Ventura, California
Ventura might not seem like a mountain town, but California’s coastline – mainly from Los Angeles northward – is blanketed with ranges that grow as you head north. The Santa Monica Mountains are full of hiking and mountain biking trails, rock climbing spots, high summits only a few miles from the ocean, and even a wilderness area. Just north of Ventura, Highway 33 starts climbing into the rural ranchland of the Topatopa Mountains. Hines Peak (6,716 feet) is the crown of the Topatopas. Ventura is primarily known as a surfing mecca where you can walk into any burrito shop and experience heaven. Interestingly enough, it’s also where Yvon Chouinard started Patagonia, and it’s no wonder – with gorgeous weather, classic beaches and surf breaks, great hiking, a bustling mountain biking scene, and even a bit of climbing, Ventura is hard to beat.
Recent Articles
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SoCal From Three Bikes, One Cyclist, Over Three Years – Part II
Read Part I – Gibraltar: The Solo Climb if you missed last week’s installment. Sycamore Canyon: On the Heels of Greats The approach to Sycamore Canyon Southern California – specifically, a little park off the coast between Ventura and Malibu – isn’t where you’d assume the great mountain biking happens. But Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park […]
Featured Mountains in Ventura
| Mountain | Approx. Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sulphur Mountain | 2,697 ft (822 m) |
| South Mountain | 2,313 ft (705 m) |
| Santa Paula Peak | 4,911 ft (1,497 m) |
| Sandstone Peak | 3,087 ft (941 m) |
| Red Mountain | 2,113 ft (644 m) |
| Mugu Peak | 1,260 ft (384 m) |
| Conejo Mountain | 1,798 ft (548 m) |
| Boney Mountain | 2,838 ft (865 m) |
| Santa Monica Mountains | 3,041 ft (927 m) |