Hiking Trail Guide: Matilija Creek

>> Back to Hiking Trail Guide

Matilija Creek

Distance
7 miles

Elevation
600 feet gain

Difficulty
4/10

City
Ojai ,CA (93023) 66.29 miles from you Weather Map

Trailhead
From Ojai, drive 4.9 miles north on highway 33 to North Matilija Road and turn left. Continue 4.8 miles to the parking area on the left by the trailhead gate.

Description

The destination of this hike is a spectacular section of Matilija Creek that flows over unusual rock slabs. Lovely pools and cascades abound over this half mile section of water. Getting to this section of the water is somewhat less inspiring, although the mountain views are lovely.

Follow the road north west from the parking area for about a mike, passing through a wildlife refuge and past side trails to several camps. At the one mile mark, you will come to a T in the road. Take the right branch, follow it through an easement past a house, and along fence made of rocks. At about 2 miles the road narrows to a single-track trail and gets somewhat overgrown. At about the 3 mile mark, you will come upon a very rocky gully at the top of a small hill overlooking the creek. Scramble down the gully and pick up the trail again to the left near the bottom. Travel a few hundred yards up stream on the trail until you see the water cascading over large rock slabs.

Map / Directions: