Visiting Conejo Valley Botanic Garden In Thousand Oaks

Conejo Valley offers many walking paths and trails to escape into nature. One of these locations is the gorgeous Conejo Valley Botanic Garden in Thousand Oaks.

Going for a leisure walk in the botanic garden is a popular recreational activity for locals living in the area. This tranquil garden covers 33 acres of walking paths with excellent views of the surrounding landscapes.

In this post I share details and what you can expect from your visit to the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden!

Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is a wonderful outdoor space in Thousand Oaks where you can go for a walk.

Botanic Garden Highlights

The garden is open from sunrise to sunset
It is free to visit
It allows leashed dogs
It takes 1-2 hours to visit
The garden has a couple of miles of walking trails
Bikes, scooters, or skateboards are not allowed

Location & Parking

Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is situated within Thousand Oaks city just off Highway 101. The main entrance is located at the end of Jeaunine Dr.

Once you park you will see a pathway and a large sign that leads to the entrance gate.

Conejo Valley Botanic Garden main entrance.

There is a spacious visitor parking lot here along with restrooms (although they were locked during my visit). You can also reach the botanic garden from Conejo Community Park by following a pathway to the garden entrance.

The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset (except for the 4^th of July). The garden does occasionally close due to high winds, rain, or muddy conditions.

It is free to visit Conejo Valley Botanical Gardens but cash donations are highly appreciated. There is a donation stand right after the entrance.

Address: 400 W Gainsborough Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Beautiful flowers at the botanic garden.

About Thousand Oaks Botanical Gardens

Conejo Valley Botanic Garden was established in 1973 by a group of volunteers who leased 33 acres from the Conejo Recreation and Parks District. This botanic garden’s mission is to preserve 41 acres of terrain for the public to enjoy.

The garden has two different areas – a section with manicured gardens and a wild trail that passes next to a creek. On your visit, I suggest starting with the garden section and then heading on a short hike that feels very relaxing and serene.

Bench with a beautiful view at botanical gardens in Thousand Oaks, California.

The botanic garden also has a Kids Adventure Garden that is open on Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm.

The park has many pathways that intersect. There is a large map at the entrance that you can take a photo of for reference.

First-time visitors can also follow the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden Trail on the AllTrails hiking app which is 1 mile long with 150 feet of elevation gain.

Scenic bridge along Conejo Valley Botanic Garden Trail.

There are many different signs throughout the garden so you can learn about the different climates and plants. Overall, this is a great place to visit for families and little kids to escape into nature for a couple of hours!

My Experience Visiting Conejo Valley Botanical Garden

After parking in the visitor lot, I entered the garden through the main gate. I took stairs up along a narrow trail to the Mediterranean Garden.

California shares a similar climate to the Mediterranean Sea, Chile, South Africa, and Australia so you will see various plants from these regions. If you get a chance to visit Ventura Botanical Gardens on the Central Coast, this botanic garden has large sections dedicated to Chile and South Africa as well.

I kept going and passed Lillian’s Meadow, Chilean Garden, and ended up next to a nursery. From there I explored the Herb Garden, Bird Habitat, and Australian Garden.

From here you can either continue exploring the different gardens to head out onto the Nature Trail. I decided to save the Nature Trail for the last.

All of these different sections are very small with lots of trees and benches for resting. The Desert Garden was one of my favorite sections with various unique cactus plants.

Desert Garden at Conejo Valley Botanic Garden

The higher I climbed up, the better the views got of the surrounding hillsides. At the summit, you’ll be able to enjoy gorgeous vistas of the nearby communities and the mountains.

After the summit, I walked through the South African Garden and Oak Tree Grove back down towards the main entrance. I came across another entry point into the Nature Trail so I ventured into it.

The Nature Trail is mostly shaded with lots of Live Oaks and Valley Oaks next to a creek. The many trees and creek water keep this area much cooler so it’s a great place to go for a walk on warm summer days.

The trail is less than a mile long and takes about 30 minutes to complete. There is a scenic bridge along the way and some resting benches.

Parts of the Nature Trail are exposed to the sun.

Once I finished hiking the Nature Trail I walked through the garden back to the main entrance to exit.

I do wish I had planned my visit in the spring because many of the flowers had already wilted from the hot summer sun. But even in the summer, this was a wonderful place to go for a quick walk and escape into nature.

Unique tree at the Thousand Oaks Botanical Gardens.

Other Visitor Tips

Here are a few tips to keep in mind for visiting Conejo Valley Botanic Bardens:

If you plan to bring your dog, keep them on a short leash no longer than 6 feet and clean up after them.
The best time to visit Ventura Botanical Gardens is spring and early summer when all of the flowers are in full bloom.
Pack plenty of water for your visit, especially if you plan to bring your dog. I always bring several bottles of water along with a collapsible water bowl.
The trails at this botanical garden are easy but slip-resistant hiking shoes are highly recommended so you don’t accidentally slip and fall.
Bicycles are not allowed on the garden pathways. This area is for walking and hiking only.
Please stay on designated pathways and do not pick any of the plants or flowers.
In the warmer months, I recommend wearing sunscreen, lip balm, a hiking hat, and polarized sunglasses to protect yourself from the harsh California sun.
Bring a small day pack. I have a lightweight day pack that fits all my essentials, water, and camera gear. This Gregory Nano pack comes with a padded mesh back, several adjustable straps, and plenty of pockets where you can put everything you may need for a visit.

Have you been to Conejo Valley Botanic Garden before? Let us know your favorite features of this botanic garden in the comments below!

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This post is written by Laura Sausina. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 30,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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