The location of Ventura, conveniently located between the Pacific Ocean and the two largest forests in southern California, makes it a great place for those who love nature. From surfing and hiking to golfing and snowboarding, of course, there is something for everyone who can enjoy while visiting the city.
After two and a half hours to go by boat to the Pacific Ocean from the coast of the city, you can reach the Channel Islands National Park. With an area of 249,561 acres, this park is well worth a scenic boat trip, and here you will have the opportunity to see more than 2,000 different types of plants and animals. Here you can enjoy miles of hiking routes, scuba diving or kayaking, and there are several campgrounds for overnight stays. There is also the possibility, during the gray whale season, to take a boat tour of the whale to the island.
If you are surfing or just want to try it for the first time, there is almost no better place than the beaches of Ventura. Along the coast and in the city there are countless surf shops that offer surfboards, activities and even surfing camps. Top surfing spots in this area are: Californian Street, located close to the county fairgrounds; South Jetty, located on Vostochny Port Boulevard, off Highway 101; and the Santa Clara sandbox, located in nearby Oxnard, near the Harbor.
Golfers can also find outdoor golf activities open to the public. The 34-pair Saticoy Regional Golf Course is located on South Wales Road and has 9 holes stretching for 2,723 yards. Next to the Olivas Park Drive is the Buenaventura Golf Course, which has point 73, an 18-hole course located at 6,367 yards.
One of the many desert parks in the area is the recreation area of Lake Kazitas, located south of Kazitas Pass Road on the shores of Lake Casitas in northern Ventura. This huge park has camping, cycling and hiking routes, boat rental and even a water playground called Casitas Water Adventure. You can definitely spend the day here, at least you can even spend two days exploring everything the beautiful park has to offer.
The Los Padres National Forest, approximately one and a half hours north of the city, can be obtained through the neighboring town of Ojai. This vast national forest covers an impressive 1.75 million acres and includes many different paths for hiking, mountain climbing and mountain biking. There are also campgrounds in the forest, as well as primitive campgrounds. Here you can see some of the more than 468 different species of fish and other wildlife that are natural for this mountainous coastal forest.
Another great wilderness area near Ventura is the Castay Lake Recreation Area, located just less than an hour northeast of the city in the city of Kastaik. Here you will find more than seven kilometers of hiking trails, each of which has a picturesque view of the forests and the perimeter of the lake with an area of 320,000 acres. There are also boat rentals, campgrounds and an RV park and much, much more.
Point Magu State Park is just half an hour south of Ventura among the mountains of Santa Monica. This vast wilderness area includes the Boney Mountain desert zone, as well as two large river canyons, sand dunes, a five-mile-long beach, hills, rocky bluffs and many different types of plants and animals. Along the ocean shores you can swim, fish and surf. Campgrounds are available for tents and campers with a length of less than 31 feet.
Although it is close to a two-hour drive east of Ventura, the National Forest of Angeles is well worth the drive. The forest area of 655 387 acres, which has forests, beach and sand dunes, offers many opportunities for recreation, including hiking, fishing, horse riding, nature trails, cycling routes, educational tours, camping and much more. In winter, you can ski, snowmobile and snow, and during warm seasons you can go boating, water skiing, water skiing and swim in the ocean and / or in Crystal Lake or Pyramid Lake. There are several campgrounds, a primitive camp site, and cabins that can be rented overnight.
