Situated in Pleasant Valley, Camarillo is surrounded by mountains and hills that feel tailor-made for hiking. Wilderness trails can be reached from central Camarillo in as few as ten minutes. Drive for a half hour, and you can reach the trailheads for several first-class hikes. Here are several popular hiking trails of varying lengths and intensity near Camarillo.
Bridlewood Trail
This 6.4-mile loop offers an easy and accessible escape from the chaos of urban life. The trail’s access point at Santa Rosa Road and E. Las Posas Road is just a 15-minute drive from AMLI Spanish Hills. Located in the shade of the Santa Monica Foothills, most of the trail is protected from the sun.
Santa Rosa & Lower Butte Trails
These Woodland Hills hiking trails offer two stunning options for walking from Cal Lutheran’s campus to Wildwood Regional Park. The Santa Rosa Trail is a 3-mile path running along the Mount Clef Ridge. If you have more time, try the Lower Butte Trail, a six-mile path with the same point of origin and destination. Both trails offer stunning views of the Conejo and Santa Rosa Valleys. Cal Lutheran and Wildwood Park are both 20 minutes’ drive from AMLI Spanish Hills Camarillo apartments.
Cave of Munits and Castle Peak
This short hike packs a lot of action and scenery into 2.1 miles. Exploring the intersection of the San Fernando Valley and Simi Hills, the trail slowly climbs from El Escorpion Park to Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve. You’ll pass the Cave of Munits, a small cave offering shade and bouldering opportunities. After passing the cave, the In the last .2 miles, the trail ascends steeply toward Castle Peak. The views from Castle Peak are epic. Only a 40-minute drive and an hour-long hike separate them from AMLI Spanish Hills.
China Flat and Simi Peak Trails
At 2,403 feet above sea level, Simi Peak is the highest point in the Simi Hills Mountain Range. The peak affords panoramic views of the Simi Hills and surrounding mountain ranges that area breathtaking on clear days. Other highlights of this hike include passing dramatic orange sandstone outcroppings and meandering through a tranquil oak savanna. Depending on the route you take, you can clock between 5.5 and 6.2 miles on this hike. The Oak Park trailhead is a 25-minute drive from AMLI Spanish Hills.
La Jolla Canyon Loop
By no means a short hike, a journey along the La Jolla Canyon Loop is aesthetically and physically rewarding, and not just because of its 1,225 feet of elevation gain. The 12-mile loop traverses rugged wilderness terrain, includes a climb to Mugu Peak, offers almost uninterrupted coastal views, and passes over a rushing waterfall. The trail is part of more than 70 miles of trails at Point Mugu State Park, a 20-minute drive from AMLI Spanish Hills.
Lizard Rock
It looks less reptilian mid-climb than it does viewed from a distance, but Lizard Rock is worth summiting. The mostly moderate trail passes the bucolic Paradise Falls and offers sweeping views of Wildwood Park from the top. The Thousand Oaks trailhead is a 15-minute drive from AMLI Spanish Hills.
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