The Valley View Preserve trails are undergoing safety and damage assessments this week with a tentative goal of opening them by the end of the week. Please check back here before accessing those trails. Shelf Road is currently open, but please do not access the upper trails until notified that they have been opened.
Fuelbreak Road Trail: This trail traverses private property via a trail easement held by the OVLC and connects to Los Padres National Forest lands. Both the OVLC section and the LPNF section are closed. Check back for updates.
Closures remain on all trails on the Ilvento Preserve. Safety and damage assessments on this preserve will not be undertaken until mid-January. Please check back here for updates.
Along with the closed OVLC trails, the U.S. Forest Service has issues closure ordersfor all trails in the Los Padres National Forest in the Ojai, Mt. Pinos, and Santa Barbara Ranger Districts. These closures affect access to some OVLC preserves as the Pratt and Gridley Trails are closed, as are the Foothill, Cozy Dell, and the Fuelbreak Road trails. For updates on Los Padres NF trails and closures, please check https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.
Updated 12/14/17: The Valley View, Ventura River, and Ilvento Preserves remain closed until further notice. We will try to have the river bottom trails opened as soon as possible. Please check back for resources and updates.
* We will post updates of trail openings, ways to help, and other information as we assess the situation.
We are just starting to assess the damage at our preserves, but we are still limited by smoke and access difficulties. At present we only have preliminary information. Our initial estimate is that approximately 1,500 acres of OVLC preserve lands have been burned, including lands on the Ventura River, Valley View, Senior Canyon, and Ilvento preserves. The Rice Creek Restoration Project on the Ventura River Preserve that has been ongoing for over 6 years has been severely damaged. In the coming days and weeks we will get further out on the preserves to assess safety concerns, infrastructure damage, and ecological concerns.
While the preserves are blackened today, our local vegetation communities are well-adapted to fire and recovery. In a few short months we will see life begin to return to the preserves naturally.
Our greatest challenge in the coming year will be threats associated with invasive, non-native, plants encroaching into areas where native plants have been adapted. We will need many hands to meet this challenge.
Our local community has shown a generous interest in helping to restore the land. We are grateful for all the offers of help, and we look forward to working with all our volunteers once we have a coordinated response plan.
Today there are three things that everyone in the valley can do to support the recovery of our preserves:
One: Please respect our posted preserve closures. There are still hot spots out there as well as other safety threats. We are working as hard as we can to complete assessments and make the preserves safe for visitors. Still, some areas are likely to be closed for months.
Two: Once trails are re-opened, please remain on the official trails. Foot, bike, and horse traffic tramples native plants, sensitive soils, and burrows and nests and works against recovery efforts.
Three: Please sign up as a volunteer for the OVLC at www.ovlc.org/volunteer. We will need you when we have planned restoration actions.
Many of the images below are from the OVLC—however we were sent photos from many sources and may not know what the original source was. If one of these is your photos and you would like credit or to have us remove it from the gallery, please contact us.
