Conejo OS Challenge Hike 6: Hill and Hawk Canyon Trails in Conejo Canyons

Hike Stats: The hike will be 7.2 miles with 900' of climbing. We'll hike at a moderate pace and there will be time to take photos. We'll need to hike together as a group so that nobody gets lost by taking a wrong turn at one of the several forks we'll pass.

There is a fee to park at the meeting place - see below for details!

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/f/4/6/600_433468486.jpeg

The Conejo Open Space Challenge: For the fourth year running, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA (http://www.conejo-openspace.org/)) is putting on an event to get us to experience some of the beautiful but possibly less well known trails in the Conejo Valley. To encourage us to complete the challenge, prizes are offered to some people who complete all ten segments of the Challenge before June 1, and also to those who take the best photos along the way. You show you hiked the segments by emailing photos of some view along the trail to the organizer. You can learn more about the Challenge from this flyer (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwnGWwrV3x1DdnVFY2xnOEFhODA/view).

The Route: We've hiked the Conejo Canyons / Western Plateau area before as part of the Newer Trails series, but this time we'll start from the Santa Rosa Valley in order to cover the Hill Canyon Trail, one of the ten Challenge trails. Because we start in the canyon, we'll have less climbing than the previous hike, but otherwise it will be quite similar. We last hiked there in January when everything was really green (see photo above) so it will be interesting to see how much it changes in a few months.

If you like this hike, please consider supporting COSCA by making a tax deductible donation to the Conejo Open Space Foundation http://cosf.org/donate/ and by participating in one of their many volunteer opportunities (http://cosf.org/volunteer/) available throughout the year.

Afterwards, you are welcome to join us for lunch at some local establishment that serves good food and beverages. We'll talk about which establishment to visit during the hike.

Here's the schedule for all the Challenge hikes:

• March 15: Potrero Ridge in Dos Vientos

• March 22: Shooting Star Trail into the Santa Rosa Valley

• March 28: Hidden Meadow Trail and Albertson Mtwy (shuttle hike)

• April 11: Hillcrest Ridge in North Ranch

• April 18: Woodridge Loop in Sunset Hills

• May 3: Hawk Canyon and Hill Canyon Trails in Conejo Canyons

• May 9: Space Mountain in Thousand Oaks

• May 10: Powerline Trail in Dos Vientos

Driving Directions: From Newbury Park and points west – From the 101 freeway, take exit 52 onto Santa Rosa Road in Camarillo. Drive 5 miles before turning right onto Hill Canyon Rd. The parking is 0.6 miles in, on the right. From Thousand Oaks and points east – Head north on the 23 freeway, taking exit 15 onto Avenida De Los Arboles and head west. After 1.3 miles, turn right onto Moorpark Rd, drive 2.6 miles, then continue straight onto Santa Rosa Road. Drive another 3.7 miles then turn left onto Hill Canyon Road. The parking is 0.6 miles in, on the right.

Note that there is a fee to park (http://www.ventura.org/inland-parks/santa-rosa-valley-park-thousand-oaks) here of $4.00 as of March 2015.

Map: Use this Google Map to help you find your way

http://bit.ly/yyTU4r

Dogs: Please leave your pets at home for this hike. Dogs should only accompany their human companions on hikes that are billed as “Dog Friendly.”

RSVPs: We know plans can change, and we would appreciate it if you let us know at least 24 hours before the event if you are unable to make it when you have previously told us you are coming. This is so that someone else will have time to take over your place. Without 24 hours' notice, we may consider you a "no show."