Hike Sycamore Canyon and Have Picnic Lunch after

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Now that it's past Labor Day, we can again use our Limited Golden Bear Pass--and we all have one, don't we?--to get free parking at State parks. If you don't have a pass and you're a senior, you can get one at the San Buenaventura State Beach Office. It's a good deal--$20 for a calendar year of free parking from 1-January to Memorial Day and then again from after Labor Day to 31-December.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are joining this hike and park on PCH, DO NOT cross the road on foot. Park on the mountain side [the northbound side]. We recommend, however, that you park in the lot inside the park and pay the fee.

It can get warm in the Canyon, but it is a beach area walk, and there is usually a cool breeze off the ocean. There are two variants of this hike--one mostly flat, the other with a significant elevation gain. We'll be taking the mostly flat trail.

ALSO IMPORTANT: Bring plenty of water, cold water. Ideal is to bring a quart or so of water frozen in a [strong] container. Drink the melt as you hike, and refill it from another source. A note about heat distress. Hydration is important, but if you become seriously heat distressed, drinking more water won't save you. Elevated body temperature is what kills. Drinking COLD water will help, but the quickest help is to pour cold water over your head and shoulders.

Good scenery and good exercise. The fire from a few years ago did remove much of the brush and killed or damaged many trees. But regrowth is ongoing and this remains a very pretty area. The resident feral parrots survived the fire and are numerous. The walk is quite pleasant, especially if you like mainly flat with good footing. We’ll meet at the day use parking lot to the left of the entrance kiosk. To be redundant: DO NOT PARK ON THE OCEAN SIDE OF PCH AND TRY TO CROSS. WAY TOO DANGEROUS.

After the hike, we'll commandeer a picnic table inside the park or cross [in a car] to the beach park and have lunch. Bring your own lunch.

Directions: From Oxnard on Highway 101, take the Pacific Coast Highway south through Oxnard for 15 minutes to Point Mugu State Park. Make a left into Sycamore Canyon.

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