Powerline Trail to Edison Road to Conejo Mountain Peak in Newbury Park

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View of Boney Mountain range from midway up the Powerline Trail in Newbury Park.

View of Boney Mountain range from midway up the Powerline Trail in Newbury Park.

While you're driving down the Conejo Grade from the Conejo Valley towards Camarillo, you may wonder what that mountain is south of the 101.  This would be the 1,814 foot tall Conejo Mountain.

So how do you get up there? 

There are no "official" marked trails to the peak of Conejo Mountain, but there are unofficial ways to get up there. One way that I'm aware of us via the Powerline Trail to Edison Road Trail in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park. 

Get to the Powerline Trail trailhead located on Via Ricardo, west of Via Pisa. Park on the street. Or for added trail mileage, park at Dos Vientos Community Park and take the short (1/2 mile) Park View Trail until it ends at Via Ricardo, where you'll see a crosswalk to the Powerline Trail on the other side.

Follow the Powerline Trail on a single to double tract trail until it reaches the much wider Edison Conejo Mountain Road, marked by sets of power line transmission towers.

It is amazing how quiet it can get back here. This trail is a bit on the long, steep side and the mountain can get quite brown and barren. But the rock formations are pretty cool, and get more interesting the higher you climb. And the views are outstanding, from Boney Mountain to the south to the Channel Islands and Oxnard Plain to the west and Thousand Oaks to the east.

You will be passing by this anxiety-causing sign on the way up. Not to worry. Just a warning.

You will be passing by this anxiety-causing sign on the way up. Not to worry. Just a warning.

Now, pay attention, To find the path to the top of Conejo Mountain, count the pairs of transmission towers that you pass. The unmarked path is just above the 4th set of transmission towers, which is roughly two miles from the trailhead.

When I went, there was fairly large arrow formed with rocks that pointed in the direction of the path. Although it is not an official trail, you can kind of make out the path that has been cleared by hikers over the years. And there are some sections where it appears the path has been aligned by rocks.

In any case, although it looks difficult, it actually isn't that bad, as long as you take your time and watch your step. When you reach the top, you will have a clear birds eye view of the 101 on the other side.of the mountain.

When it greens up after the winter storms, it sure looks a lot prettier up here.

When it greens up after the winter storms, it sure looks a lot prettier up here.

A clear view of Highway 101 from the peak of Conejo Mountain.

A clear view of Highway 101 from the peak of Conejo Mountain.

Clear, unimpeded views of Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands from up here.

Clear, unimpeded views of Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands from up here.

Wedding Reception Venues In Ventura County and Surrounding Areas

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Conejo Valley Guide focuses primarily on events, activities and things to do in the Conejo Valley, Ventura County and surrounding areas.

Since we're out and about so much, we thought it might be helpful to have a comprehensive list of over 170 local wedding, wedding reception and meeting venues.

(Contact us for additions/edits to this list.)

Simi Valley Wedding Reception Venues

Moorpark, Somis Wedding Reception Venues

Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru Wedding Reception Venues

Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Goleta

Wine Tasting Options in Ventura County and Adjacent Areas

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According to the Wine Institute, a public policy advocacy association of over 1,000 wineries, wine consumption in the United States has grown from about quarter of a gallon per person, per year in 1934 to 2.94 gallons per year in 2016. That's nearly one trillion gallons of wine!

So where can we imbibe right here in Ventura County and adjacent areas (roughly within a 40 minute radius)? Here's a compilation for your tasting pleasure.

(Note: Contact us for changes/additions. We have attempted to include only those places that currently offer wine tasting to the general public.)

Alma Sol Winery wines are poured at Sunland Vintage Tasting Room, 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, #108, Thousand Oaks www.almasolwinery.com Tasting room hours Sat 2-6pm, Sun 2-5pm. (Tasting room closed 12/22/18 to 1/27/19.)

Beckmen Vineyards is at 2670 Ontiveros Road, Los Olivos www.beckmenvineyards.com. Wine tasting daily 11am to 5pm (closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day). Dog-friendly! 805.688.8664

Boar Dough Tasting Room at 5015 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills www.boardoughtastingroom.com Open Wed through Sun at 5pm. 818.889.2387

Boccali Vineyards and Winery at 3277 E. Ojai Avenue in Ojai www.boccalivineyards.com Open for wine tasting Sat/Sun 11am to 4pm. 805.669.8688.

Buttonwood Farm Winery and Vineyard at 1500 Alamo Pintado Road in Solvang www.buttonwoodwinery.com open daily 11am to 5pm. Children welcome, as are well-behaved, leashed dogs. 805.688.3032

Cafe Firenze at 563 W. Los Angeles Ave in Moorpark offers Wednesday night wine tasting from 5:30-8:30pm featuring local wineries www.cafefirenze.net/special-events.html 805.532.0048

Camarillo Custom Crush Winery at 300 S Lewis Rd, Camarillo www.camarillocustomcrush.com is open on weekends from noon to 5pm. 805.484.0597

Cantara Cellars has a tasting room at 126 Wood Road, Suite 104 in Camarillo that is open Thursdays 2-8pm, Fridays 2-9pm, Saturdays 1-9pm and Sundays 1-6pm. www.cantaracellars.com 805.484.9600

Casa Barranca Organic Winery is located at 208 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai www.casabarranca.com 805.640.1255. Tasting room hours are 1-6pm Sunday through Thursday, 1-7pm Friday/Saturday.

Cornell Winery and Tasting Room is located at 29975 Mulholland Highway in Agoura www.cornellwinery.com. Its tasting room is open noon to 7pm Thursday through Sunday. 818.735.3542

DeLiese Cellars opened a tasting room at 1850 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks in late December 2016. dlcwines.com 805.500.2225

Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard at 6200 Foxen Canyon Road in Santa Ynez www.fessparkerwines.com 805-688-1545

Firestone Vineyard, 5017 Zaca Station Road in Santa Ynez www.firestonewine.com Open daily 10am to 5pm. Closed major holidays. 805.688.3940.

Four Brix Winery is a craft winery open Thursday noon to 5pm, Friday noon to 8pm and Saturday/Sunday noon 5pm at 2290 Eastman Avenue, Suite 101, Ventura www.fourbrixwine.com 805-256-6006

Gainey Vineyard at 3950 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez www.gaineyvineyard.com Open daily 10am to 5pm. 805.688.0558

Giessinger Winery & Tasting Room in Fillmore (365 Santa Clara Street - right next to Fillmore & Western Railway (open Wed through Sunday; closed Tuesday; hours vary) 805.524.5000 and 3059 Willow Lane, Westlake Village (open Thursday through Sunday, 2-7pm) (805.405.5557) giessingerwinery.com

Herzog Wine Cellars at 3201 Camino Del Sol in Oxnard offers tastings daily, except Saturday, www.herzogwinecellars.com. 805.983.1560

Labyrinth Winery and Tasting Room is located at 607 East Main Street in Ventura www.LabyrinthWinery.com Open Wednesday through Sunday; hours vary. 805.585.2238

Lester Family Cellars Winery and Tasting Room opened in September 2018 at 6650 Crescent Street, #8, Ventura. Open weekends from 11am to around 5:30pm or by appointment. lesterfc.com 310.498.8346

Magnavino Cellars is located at 961 N. Rice Avenue, Suite 5, Oxnard and its tasting room is open Friday through Sunday. Visit www.magnavino.com or call 805.983.2500.

Malibu Family Wines tasting rooms at 71740 Mulholland Highway, Malibu (open 7 days a week) (818.865.0605) and at the Four Seasons Westlake Village Friday through Sunday (818.575.3000). Visit www.malibuwines.com.  Also offering the popular Malibu Wine Safaris www.lasafaris.com, Malibu Wine Hikes www.malibuwinehikes.com and Malibu Wine Sailing www.malibusailing.com. Not to mention, Saddlerock Gardens.

Millesime Cellars is open Friday-Sunday and Thursdays (by appointment) at 425 Constitution Avenue, Suite H, Camarillo. Visit www.millesimecellars.com or call 805.484.1482.

NABU Wines offers tastings at 2649 Townsgate Road, Suite 200, Westlake Village on Saturdays and Saturdays. Visit nabuwines.com or call 818.835.3704.

Oak Creek Ranch Winery will be re-opening after closing for three years for renovations on Saturday, April 7, 2018. Located at 10024 Old Creek Road, Ventura. Located on an 850 acre cattle ranch in the Ojai Valley. oldcreekranch.com 805-649-4132

The Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room is located at 109 S. Montgomery Street, Ojai and is open 7 days a week. Visit ojaivineyard.com or call 805.798.3947.

Panaro Brothers Winery and Tasting Room is located at 4517 Market St #7, Ventura Thursday through Sunday. Visit www.panarobrotherswinery.com or call 805.654.1577.

Plan B Wine Cellars is a working winery located at 3520 Arundell Circle, #107, Ventura planbwinecellars.com or 805-233-1453 or 805-218-9932. Open for tastings on weekends from noon to 5pm.

Rancho Ventano Cellars is at 741 South A Street in Downtown Oxnard www.rvcellars.com or 805.483.8084

Roblar Winery is at 3010 Roblar Avenue in Santa Ynez www.roblarwinery.com 805.686.2603

Rosenthal Winery and Tasting Room is located at 18741 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu www.rosenthalestatewines.com Open 7 days a week; hours vary. 310.456.1392

San Vicente Cellars Tasting Room is located at 537 Constitution Avenue, Suite D, Camarillo www.sanvicentecellars.com. Tasting Room is open on weekends. 805.388.3279

The Stonehaus at 32039 Agoura Road, Westlake Village is open 7 days a week (hours vary) for wine tasting. the-stonehaus.com/wine 818.483.1152

Strey Cellars is located at 951 N. Rice Avenue, Oxnard and is open Friday-Sunday (weekdays by appointment). Visit www.StreyCellars.com or call 805.988.1087.

Sunland Vintage Winery and Tasting Room in Thousand Oaks www.SunlandVintageWinery.com

Sunstone Winery at 125 North Refugio Road, Santa Ynez www.sunstonewinery.com

The Tasting Room at Four Seasons Westlake Village www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage/dining/signature_experiences/the_tasting_room

Topa Mountain Winery at 821 W. Ojai Avenue is open for wine tasting Thursday to Sunday from noon to 7pm. www.topamountainwinery.com

Ventura Wine Co. "The Cave" wine tasting at 4435 McGrath St #301, Ventura venturawineco.com/the-cave 

Wades Wines Wine Tasting at 30961 Agoura Road, Ste 321 Westlake Village www.wadeswines.com open Thursday to Sunday.

VinTura Tasting Room & Wine Rack at 14 S. California Street in Ventura vinturatastingroom.com

Wine Tours

Roadrunner Shuttle Wine Tours 

Malibu Wine Safari www.lasafaris.com

Art and Wine Sipping Options

The Painted Cabernet in Oxnard

Color Mi Vino in Simi Valley

Painting With a Twist in Camarillo

Spirits

Ventura Spirits at 3891 N. Ventura Ave, #B2A, Ventura has a tasting room that is open Fridays 1-5PM and Sat/Sun from noon to 5pm. venturaspirits.com 805.232.4313

HOW ABOUT A BEER!? LOCAL AREA FRESH BREWED BEERS

Wine No More

Gone West Cellars at 5963 Olivas Park Drive, Ste A, Ventura closed in December 2016.

We Olive & Wine Bar Tasting at The Oaks Mall closed permanently in August 2018.

The Tasting Room at River Ridge at River Ridge Golf Club (closed 10/6/17)

SIP Malibu Grapes in Agoura Hills www.sipmalibugrapes.com (SIP was destroyed by the Woolsey Fire of November 2018; but stay tuned at their website for possible rebuilding plans)

Compilation of Great Trails and Hikes In and Around Ventura County

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FIRE DAMAGE: Note that numerous trails and open space areas were severely damaged by the Woolsey and Hill Fires of November 2018 and the Thomas Fire of December 2017. Update 1/30/19: All trails on this list have been reopened as of today, with the exception of Charmlee Wilderness Park, Oakbrook Regional Park, Conejo Canyons Bridge, Hawk Canyon Trail, Bark Park Trail in Calabasas.

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Looking for a good hike around Ventura County and nearby areas? We've highlighted a number of our favorite hikes in the Do Something section of Conejo Valley Guide.

HIKE TO A CONEJO VALLEY BENCH WITH A VIEW

HIKE TO AUTOMOTIVE RELICS IN THE CONEJO VALLEY OPEN SPACE

SEVEN FLAT, STROLLER FRIENDLY TRAILS IN THE CONEJO VALLEY

DOG-FRIENDLY TRAILS IN THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS

Reminder: Please refrain from using the trails during rain events and afterwards, until they have dried. Doing otherwise causes damage to the trails.

Lone Oak at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa

Lone Oak at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa

Lynnmere Open Space views to the west.

Lynnmere Open Space views to the west.

Views from the Ray Miller Trail in Malibu.

Views from the Ray Miller Trail in Malibu.

Danielson Road trail in the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

Danielson Road trail in the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

Views of Simi Valley from the peak of Mt. McCoy in Simi Valley.

Views of Simi Valley from the peak of Mt. McCoy in Simi Valley.

Sunset Hills Trail in Thousand Oaks.

Sunset Hills Trail in Thousand Oaks.

Tree encampment along Los Padres Trail in Thousand Oaks.

Tree encampment along Los Padres Trail in Thousand Oaks.

Things to Do With the Kids in Ventura County When It's Wet Outside

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It doesn't rain nearly often enough here in Ventura County, but when it does, that's a great excuse for staying inside. You are in the right place as we have compiled this extensive list of well over 200 indoor activities from Agoura to Simi Valley to Ventura and everywhere in between!

Arts and Crafts

These are just a sampling of the various activities and events in Conejo Valley Guide, so make sure to explore and find something fun to do!

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Tell Me a Little Bit About Newbury Park

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Newbury Park is a community located in the western portion of Thousand Oaks. It became part of Thousand Oaks by community vote sometime in the 1960s and 1970s. Thousand Oaks became a city in October 1964.

A view of Newbury Park from Boney Peak in March 2015.

A view of Newbury Park from Boney Peak in March 2015.

Egbert Starr Newbury (Photo Courtesy Conejo Valley Historical Society)

Egbert Starr Newbury (Photo Courtesy Conejo Valley Historical Society)

Newbury Park is named after Egbert Starr Newbury, who owned thousands of acres of land in the Conejo Valley after moving to California from Michigan for health reasons in 1871.  Newbury was one of the three largest Conejo Valley landowners of his time. He and his wife Fannie became the first postmasters in the Conejo Valley in 1875.  The post office was located in a small compound near their house, which was located at the current location of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. 

The other major landowners at that time were John Edwards, who owned much of the current Newbury Park/Thousand Oaks area north of the 101, and Howard Mills, who owned much of what today is Westlake Village and Hidden Valley.

Edwards sold 10,000 acres of what is now central Thousand Oaks to Edwin and Harold Janss in 1893.  The Janss Corporation also bought thousands of acres of land in Newbury Park (Friedrich, Running Springs and Borchard Ranches) in 1962.  Apparently there was an effort to incorporate Newbury Park as a city in 1963 but it failed when it lacked sufficient votes.

Over a 30 month period beginning in the Fall of 1876, only 6 inches of rain fell in the Conejo Valley.  This drought brought devastation to landowners, most of whom lost their crops and livestock and had to sell at a loss or went bankrupt.  The Newburys were no exception; they moved back to the midwest in 1877.  Egbert fell ill to pneumonia in 1880 and passed away at the young age of 36.

The Newburys lived here only six years, so why is it still called Newbury Park? Because the name of the Newburys' post office never changed! The Newbury Park Post Office has changed locations a number of times (including 1602 Newbury Road from May 1968 until it moved to its current location at 3401 Grande Vista Drive in 2013). So the Newbury name and legacy live on here in the Conejo Valley.

Horse tied to a sign indicating the Newbury Park Post Office, in 1909. The location was near modern-day Lynn Ranch. (Courtesy of the Thousand Oaks Library Local History Photo Collection).

Horse tied to a sign indicating the Newbury Park Post Office, in 1909. The location was near modern-day Lynn Ranch. (Courtesy of the Thousand Oaks Library Local History Photo Collection).

Sources: "The Conejo Valley - Old and New Frontiers" by Carol A. Bidwell and "The Newburys of Newbury Park" by Miriam Sprankling

But wait...there's more to Newbury Park! Casa Conejo is also part of the Newbury Park community but is not an incorporated part of Thousand Oaks. It is considered a census-designated place in Ventura County, with its own Municipal Advisory Council. Casa Conejo is the first planned community in Newbury Park and was built in the early 1960s. It is has an area of .5 square mile and is bound by Borchard to the South, Old Conejo Road to the North, Jenny Drive (East of Newbury Park High School) to the West and Sequoia Middle School to the East.

Interested in historical pictures of the area going back to the 1950s?  Click here to read about the work of prolific Conejo Valley photographer, Ed Lawrence. 

Click here for a history of Thousand Oaks.  Thousand Oaks is over 56 square miles and Newbury Park represents about 40% of that square footage.

Three dozen or so things to do in Newbury Park

Another three dozen or so kids' activities in Newbury Park

Yet another three dozen or so sports and fitness activities in Newbury Park

Highlights of a Dozen Fun Things to See and Do In and Around Camarillo

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Residents voted to incorporate Camarillo as a city on September 29, 1964 (the same day that Thousand Oaks residents voted to do the same). Today Camarillo has the 5th largest population out of 10 cities in Ventura County, with about 66,000 residents.

One neat feature of Camarillo is its revitalized Old Town on Ventura Boulevard, a one mile stretch adjacent to Highway 101 between Lewis Road and Carmen Drive. There is a mixture of eateries, galleries, salons, boutiques and shopping along the pedestrian friendly thoroughfare that has transformed the area. Parking is free. More at www.facebook.com/camarillooldtown.

Here are a dozen other fun things to explore, see and do in Camarillo:

The roughly 2 mile Calleguas Creek Bike Path from Pleasant Valley Fields to the corner of Flynn and Upland Road in Camarillo is a family favorite, providing 4 miles of bicycling round-trip. The path is adjacent to Calleguas Creek with several street under crossings, keeping the path completely free of vehicular traffic.

Calleugas Creek Bike Path

Calleugas Creek Bike Path

McGrath Family Farm off the Central Avenue 101 offramp grows organic fruits, vegetables and flowers and is open 7 days a week from spring through fall. McGrath also offers farm tours, visits with the farm animals and "pick your own" produce. A quick, healthy and fun stop with the kids.

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The Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing Aviation Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday at the Camarillo Airport with hangars devoted to preserving, displaying and flying World War II aircraft. Docents are extremely knowledgeable and eager to share information.  This is a Camarillo must-see.

Also at the Camarillo Airport is the annual Wings of Camarillo Air Show in the August time frame. This is a weekend display of restored World War II military aircraft in flight, aerobatic, vintage and experimental aircraft displays, classic cars and plenty of family fun. This is one event in Camarillo that you have to see up close at least once. Visit wingsovercamarillo.com for more information.

Photo Credit: Scott Harrison

Photo Credit: Scott Harrison

The Camarillo Ranch House is a 3-story, 14 room, 6,000 square foot Victorian home built by Adolfo Camarillo in 1892. The City restored the beautiful home to what it looked like during the 1914 to 1930 time frame. Today the house is a popular event venue and is open for docent-led tours several days a week. The Camarillo Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

The Camarillo Ranch House is a popular wedding and other special events destination.

The Camarillo Ranch House is a popular wedding and other special events destination.

I'm amazed at how few of the people I talk to have heard of the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, more popularly known as the Camarillo Bird Museum. The 22,000 sq ft non-descript facility in an industrial office park hosts a collection of over 250,000 sets of bird eggs representing approximately 4,000 species; 18,000 nests and 56,000 bird study skins. The Museum is open for tours less than a dozen times per year and is a local "you have to see it to believe it" collection.

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The Camarillo Premium Outlets is Ventura County's premiere outlet mall, featuring over 160 shops and eateries. As a local, my preference is to visit the Outlets during weekdays due to their extraordinary popularity (hint: crowds) on the weekends, but weekends are fun too. On the east side are the original outlets, including the Main Court and Fashion Court, while on the west is the newer The Promenade section. In between is the Edwards Camarillo Palace 12, another of my favorite places to be in Camarillo.

Harley's Camarillo Bowl is the go-to spot for most kids that I know in the Conejo Valley who throw bowling birthday parties. I know because when the kids go bowling, I make sure to join them. Harley's gets the job done with 20 lanes, a small arcade, and a bar that serves up cold beer (a required feature for me to take my mind off how lousy I bowl).

There are dozens of great farmers' markets around Ventura County, including the Saturday morning Camarillo Certified Farmers Market in Old Town Camarillo from 8am to noon.

There are a number of nicely appointed parks of all shapes and sizes in Camarillo, including six larger parks. One of my favorites is the hidden away Camarillo Grove Park at the bottom of the Conejo Grade. It is not the largest park or have newest playground equipment, but what it does have is several miles of hiking trails and a dog park that makes it a fun destination for many.

A trail at Camarillo Grove Park

A trail at Camarillo Grove Park

The Pleasant Valley Historical Museum is dedicated to the preservation of local history and the adjoining Charles L. Honn Botanical Garden features plants and trees indigenous to the Pleasant Valley and the surrounding region. Both are fun, short, worthwhile visits, which is good because the Museum and Garden are only open from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, except holidays. Admission is free.