Overview

Nordhoff Ridge, running east-west, separates the Ojai Valley from Rose Valley to the north. The area of this map is generally bordered on the west by Highway 33, on the east by Lion and Sisar Canyons, on the south by Ojai and on the north by Sespe Creek. All of this area is outside of wilderness areas and so the many trails are open to mountain biking as well as hiking and equestrians. Nordhoff Ridge, and the trails that lead up to it, provide some spectacular views into the Ojai Valley and Rose Valley and the rugged moutains of the Los Padres National Forest that surround them. However, there is not much shade so these trails are best travelled in the cooler months, but note that Nordhoff Ridge is high enough to get snow in the winter.

The two most accessible and popular trails are probably Gridley and Pratt. They both climb from the north edge of Ojai to Nordhoff Peak where you can get great views of the Ojai Valley and, on a clear day, the Channel Islands. Both trails are narrow, quite steep and somewhat technical. Even so, these trails have quite different characters. Gridley, with a few exceptions, is firm all the way up, but rocky and sometimes rutted. Pratt is more variable, but has more sections with looser, crushed rock on the surface. It's also steeper in general, so Gridley is easier to climb for mountain bikers. The two roads at the bottom, Fuel Break Road and Shelf Road, run generally parallel and east-west so are used to connect the bottoms of Pratt and Gridley for the last leg of a loop.

Ojai is a real hotbed of geocaching with a number of real enthusiasts living nearby. As such, all of the trails have geocaches hidden along them at least every quarter mile. If you like being on the trails and geocaching, or are interested in learning more about the sport, this is a great place to be!

Aerial View

Trailheads

a. Pratt Trailhead, just west of the north end of N. Signal Street. Map and Directions. There is also room for a few cars at the side of the road at the north end of N. Signal Street for Shelf Road.
b. The Gridley Trailhead at the north end of Gridley Road. Map and Directions. There is also room for a few cars just down the street at the east end of Shelf Road.
c. Sisar Canyon Road, at the north end of Sisar Road. Map and Directions.
d. Rose Valley Campsite. Map and Directions.
e. Cozy Dell Trailhead on Hwy 33 north of Ojai. Map and Directions.
f. Piedra Blanca, Middle Sespe and Sespe River Trailheads. Map and Directions.

Geocaches

• Cozy Dell to Pratt Trail
• Gridley Trail east to Sisar and Lion Canyons, north to Rose Canyon
• West Rose Valley north to Middle Sespe Trail

Trails

[1] Nordhoff Ridge Road (5N08)

Description This broad fireroad travels along Nordhoff Ridge, giving commanding views into the Ojai Valley to the south and Rose Valley and the Sespe Wilderness Area to the north. Several trails lead up from the valleys below and end at this road. Nordhoff Ridge Road ends at the Sespe Wilderness Area in the east, below Topatopa Bluff. It provides convenient access to a number of trails, but there is no shade for long stretches and it can get very hot in the summer, so plan accordingly.

This road is open to 4-wheel drive vehicles in the summer and fall until the rain or snow in the winter washes it out. A permit is required to drive on this road. They are available from the Ojai Valley Ranger Station. Access to the road is via the Nordhoff Ridge Access Road (5N42).

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T1

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[2] Nordhoff Ridge Access Road (5N42)

Description This broad and sometimes very steep fireroad starts at the Rose Valley campground south of the east end of Rose Valley Road (aka Sespe River Road; 6N31)) and travels up to Nordhoff Ridge Road. This road is open to 4-wheel drive vehicles in the summer and fall until heavy rain or snow in the winter begins. A permit is required to drive on this road. They are available from the Ojai Valley Ranger Station.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T1

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[3] Sisar Canyon Road (aka 4N15)

Description  Sisar Canyon Road is a fireroad that starts at the north end of Sisar Rd in Ojai and climbs 7.8 miles to Nordhoff Ridge Road. There is a locked gate at the bottom and also 3.2 miles up were the Lower Red Reef Trail starts. If either of these gates is open, do not drive your vehicle through them because they may be locked when you return. The first 3.2 miles of the road is permanently closed to vehicular traffic but the rangers may leave them open temporarily, then relock them without checking if anyone has passed through.

Sisar Canyon Road is very popular with hikers and mountain bikers. The first two miles is almost completely under cover of an oak canopy. From there it climbs out of the canyon into the chaparral where there are great views of Ojai Valley and Sulphur Mountain far below. The road is maintained for forest service vehicles but the 3.2 miles that are closed are rockier than the other roads in this area.

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Technical Rating T2

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[4] Pratt Trail (23W09) from Nordhoff Peak

Description Pratt Trail is one of the two main trails from Ojai to Nordhoff Peak, the other being Gridley. The character of the trails is quite different. Pratt is a little steeper (1.5 miles shorter with slightly more elevation change) but has a less rocky tread, but some sections of decomposed granite that is a little loose.

The Pratt Trailhead is at the Stewart Canyon Debris Basin. The trail starts off quite rocky, winding between the houses for almost a mile. It follows the pavement up briefly before turning onto a fireroad for another mile. Then it turns off the fireroad as a singletrack, climbing 2.75 miles to Nordhoff Ridge. From there it is another 0.9 miles to Nordhoff Peak.

For mountain bikers, the Pratt is a fun alternative to Gridley for returning to the valley. The last mile is particularly fun, with many small steps and drops through the rocks.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating From Nordhoff Peak to Cozy Dell Rd, T4.5 . Dirt road section, T1.5 . Lower Pratt, T3.5 .

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[5] Gridley Trail (22W05) and Nordhoff Ridge Rd (5N08) to Nordhoff Peak.

Description This is a beautiful singletrack that affords some spectacular views along the way. Mountain bikers will find some technical challenges in the form of rocks and tight switchbacks. For an added challenge, mtn bikers can climb the very steep Nordhoff Ridge Rd to the old fire lookout tower at Nordhoff Peak before coasting all the way back down to the start.

The trail begins with a somewhat rocky but firm climb up a short connector trail to get to a dirt road that skirts an avocado orchard. After the avocado trees are passed, the old road becomes more rutted, rocky and narrow, but is still firm and not very steep. About a third of the way to the top is the horse trough, a good spot for a rest. After that the trail is noticibly more technical, even though it's not really any steeper for the most part. However, it's narrower, rutted and has rocks protruding from the firm dirt of the trailbed with a few rocky switchbacks. For mountain bikers, this part of the trail is best for people with good technical riding skills, especially for the return trip. At the top is a very steep fireroad about a mile long that leads to an old lookout tower at Nordhoff Peak.  On a clear day, the views from the top make the extra climb up worth the effort. 

The trip back down can be really fun if you love narrow and rocky downhill! An alternative is to make a loop by continuing west and down on Nordhoff Ridge Road about a mile and then descending the Pratt Trail on the left. Keep in mind that Pratt is a little steeper overall than Gridley.

View of the valley from two-thirds of the way up Gridley Trail 

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

If you think this trail is steep, see how it compares to other steep trails.

Technical Rating From the bottom to the horse trough, T3 . From there to the top, T4.5 .

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[6] Cozy Dell Trail

Description I have not yet been on this trail so I can't provide any description. I downloaded the GPS track from Redtrails.com but it is not complete so I can't derive the elevation profile from it.

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[7] Foothill Trail

Description I have not yet been on this trail so I can't provide any description. I downloaded the GPS track from Redtrails.com and derived the elevation profile from that.

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[8] Shelf Rd (AKA Valley View Rd)

Description This dirt road very closely follows the contour of the hills and so has much less climbing and is much easier than Fuel Break Rd when connecting the bottom of Pratt with the bottom of Gridley. It is accessible on the west end from the north end of Signal St, and from Gridley Rd at the east end.

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T1

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[9] Fuel Break Rd (AKA Hermitage Rd)

Description This is a good route to connect the bottom of Gridley with the bottom of Pratt Trail. Towards the west end is a singletrack section that avoids private property and connects with a dirt road that leads to the bottom of Gridley at the start of the avacado orchard, 0.4 miles from the trailhead. It's not very long, only 2.3 miles, but it's surprisingly hilly, especially after climbing Gridley and descending Pratt!

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating Fireroad section T1 . Singletrack, T2.5

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[10] Horn Canyon Trail

Description I have not yet been on this trail so I can't provide any description. I downloaded the GPS track from Redtrails.com and derived the elevation profile from that.

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[11] Lower Red Reef Trail

Description I have not yet been on this trail so I can't provide any description. I downloaded the GPS track from Redtrails.com and derived the elevation profile from that.

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[12] Lion Canyon Trail

Description I have not yet been on this trail so I can't provide any description. I downloaded the GPS track from Redtrails.com and derived the elevation profile from that.

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[13] Rose - Lion Connector Trail

Description I have not yet been on this trail so I can't provide any description. I downloaded the GPS track from Redtrails.com and derived the elevation profile from that.

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[14] Middle Sespe Trail

Description I have only travelled on this trail for about 1.5 miles from the Rose Valley Road parking area. This section is broad, firm and quite well travelled. The photo at right shows the trail with Piedra Blanca in the background. For the rest, I can't provide any description. I downloaded the GPS track from Redtrails.com and derived the elevation profile from that.

Technical Rating T2 (first 1.5 miles)

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[15] Piedra Blanca Access

Description Piedra Blanca is an area of immense light-colored rock surfaces and faces that lies just north of the Sespe Creek at the end of Rose Valley Road. The rocks can be accessed by an informal trail that follows a small, usually dry stream north from the Middle Sespe Trail, starting about 1.3 miles from the parking at the end of Rose Valley Road. The trail is somewhat overgrown along the stream, but when you get a little higher, you reach the bare rocks where you can trek wherever you like. Still, because of the steepness, many areas are inaccessible. However, you can easily climb to the north edge and look down a steep cliff into the valley of what looks like a major waterway when it has water in it.

When exploring this area, it's best to use a GPS to help you find your way back. Don't count on following your footprints across the large expanses of bare rock!

Download the GPS track to help you find your way.

Technical Rating T5

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This page last updated on March 25, 2010

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