Hiking Wildwood Regional Park

Wildwood Regional Park is open year-round, easily accessible, and offers great routes for hiking, running, biking, and even horseback riding. There are also two waterfalls inside the park—the larger of the two, Paradise Falls, cascades 40 feet into a large pool. To catch some beautiful views of the area, take one of the many opportunities to explore on your own and climb up the bluffs.

There are multiple trails leading to Paradise Falls, but a popular and easy 2 mile roundtrip route leaves straight from the parking lot, along Mesa Trail. Follow the trail for a third of a mile, then divert left onto North Tepee Trail. Continue straight until you reach a T-junction, which looks out onto the canyon. Turn right at the junction, descending into the canyon, then turn left at a marked trail in 1/8th of a mile. Take a right on Wildwood Canyon Trail, and finally a left to the falls, set into a rock grotto. This route has an elevation gain of 260 ft. Alternatively, for a longer hike, follow Moonridge Trail for a 3-mile loop past Indian Creek (400 ft elevation gain), which will also take you to the falls.

For families, it is best to visit on clear, sunny days, when the trails are dry and well-kept. Stormy days make for a great adventure for photographers and explorers, however—massive, dark clouds form above the bluffs, and sometimes the trails flow with small currents of water. Regardless of the experience you're after, be sure to check the weather prior to your trip.

Driving Directions: The park is located in Thousand Oaks, 45 miles north-west of LA. From the 101 Freeway take the Lynn Road exit, then continue for 2.5 miles and turn left at Avenida de los Arboles. Parking is to your left, and well-marked trail signs will direct you in your desired direction.