Los Robles Trail WestTrails

Trails of
Los Robles Trail West Area (Moorpark Rd to Pt Mugu State Park)
Trail Map Aerial View Trailheads	Trail Descriptions Suggested Rides and Hikes Geocaches	Photos Videos Area Weather
From the picnic table, looking south-west towards Sycamore Canyon with the Channel Islands in the distance and Newbury Park below.

Overview

The Los Robles Trail starts near Hampshire Road near the 101 Freeway and ends at Potrero Road near Wendy Drive. The eastern part is 95% fire road but adjoins some nice single tracks. The western section, described here, is 95% single track and has some great views of the city, and of Hidden Valley in a couple of spots. There are several connecting trails so loops of different lengths can be ridden. Out-and-backs are also fun. This is one of the most enjoyable and popular areas to ride in the Conejo Valley. List of suggested rides

Map Key

Printable map (1.3 MB)

Aerial View

Geocaches in the area

Trailheads

There are several trailheads and most of them have parking.

The most popular is at the south end of Moorpark Road at the east end of the trail. To reach it, turn south from the 101 freeway and follow it about 1/2 mile until it dead ends at Greenmeadows.
To park at the west end of the trail, turn south onto Wendy Drive from the 101 freeway and drive to the end at Potrero Road, about 2 3/4 miles. You can park on the south side of Potrero Road and ride up the Sycamore connector trail about a half mile to the west end of Los Robles trail. Alternately, you can drive east on Potrero and park at the trail head directly.
There is parking on Regal Oak Ct near the bottom of the Rosewood Trail. Turn south on Lynn Rd from the 101. About 1.5 miles along, turn left up Regal Oak Court. The trailhead is on the left near the end of the street.
There is a little-known access to the base of Space Mountain from Greenmeadows Drive near Lynn Rd. From Lynn Rd, turn south on Greenmeadows (the first traffic light south of the 101 freeway). The trailhead is two blocks in, on the right. It starts as a grassy corridor that goes between the houses and ends at the golf course. The trail heads right, along the pavement until it gets back to Greenmeadow where a paved bike path starts. Follow the bike path to the end, near the end, a few hundred from the west leg of the Oak Creek Loop Trail. This route can also be used to return to the Moorpark trailhead from the street without having to cross over to the north side of the freeway.

Suggested Rides and Hikes

Name	Endurance Rating	Technical Rating	Distance (miles)	Climb (feet)	Descent (feet)
Space Mountain to the Picnic Table	E3	T3	7.6	1460	1460
Rosewood/Space Mountain Loop	E3	T3	8.2	1500	1500
Space Mountain/Rosewood	E3	T3	8.2	1500	1500
Los Robles Trail from Potrero	E3.5	T3.5	14.3	2800	2800
Space Mountain/Potrero Loop	E4	T3.5	15	3000	3000
Space Mountain to the Beach & BBQ	E5	T3.5	25	3400	4400

This list was generated on January 22, 2006

Trails

[1] Los Robles Trail West (AKA "Space Mountain")

Description Starting at the parking lot at the south end of Moorpark Road, the trail begins as a fire road heading west. After about a half mile, at the top of a short hill, the eastern half of this trail splits off towards the south. Another hundred yards on, the fire road becomes Spring Canyon Trail and Los Robles Trail West heads up the hill, fondly known as Space Mountain, as a single track. Space Mountain starts with a short steep climb, then settles into a gradual climb with several sharp switchbacks. The trail is in good shape, but has a lot of sharp rocks embedded in it and some occasional ruts. Intermediate riders will have to walk part of this and novices will walk most of it. At the top of Space Mountain a traverse begins and has a great view of the city below. About 3 miles from the parking lot is a short, steep downhill section with two sharp switchbacks, just before the trail crosses a private road. From here there is a gradual, then steeper climb, to where the trail forks to the left. (To the right is a very short connector to the top of the Rosewood Trail right and down, and left to the picnic table where we always stop for a snack and a view of Newbury Park below, during the day or on night rides.) Going left at the fork, the trail heads down and around a couple more switchbacks, then becomes very straight as it runs along a fence. However, there are some very steep, rutted and usually loose hills in this stretch, first up and then three downhill stretches. Almost everybody walks parts of these uphills, whichever direction they are travelling. (Going east, you can bypass these climbs by taking the Felton Street Connector and riding on Lynn Road to the bottom of Rosewood trail, which is much easier to climb.) After passing the Felton St connector, the trail is particularly fun as there are no steep climbs, but lots of turns but few rocks. Finally, there is one more short rocky climb and then it's downhill to the parking area on Potrero Road. The connector trail to Sycamore Canyon is directly across the street. Riding back along the trail is just as much fun as riding out, but of course there are a number of loops that can be done as well.

"Space Mountain" gets its name from the switchbacks

From Moorpark Rd to the picnic table, the soil is quite sandy and the trail is well drained so it doesn't get muddy during the rainy season. In the winter, we ride here a lot because all other local trails are too muddy. However, west of the picnic table, this trail is as muddy as anywhere else.

Length (miles)	6.0
Climb (feet)	Because of the steep hillsides, the GPS track is not accurate enough to determine the amount of climbing
Descent (feet)	Because of the steep hillsides, the GPS track is not accurate enough to determine the amount of climbing

Trail Profile Back to the Top

[2] Rosewood Trail

Description Rosewood Trail splits off from Los Robles Trail at the picnic table and ends at Lynn Road, about one 1000 ft west of Ventu Park Rd. It is 100% single track and, starting at the top, 99% downhill, not too steep, but with lots of switchbacks. Its a real blast to go down, but be careful because there are a lot of people on it, particularly hikers, and lots of blind corners to hide them. For climbing, it is about the same steepness as Space Mountain, but some people find it easier because it isn't quite as rocky and rutted. Being on the north face of the hill, the bushes are always green, so it is pretty as well.
In either direction, this is a primo trail.

Rosewood Trail has some switchbacks, too.

Length (miles)
2.0

Climb (feet)
20 (Starting at Los Robles Trail)

Descent (feet)
800

Trail Profile Back to the Top

[3] Spring Canyon Fire Road

Description
About a half mile west of the parking area on Moorpark Road, the Los Robles trail turns sharply left up Space Mountain and becomes a single track. Meanwhile, the fire road continues on as Spring Canyon Trail for nearly a mile. There are some gentle climbs and descents and the road is in pretty good condition so it is easy for novices, and people who like to go fast, can. Nevertheless, you should be careful because there is quite a bit of hiking and equestrian traffic on this trail. We never do this trail as an out-and-back; it's value is as part of a loop that goes up Space Mountain and comes down either Rosewood or the Felton St connector. For variety, the loop is just as much fun in reverse, going out on the Spring Canyon Trail and coming back down Space Mountain.

Length (miles)
0.9

Climb (feet)
120

Descent (feet)
140

Trail Profile Back to the Top

[4,5] Oak Creek Loop (AKA "The Whoop-de-doos")

Description
The Oak Creek Loop is a single track shaped like an inverted "U," connected at the ends with a short section of street and meeting Los Robles Trail at the top. The two sides have very different personalities. The west side has two trail separted by a small fence. On one side is a nature walk, and on the other side is a very tame biking and equestrian trail. It climbs very genly over its length, except for the last few dozen feet that is quite a bit steeper. It is very peaceful and perfect for beginners, although not very long. The east side has rocky patches, small ruts, sudden rises and dips, and tight corners. It is fondly known as the Space Mountain whoop-de-doos. It's a blast to go down and the perfect way to end a ride in the region (nobody ever rides up it - if you want to go down it again, ride up the western leg of this loop).

Length (miles)
0.66

Climb (feet)
80

Descent (feet)
100

Trail Profile Back to the Top

[S2, S3] Lynn Road and Heavenly Valley Road Connecting Streets

Description
Lynn Road provides a great route for making loops out of the rides, and also for bypassing the really steep climbs on Los Robles Trail when riding east. Typical rides are: from the Moorpark parking lot, up Space Mountain to the picnic table, down Rosewood, east on Lynn Rd and up Heavenly Valley, then back to the parking lot by Spring Canyon; the reverse of that; from the parking lot west on Los Robles Trail to Portero Rd, back to the Felson St connector, down Lynn to the bottom of Rosewood, up Rosewood to the picnic table, then back to the parking lot on Los Robles Trail.

Length (miles)
2.7 from the Felton St trailhead to the Spring Canyon trailhead; 1.75 from Felton St to the bottom of Rosewood

Climb (feet)
320

Descent (feet)
430

Trail Profile Back to the Top


	In this profile, the black line represents Lynn Road. The short red section at the beginning is Felton Street. The longer red line at the end is Heavenly Valley Rd and the very east end of McKnight Rd.

This page last updated February 24, 2009

Thanks for looking at Steve's guide to trails in Ventura County, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) and other locations.

[2] Rosewood Trail
Description Rosewood Trail splits off from Los Robles Trail at the picnic table and ends at Lynn Road, about one 1000 ft west of Ventu Park Rd. It is 100% single track and, starting at the top, 99% downhill, not too steep, but with lots of switchbacks. Its a real blast to go down, but be careful because there are a lot of people on it, particularly hikers, and lots of blind corners to hide them. For climbing, it is about the same steepness as Space Mountain, but some people find it easier because it isn't quite as rocky and rutted. Being on the north face of the hill, the bushes are always green, so it is pretty as well. In either direction, this is a primo trail.		Rosewood Trail has some switchbacks, too.
Length (miles)	2.0
Climb (feet)	20 (Starting at Los Robles Trail)
Descent (feet)	800

[3] Spring Canyon Fire Road
Description	About a half mile west of the parking area on Moorpark Road, the Los Robles trail turns sharply left up Space Mountain and becomes a single track. Meanwhile, the fire road continues on as Spring Canyon Trail for nearly a mile. There are some gentle climbs and descents and the road is in pretty good condition so it is easy for novices, and people who like to go fast, can. Nevertheless, you should be careful because there is quite a bit of hiking and equestrian traffic on this trail. We never do this trail as an out-and-back; it's value is as part of a loop that goes up Space Mountain and comes down either Rosewood or the Felton St connector. For variety, the loop is just as much fun in reverse, going out on the Spring Canyon Trail and coming back down Space Mountain.
Length (miles)	0.9
Climb (feet)	120
Descent (feet)	140

[4,5] Oak Creek Loop (AKA "The Whoop-de-doos")
Description	The Oak Creek Loop is a single track shaped like an inverted "U," connected at the ends with a short section of street and meeting Los Robles Trail at the top. The two sides have very different personalities. The west side has two trail separted by a small fence. On one side is a nature walk, and on the other side is a very tame biking and equestrian trail. It climbs very genly over its length, except for the last few dozen feet that is quite a bit steeper. It is very peaceful and perfect for beginners, although not very long. The east side has rocky patches, small ruts, sudden rises and dips, and tight corners. It is fondly known as the Space Mountain whoop-de-doos. It's a blast to go down and the perfect way to end a ride in the region (nobody ever rides up it - if you want to go down it again, ride up the western leg of this loop).
Length (miles)	0.66
Climb (feet)	80
Descent (feet)	100

[S2, S3] Lynn Road and Heavenly Valley Road Connecting Streets
Description	Lynn Road provides a great route for making loops out of the rides, and also for bypassing the really steep climbs on Los Robles Trail when riding east. Typical rides are: from the Moorpark parking lot, up Space Mountain to the picnic table, down Rosewood, east on Lynn Rd and up Heavenly Valley, then back to the parking lot by Spring Canyon; the reverse of that; from the parking lot west on Los Robles Trail to Portero Rd, back to the Felson St connector, down Lynn to the bottom of Rosewood, up Rosewood to the picnic table, then back to the parking lot on Los Robles Trail.
Length (miles)	2.7 from the Felton St trailhead to the Spring Canyon trailhead; 1.75 from Felton St to the bottom of Rosewood
Climb (feet)	320
Descent (feet)	430