2 min
Overview
Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks packs a shockingly diverse landscape into its 1,765 acres. There are sweeping grasslands, prominent ridges and peaks like Lizard Rock, the beautiful year-round Paradise Falls and its oak and sycamore-lined riparian canyon, and even some unusual eroded rock formations like Indian Cave. The park is home to seven different plant communities and more than 250 species of plants, 60 species of birds, 37 species of mammals, and 22 species of amphibians and reptiles. Without hyperbole, this is one of the most fascinating regional parks in the L.A. area. There are many entrances to the park, but this loop of highlights begins at the large dirt lot at the end of Avenieda de los Arboles. Parking is free and, although limited, is pretty generous for a park so close to an urban environment. Fill up on water at the fountain and look for the trailhead on the western edge of the parking area, where you’ll see an informational board with park rules and a large map. Head west on the straight-shot Mesa Trail, which rises over a low hill before providing some truly stunning views of the park itself. In fact, one of the best parts about Wildwood Park is that you really have no idea how beautiful it is until you’re already hiking in it. You can’t see a whole lot from the trailhead, but in just a quarter-mile on the Mesa Trail you’ll have a commanding panorama of the Mountclef Ridge on your right, Lizard Rock straight ahead of you, and the intriguing drop-off of the home canyon of the Arroyo Conejo. Stay straight on the Mesa Trail for just under 0.4 miles, ignoring the dirt roads to your left and the Santa Rosa Trail to your right. At this point, the Mesa Trail continues in a bee-line to Lizard Rock, so if you’re short on time or just want to stand atop that rocky outcropping continue straight and the Mesa Trail meets the Lizard Rock Trail in just over another mile. If you’d like to sample more of the varied terrain Wildwood Park has to offer, take a left instead for a short trip south on the T
Trail Stats
7.4 km
190 m
282 m
90 m
—
Photos
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.