Ojai Winter Hikes
Winter at Piedra Blanca
Cover photo by Nicholas Weissman
About 30 minutes’ drive north of Ojai on the winding Jacinto Reyes Scenic Byway — or “up the 33” — you’ll find an incredible array of outdoor activities. There are wildflowers and waterfalls in Spring, swimming holes to cool you off in Summer, plentiful campgrounds, and some very ambitious multi-day hikes to mind-blowing hot springs. The rock formation Piedra Blanca might be best in Winter.
You’ll want to know where you’re going before you hit the road as Wi-Fi will be scarce along the way. On weekends, stop at the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center for a parking pass or use your California Adventure Pass, available at the Ojai Ranger Station or REI.
Look for the turnoff at Rose Valley, a nine-site campground with a short trail to a waterfall. There is also Rose Valley fishing lake and Rose Valley shooting range (only accessible to members of the Ojai Valley Gun Club).
DIRECTIONS:
Turn right onto Forest Rte 6N31/Rose Valley Rd/Sespe River Rd. | 3.6 mi
Slight right onto Forest Rte 6N31 | 2.0 mi
Slight left | 0.1 mi
Piedra Blanca Trail Map
Don’t be dissuaded by the number of cars in the parking lot. The trails here stretch far back into the wilderness and there is plenty of space to absorb everyone. At the end of the lot are two latrines — with no sinks, so don’t forget that hand sanitizer.
The trail is an easy 2.5 miles with 1-3 water crossings, depending on the time of year. In spring you’ll have deer flies and in summer it gets hot, but winter is fantastic. Scrubby chaparral plants you didn’t realize flower are blooming and everything is really stretching toward the sun. The air is clear. Instead of making a bee-line for what little tree cover is available, you can explore the sandstone rock formations.
Our Sespe wilderness areas have some of the most beautiful, well-maintained trails in California, but they are still WILD. Here are a few things you should consider before you head out to the hills.
This info is specifically for winter and subject to change at any time.
