Rancho Sierra Vista/Mt. Boney
| Date | Temescal Canyon Meeting Time | Trail Head Meeting Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 18 | 6:15 | 7:30 | 13 |
Course Details
Restrooms:
Water:
Course Type:
Scheduled Runs Subject to Change
On rare occasions, road closures, fires, torrential rain or other natural disasters force us to change the run location. Please check the club web site for the most up-to-date schedule information. Course changes will be posted by Saturday evening so it's best to check Sunday morning before you head out.
New Runners
While we prefer for new runners to meet the first time at Temescal Canyon Rd, we realize that it may be out of your way. If you would prefer to meet us at the trail head, check below for the map and parking instructions. Check the Run With Us page for information on the Temescal Canyon Rd meeting location and time.
Course Description
This run takes place in Point Mugu State Park, but for this time we start on the northern edge of the park in the Conejo Valley at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa National Park in Newbury Park (just west of Thousand Oaks).
We park at the Wendy Drive trailhead (corner Wendy Drive with Portrero rd.) which is a gateway to some of the most scenic and spectacular trail runs in the Santa Monica Mountains on the extensive and diverse network of trails that can range from a few minutes, to many miles and hours.
This course is not for the faint of heart but if you dare to come you'll experience some of the most scenic back country in the Santa Monica Mountains. It has superb single track trails, fantastic views, grueling climbs, and fast, fast downhills. The longer climbs are on the single track sections of the course, and the descents generally on roads or old road beds. This results in a challenging course with 2600' of elevation gain/loss, that -- for the fleet-footed -- can be very fast.
There are two significant climbs.
The first one is after jogging down the blacktop into Big Sycamore Canyon. We then turn a sharp right onto Hidden Pond Trail with nearly 700' of climb (and a little downhill) between mile 1.8 and mile 4. Early in the morning, it's easy to push this section too hard, don’t do it. Instead enjoy the magnificent views of the Boney Mountain range and once high up look at the great ocean views of the Santa Barbara Channel and the Oxnard plain before flying down on the Old Ranch Rd. towards the Oak and Sycamore trees dense Blue Canyon that takes us up to the Old Boney.
The second and the biggest one starts in earnest around mile 6.8 on the Old Boney Trail. This is a little less than a mile past the Danielson ranch halfway the Big Sycamore Canyon Fire rd. REFILL here with water! From the low point (295'), (where we cross the canyon and with the option to shortcut the route), at mile 5.5 to the high point (1820') at mile 9.75, there is a gain of about 1700' in elevation of climbing in the Boney Mountain Wilderness.
Come prepared with lots of water and some gu’s, hat and sunglasses and you’ll have a wonderful Boney Mountain experience.
After the run we’ll go for coffee and a sandwich to a nearby small local coffee place “Boney Mountain coffee shop” with a superb outdoor setting with views of ... Boney Mountain! http://www.boneymountaincoffee.com/index.htm
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