Moonlight Hike - Rancho Sierra Vista, Newbury Park - Dos Vientos Ranch Park

Join us for a 2-hour, 4-mile moonlit night hike around the beautiful Rancho Sierra Vista park and glory in the starry skies of Newbury Park. This event is more about socializing and enjoying the evening sky than about serious hiking. It's for both beginners and advanced hikers who can slow down and savor the experience. This event repeats monthly specifically for the purpose of hopefully seeing the same people regularly enough to become friends.

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Preparation: The hike is all at night, so be prepared for cold and hiking in the moonlit dark. (The moon is often bright enough that we can walk without flashlights on.) If possible, please use red LED lights to help preserve our night vision. Bring snacks and drinks as you like.

The Hike: We will follow paved roads and trails in the flat and open portions of the park that are easy and safe for night walking. Both dirt trails and pavement are wide and ideal for walking side-by-side. The event starts and ends at a developed city park with picnic tables suitablefor apres-hike lingering.

We park our cars and meet at Dos Vientos Ranch Park, then cross Lynn and enter Rancho Sierra Vista. We follow the paved road (closed at the entrance after dark) to the canyon overlook and then dirt trails that loop through the meadow area back to the road, and then back to the park, for a total distance of about 4 miles.

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Elevation gain is maybe 100 feet. The area is urban wilderness borderland that lends itself to easy access and charming views of city lights in the distance. Be cautious of numerous gopher holes along the trail that are hazardous to the unwary. The truly motion challenged need be careful of the numerous street curbs and sidewalk cracks that are present in the suburban portion of the journey. The socially challenged may be intimidated by the frequent opportunities to talk to pleasant strangers.

Schedule: This is a standing, (lunar) monthly event. Start times and dates will adjust with the sunset and near-full moon. Cancels for bad weather or insufficient RSVPs.

Directions: Find Lynn Rd. in Newbury Park in the extreme western part of Thousand Oaks. Take Lynn west until one block past the main entrance of Rancho Sierra Vista (Via Golita), then turn north on Via Andrea. (The park is hard to see from Lynn, but it is opposite the stables, which are easier to find). Park on the street (on Via Andrea) just past the corner of Lynn and Via Andrea and meet at the entrance to Dos Vientos Ranch Park.

Dog Policy: Though we love dogs dearly, we discourage you from bringing dogs on these hikes. We would rather these hikes be more about socializing and having dogs along seems to take our focus off the people and limits our flexibility too. Sorry!

DISCLAIMER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY

The organizers, leaders, hosts and volunteers of Newbury Park Adventure Association (NPAS) events take no responsibility and will not be held responsible for injuries or accidents. The organizers, leaders and hosts are volunteers and do not represent themselves to have any particular leadership or safety qualifications. Treat NPAS events as outings with a group of friends. Though safety is a priority, adventure activities are inherently dangerous.

By participating in NPAS events, you agree:

To take responsibility for your own safety and well-being. To KNOWINGLY AND FREELY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, both known and unknown, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES. To HEREBY RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS Newbury Park Adventure Association, its organizers, officers, employees, participants, sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and leasers of premises used to conduct the event ("RELEASEES”), WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL INJURY, DISABILITY, DEATH, LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PERSON OR PROPERTY, WHETHER ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE, to the fullest extent permitted by law. That all participants must be 18 or older, or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

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