Paradise Falls and Lizard Rock, Wildwood and Conejo Canyons, 10-12 miles

We will Explore both Wildwood Park and the new Conejo Canyons park in Thousand Oaks.

From the parking lot on Avenida de los Arboles, we will take the Mesa trail west to Lizard Rock, Then drop down into the creek gorge, follow the paved road and cross the creek at the new bridge. Then climb up the hill to the ridge line that overlooks Camarillo and the Channel Islands, return via that trail and passing through the restored wetland, cross Conejo Creek again WHICH MIGHT GET YOUR SHOES WET, take the Lynnmere trail up the hill and alongside some hilltop homes, dropping down again into the canyon a little upstream of Paradise Falls. Then we go down stream to the falls, and head back to the cars while passing Indian cave and Indian creek waterfall. Then back to our cars

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: 101 freeway west to Thousand Oaks, exit at Lynn Road. Turn right and go north 3 miles to Avenida de los Arboles and turn left (west). There is a big sign saying "Wildwood Park thisaway" here. Follow the road all the way until it ends at the Wildwood Park parking lot. (The road makes a sharp right turn here--instead, turn left into the parking lot). If parking lot is full, there is street parking or an overflow lot 1/3rd mile to the east at the Wildflower Park and Ball field. See the printable map below!

HIGHLIGHTS:

--Wildflowers and cacti

--Lots of water in the creek

--the 35 foot Paradise Falls and a smaller waterfall along the Indian Creek trail

--Indian Cave

here are the GPS coordinates: N 34.22007 W 118.90284

THE ELEVATION GAIN AND LOSS: start at 710', up to 930' at Lizard Rock, drop down to 300' at the bridge, then back up to 700' at the Channel Islands overlook; then back down to 300 feet at the Arroyo Conejo crossing, up to 800' on the Lynnmere trail, down to 350' at Paradise Falls and back up hill to our cars to 710'.

MILEAGE: 10 to 12 miles

DIFFICULTY: moderate; I don't use a number scale to rate them

RESTROOMS AND WATER: are available at 3 spots on the hike

DOGS: are allowed in the park on a leash

FOR A LARGE PRINTABLE TRAIL MAP--note the trails marked in green are not the route we are taking: http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/2/2/3/highres_22593315.jpeg

LOTS OF PHOTOS OF THE HIKE ARE HERE:

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/ConejoCanyonsParadiseFallsThousandOaksFebruary2011# (https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/ConejoCanyonsParadiseFallsThousandOaksFebruary2011)

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/8/c/b/event_22470923.jpeg

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/2/2/3/event_22593315.jpeg

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/3/d/f/event_22593759.jpeg

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/4/2/8/event_22593832.jpeg

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/4/3/3/event_22593843.jpeg

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/4/3/7/event_22593847.jpeg

AS USUAL: Bring 3 to 4 quarts of water, hat, sunscreen, munchies, Gern Blanston repellent

CHECK OUT MY GUIDE TO THE 20 MOST AWESOME HIKES IN L.A.:

http://lameetuphikes.blogspot.com/p/list-of-hikes-i-lead.html

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LEGAL STUFF: AND AS USUAL, YOU AGREE BY GOING ON THIS HIKE THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND THAT THE MEETUP FOLKS HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR SAFETY. PLEASE SEE THE MEETUP TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP: https://www.meetup.com/terms/ ESPECIALLY PARAGRAPH 11. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY YOU CANNOT HIKE WITH US--I DON'T MAKE THE RULES, I JUST GOTTA FOLLOW THEM