One of the best network of trails in Ventura County, this hike takes you through lush oak tree meadows, the tallest peak of the Simi Hills, a serene lake and endless panoramic vistas of the oak-studded Conejo Valley.
The hike to Simi Peak and China Flat has a variety of routes, but we took a 8 mile out and back trail that starts in Lang Ranch. This trail is considered moderate, only because there is considerable distance and some rock scrambling required. Dogs are able to hike this, although the route descending from Simi Peak requires a fair amount of scrambling that your dog must be capable of. This hike took us about 4-5 hours with a few stops to snack and hydrate, as well as an extended relaxation at the small lake at the halfway point of the loop.
Details:
Directions (Google Maps): To get to the trailhead, search for the Simi Peak and China Flat in Thousand Oaks, CA or click here.
Directions (old school maps): From Los Angeles, take Highway 101 North and get off at Westlake Blvd. Turn right and continue on Westlake Blvd. for 4 miles and then turn right onto Lang Ranch Pkwy. Follow this to the trailhead and be courteous of the proximity to private residences.
Driving Info: The trailhead is adjacent to a busy park and the Chumash Indian Museum so be careful of people walking or jogging nearby. You’ll park in a private neighborhood so please be respectful of the folks living nearby.
Time & Weather: We hiked this in January when the temperatures were unusually cold. However, it being southern California means you’ll have great weather most of the year. This trailhead does get busy on weekends with hikers and mountain bikers alike, so time your hike appropriately.
Gear: We wore 1-2 layers for warmth, mainly because the wind can pick up towards the tops of the mountains.
Trail Navigation: This trail has a few junctions so pay attention to the maps.
Water & Food: We drank a couple liters each along with some snacks. There is no water along the trail.
Trailhead Info: The trailhead is within Lang Ranch, so there are a lot of houses nearby.
Pictures of the Simi Peak to China Flat hike:
*Note: We hiked up to Simi Peak along the south side of the trail, and then to China Flats. From the lake, we turned and took the same general path back (once we descended Simi Peak we veered right to take the steeper route down). But you can create a loop that ends at the Lang Ranch trailhead. If so, you’ll get beautiful expansive views of Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley as you wind your way down the wide fire road.
As you start the slow ascent towards Simi Peak you’ll get a picturesque view of the Lang Ranch trail system along its rolling hills.
The trail levels out into a hillside meadow.
One of the junctions on this trail, keep left and head straight up the mountain. It’s about to get steep.
As you get further up, you can see some beautiful homes in Westlake Village and Agoura Hills.
Looking inwards towards the mountains, the sandstone rocks take on unique formations.
Here is one of the few scrambling sections. Easy enough to navigate, but there are steep boulders to step up. And if you’re coming down, take it slow.
Once you get to the top of the scramble, you catch this snippet of Thousand Oaks through the other end.
Now you’ll traverse through a scenic meadow area atop the mountain. You’ll cut up towards Simi Peak next.
Once you pass Simi Peak, you’ll enter federal land, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The trail has been beautiful so far, but this section takes it to another level.
Lush green grasses in January, and ageless oak trees decorate the mountainside meadows.
Sprawling and majestic, the oak trees here support diverse ecosystems.
Wind your way along China Flat.
Arrive at this serene body of water hidden atop the Santa Monica Mountains.
Looking back into the oak woodlands, this was and still is sacred land of the Chumash people.
Not too far from the lake are some enormous pieces of machinery.
On our way back, we came back through the Simi Peak route (as opposed to continuing in a loop back to Lang Ranch). If you decide to take the more difficult route down you can come across Coba Arch that peers into Westlake Village and Agoura Hills.
More views of Thousand Oaks as you descend from the hills below Simi Peak. It’s tough scrambling for a few miles here, until you’ll eventually meet up with the trail you took on the way up.
