Matilija Canyon Ranch Wildlife Refuge

The horse that got spooked!

When June Gloom has got you down, theres a sunny spot in the mountains with natural swimming pools just off the 101 Freeway and Highway 33.  Matilija Canyon is located in the mountains above Ojai, California,  about an hour and fifteen minutes from West Malibu.  Even during busy weekends, you can find a vacant swimming hole if you are adventurous!  The hike is easy, mostly flat and well marked, and about 2 miles one way.  After the hike, you can stop at the Deer Lodge and hang with the bikers and locals, or you can stroll through the quaint town of Ojai, get an ice cream at the local candy store, and perhaps hear live music at the park.  There's also amazing smoked salmon at  one of the smaller grocery stores in Meiners Oaks.  It tastes like it was smoked and flavored with molasses!  I have been known to stop there first and take it on the hike with me!

Sweetbroom flowers

The trail begins through a private ranch, with peacocks, geese, donkeys and free range horses.  It also crosses a large riverbed and a smaller river a few times.  Its mainly a sunny hike although there are pine trees and oak trees along the way. In the spring, there are yellow sweetbroom, purple lupines, red larkspur, and white towering Our Lords Candle flowers are abundant on the trail.  You will cross riverbeds and smaller streams a few times, but if you are well-balanced, there are quite a few rocks to hop to and you won't get wet.  As always, bring water, because it gets hot in Ojai, sometimes in the triple digits in the summer. 


To get to Ojai, take PCH to 101 and follow signs to Ventura.  On the north side of Ventura, take Highway 33 to Ojai.  You will stay on 33 for approximately 14 miles. Turn left at the light and follow the signs to Maricopa Highway.There will be a Vons store at the corner where you turn, and you will pass Nordhoff High School on the left.  In 5 miles you will pass about 5 mailboxes on the left, and you will see a road that goes straight up on the left.  Turn left and take this road, Matilija Rd.  


 It is a windy narrow road that will dead end after 5 miles, with abundant dirt parking at trailhead.  Walk through Matilija Canyon Ranch, enjoy the animals and fruit trees, then continue on well marked dirt trail.  You will cross a small stream once, then cross the riverbed twice, then follow the trail to the Y.  At the Y, you will take the smaller trail to the right, marked "North Fork" .  You will cross a stream three more times. After the third time, the riverbed will be on your right.  Look for campgrounds, with stone circles for bonfires and small bbq's.  Get off the trail and look for a swimming hole once you get to the campgrounds.  

One of the shoulder-deep waterholes,  with
 plenty of flat rocks to sun on or picnic on.

The riverbed on the way back.