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The Hike
Distance: 4.2 miles / 2.7 miles
Gain: 700' / 500'
Distribution: Well distributed.
Difficulty: Easy Intermediate / Fit Beginner
Shape: Lollipop.
Pace: 2.0 mph.
Trail Type: Fire road and single track.
Trail Variations: Rolling stroll and ramp.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Dogs: Dogs must be kept on leash and away from the picnic table.
Restrooms: No
Drinking Fountains: No.
Parking: Free

What to bring
1 liter of water for every 3 miles.
Snacks and/or beverages to share
Hiking shoes preferred, but athletic shoes will be OK.
Flashlight or headlamp.
Sunscreen and/or hat as needed.
Insect repellent (optional).

Hosting
Route: The host knows the route. A pic of the route has been posted as part of this description.
Navigation: Host memory, enhanced by GPS navigation as needed.
Hike type: Social.

We won't be hiking at a fast pace because this is a social hike, not a conditioning hike. There is nothing wrong with stopping, even if it means every 50 steps.

Stops
The host may designate stopping points to let others catch up. This hike will include an extended stop for a snack and beverage share at the half way point. There may not always be a sweeper designated to be the last hiker.

Each hiker is responsible for knowing their capability, only attending events where they are able to sustain the described pace, for keeping up with the group sufficiently enough to make the turns and not get left behind, and for making sure the host is notified if they are going to split from the group.

Group separation
Sometimes hikers wish to move significantly ahead and not wait at designated stopping points. Please let the host know. They are on their own regarding route and navigation.

Directions
Conejo Canyons Trail Head
2010 Conejo Center Dr.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
US-101, exit Ventu Park Rd, North.
Ventu Park Rd. North for 1 mile.
Right on Rancho Conejo Blvd., 1.3 miles.
Left on Conejo Center Dr.

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4 mi, 500' gain, beginner
Easier option: 1.5 mi, 125' gain, beginner.

This is a beginner hike on the beautiful Limekiln trail.

This hike is a slight lollipop, (the shape of the route). There are no extended inclines, however there are about 5 bumps in the trail with 25-40' gains, about 35-65 steps each. This is something a beginner would be able to handle, but these bumps will get the blood pumping, as they are like climbing up to 4 flights of stairs. There is nothing wrong with pausing for a breather while tackling these bumps in the trail.

The trail varies between asphalt, gravel fire road, single tracker, tree covered, hilly, roadside, wooded, open air, and strolls through the park.

We'll enter Limekiln Canyon, where we'll first encounter a heavily wooded park with large pine trees lining the trail and blocking out the sun. After about 0.2 miles, there will be a split. We can go either way because they rejoin after about 100 yards, but for this route, we'll go left.

After another half mile, the route makes a turn to the right. Those that want the super-easy route should continue straight for 100 yards to a log, where they can wait about 45 min for the rest of us to return for the social event.

The rest of the group will follow the trail to the right and continue for about 1.2 miles. Right after the trail reaches a junction, we'll take a trail off to the right, and follow it until we reach Sesnon Blvd., then travel about 20 yards west, and head back in on a different trail.

After several hundred yards, we'll reconnect with the original trail for the return, making a right onto the downward trail.

Just before we complete the last 3/4 mile, we'll turn right instead of left. After about 100 yards, we'll find a great spot with a giant fallen tree trunk to have a social event snack and beverage share.

After about 30-60 minutes, we'll continue the last 3/4 mile back to our cars. Those that don't want to stick around are welcome to head back to their cars by any route they choose, but I'll take a few splits to the left and cover some different trails, each that returns back to the original trail after several hundred yards.

There will be a couple creek crossings, where one will use a few stepping stones to avoid getting wet. Click HERE for route.

Interesting Notes
Here are a couple plants you are sure to see on this hike:

California Buckwheat
When the white flowers turn a rusty brown, they can be crushed into a powder, mixed with water, and baked into bread. The black seeds in the flower heads are also edible. Don't touch the white flowers if bees are around because they won't like it and may attack. A cold tea made from the leaves has been used to treat stomachaches and headaches. A warm tea made from the roots has been used to treat colds. The stems are stiff and flexible, so they have been used by Indians as piercing utensils.

Laurel Sumac
Red stems and outline along leaves. The dried flower bunches look like small trees, and are used by model railroad builders as such, after being dyed green. Laurel sumac is sensitive to cold and does not tolerate freezing conditions. Orange growers in the early history of southern California used to pick places to plant their oranges based on where laurel sumac was growing because this indicated it would not get too cold for oranges if laurel sumac could grow there. For some, the sap will irritate their skin just like poison oak, causing blisters. Also called "Taco Plant".

Directions:
Limekiln Canyon Trail
Porter Ranch, CA 91326

From the 118
Exit Tampa Ave (3 miles east of the Topanga Canyon exit) and head north for 1000'.
Left (west) on Rinaldi St. for 1000'.
Trailhead on the right (north).
Park on either side of the street.

The Hike
Distance: 4 miles, easier option 1.5 miles.
Elevation Gain: 500', easier option 125'.
Difficulty: Fit Beginner, easier option Beginner.
Pace: 2.5 mph
Dogs: Yes
Restrooms: No
Drinking Fountains: No
Parking: Free on either side of the street in front of the trail head.
Trail: Varied. Good condition.

What to Bring:
Snacks and/or beverages to share
1-2 liters of water.
Hiking shoes preferred, but athletic shoes will be OK.
Flashlight or headlamp.

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We'll start by climbing the Triunfo Canyon trail for 0.9 miles. Those that want the "Even easier" route will make a left, and after 50 feet, turn right at the fire road dead end and continue for 0.9 miles to a staircase on the right, where they can wait for the rest of us.

The rest will continue for 0.35 miles, where we'll hit a plateau. We'll stop there and regroup, taking in the views.

Those that want to take the "Easy option" will go left for 0.2 miles and 110' gain to the social event spot.

The rest of us will continue onto the Los Robles trail, a fire road, for another 1.25 miles, at which point we'll come to a junction heading down.

We'll head down and then up, the Whitehorse Canyon trail for 1 mile, then make a left onto the Conejo Crest Trail. We'll follow that trail for 3/4 mile to a set of stairs and a bench. There, we'll have a snack and beverage share social event for 30 – 60 minutes before heading down the last mile back to our cars.

Returning, we'll go down the Brookview trail for 0.2 miles, making a left when we can, going about 100 feet before turning right at a dead end, and taking the Triunfo Canyon trail back down the way we came.

The Hike
Distance: 5.25 miles / 2.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1000' / 700'
Difficulty: Intermediate / Easy Intermediate
Pace: 2.0 mph
Dogs: Yes
Restrooms: Yes
Drinking Fountains: Yes
Parking: Free at the trail head.
Trail: Varied. Good condition.

What to Bring:
Snacks and/or beverages to share
2 liters of water.
Hiking shoes preferred, but athletic shoes will be OK.
Flashlight or headlamp.

Directions

Triunfo Community Park
1869 Tamarack St.
Westlake Village, CA91361

From Simi Valley:
CA-118 west to CA-23 south
CA-23 south for 7.4 miles
US-101 east/south for 1.5 miles, exit Hampshire Rd.
Right on Hampshire Rd. south for 1/2 mile
Right on Triunfo Canyon Rd. for 1/2 mile
Right on Tamarack St. for 1000' to dead end.
Left into parking lot.

From the East:
US-101 west/north, exit Westlake Blvd.
Left on S. Westlake Blvd. for 1 mile
Right on Triunfo Canyon Rd. for 1/2 mile
Left on Tamarack St. for 1000' to dead end.
Left into parking lot.

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Sagebrush Cantina
23527 Calabasas Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302
(818) 222-6062

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