Arroyo Verde Park Loop Trail In Ventura

Arroyo Verde Park Loop is a short and beautiful hike in Ventura that travels through rolling foothills. Along this trail, you can enjoy views of the Ventura coastline and the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

The Arroyo Verde Park Loop is only 2.3 miles long, so it’s a great option for a quick morning workout or to take your dogs for a hike in Ventura County.

In this post, I cover where the Arroyo Verde Park Loop Trail is located, what you can expect from this hike, and other visitor tips!

Quick Trail Highlights

Here are a few quick trail highlights before I go into more details:

Length: 2.3-mile long loop
Elevation Gain: Around 488 feet
Time Needed: 2 hours for the full loop (or you can do shorter sections)
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs allowed?: Yes, this trail is very dog-friendly
Cost: $3 parking fee on weekends and holidays
AllTrails route: Arroyo Verde Park Loop
Google Map Location: Arroyo Verde Park

Location & Parking

Arroyo Verde Park is situated in northern Ventura, set against the lush, rolling foothills. The park entrance is located off Foothill Road and Arroyo Verde Park Road.

There is an entrance gate that you will need to pass through upon arrival. During the week, this park is free, but they do charge an entrance fee of $3 on weekends and holidays.

You can find free parking along the Foothill Road on the weekends if you don’t mind parking along a major street and walking into the park.

If you want to do the full 2.3-mile-long loop, the trailhead is located by the entrance booth near Foothill Road. This is the route that I will cover in this post.

Arroyo Verde Park has several large visitor parking lots.

To do this route, you can park along Arroyo Verde Park Road or in the nearby parking lot that has a restroom and water fountains. This is where I usually park on my visits.

About Arroyo Verde Park

Arroyo Verde Park is a large, grassy, public park with a trail system attached to it. There are several short trails that you can do here, or you can opt for the longer 2.3-mile-long Arroyo Verde Park Loop.

Arroyo Verde Park trail map from the AllTrails hiking app:

While there are trees and shade in the grassy park, there is very little shade once you head into the trail. I recommend bringing lots of water, mineral sunscreen, a hiking hat, sunglasses, and going early, especially in the summer.

Some sections can be a bit steep and eroded, so good hiking shoes with grip are a must.

Arroyo Verde Park is one of the best places to go hiking in Ventura County.

At the trailhead, you will see a doggie waste station and a large sign about bobcats and mountain lions that reside in the nature preserve behind Arroyo Verde Park.

While mountain lion and bobcat sightings are very rare, especially during the day, it’s good to familiarize yourself with what to do in case you see one.

Arroyo Verde Park is very dog-friendly, and you’ll see many people hiking with their four-legged friends.

There is a designated area within the park that allows off-leash dogs from 6:00 am – 9:00 am Tuesdays to Sundays. Dogs must stay on a leash on the trails.

The park has multiple restrooms for visitors, picnic tables with BBQ pits, and two playgrounds, one for smaller kids and one for older kiddos.

The second playground is brand new and was built to be inclusive of toddlers and children with special needs, as well as wheelchair accessible.

My Experience Hiking Arroyo Verde Park Loop

When I lived in Ventura, I used to hike the Arroyo Verde Park Loop trail a few times a week. This trail holds a special place in my heart and is one of the best places to head out into nature within Ventura County.

If you’re following the AllTrails hiking app route, the first section of the trail travels next to the Arroyo Verde Park Road.

You’ll be able to see the large, grassy park in the distance where people go to picnic and let their dogs run around.

The first section of the trail is fairly flat and easy.

In 0.3 miles, you’ll reach a junction. Go to the right to start a short but steep climb up to a scenic viewpoint of the coastline.

Scenic viewpoint at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura, California.

Once you reach the top, there is a bench for resting where you can enjoy the gorgeous views. On a clear day, you might be able to see the Ventura coastline and possibly even the Channel Islands in the distance!

Scenic bench at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura.

The next section will go downhill before starting another steep climb back up. The further you head into the trail away from the park, the more remote it will start to feel.

The Arroyo Verde Park trail has several hilly sections.

In 0.7 miles, you’ll be greeted with views of rolling hills all around. This area looks especially stunning in early spring when these hills are covered in lush plants and blooming wildflowers. By June, the flowers had already wilted this year.

The Arroyo Verde Park Loop Trail in May covered in wildflowers.

The same trail in June, when the flowers have already wilted.

This part of the trail has little shade and can get very hot in the summer season. I recommend hiking it early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

In 1.2 miles, you will reach a junction. You can go to the right to climb a steep hill up for better views, or stick to one of the lower trails if you start feeling tired.

Much of the trail has no shade and is exposed to the sun.

In 1.7 miles, the trail will end next to a parking lot with picnic tables and restrooms. Here you can take a break, use the restroom, and fill up on water.

Once the trail ends, cross the parking lot and continue on.

If you’re up for doing the full loop, pass the Inclusive Play Area and take the stairs up to reconnect with the trail.

Take the stairs to finish up the last section of the trail.

This last section is fairly easy and offers a bit of shade from the surrounding park trees.

Trees along the Arroyo Verde Park Loop Trail.

The trail will slowly travel downhill until it ends in the grassy park by the entrance. This is where the official trail ends, and you can walk back to your car.

Other Visitor Tips

Here are a few other tips to keep in mind for visiting Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura:

The Arroyo Verde Park hours are from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
There are multiple restrooms within the park for visitors and hikers.
The park does not allow overnight camping.
The trails do not allow bikes, only hikers.
The Arroyo Verde Park Loop Trail allows dogs, but they must stay on a leash while on the trails.
There are doggie waste stations and trash cans at the trailheads. Be prepared to carry out any waste from the trails.
Bring plenty of water for the hike, especially if you plan to hike with your dog. I always pack a collapsible water bowl for my dog.
In the summer, this area is known for having snakes. Stay on the main trails and keep a lookout for rattle snakes.

Arroyo Verde Park has several miles of gorgeous hiking trails in Ventura, California. If you still have any questions about visiting this park, don’t hesitate to ask in the comment section below!

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This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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