OUTDOORS: Ventura’s Sea to Sky Loops

_{Views are a refreshing reward after the climb. (photo by George Naugles)}

Ventura offers some of the cleanest ocean air in the world, as well as beautiful views, and invigorating walks in between. Various loops & starting points are available.

One favorite loop begins at the Main Street Bridge over the Ventura River and proceeds clockwise along Main, to the Natural History Museum, up staircases to Poli, up to or just below Grant Park, and then on the ridge to the top of the Botanical Garden, then descending into the upper Ventura Botanic Garden and then either through the lower Botanic Garden, west along the Botanic Garden’s west edge (very steep decline) or the Botanic Garden’s east edge (more gradual but still quite steep and with no sidewalk in portions). Crossing over or under the 101 by returning to the shore via San Jon, the pedestrian bridge over the 101, California Street Bridge, or the Figueroa underpass are all fun, with Ventura’s Promenade and Ventura River Trail closing the loop that allows you to return to the Main Street Bridge. The views are spectacular from many points on this loop, the air is very clean when it is blowing in from the ocean unless recent rains have washed polluted water to the surf. Check NOAA or windy.com for the best forecasts regarding wind speed and direction, as well as fog and rain.  

If you want beach, it helps to go when the tide is low, and during the Summer when, sand is more plentiful. Check out the NOAA website for high quality information about the tides.

Key challenges may include finding public restrooms available when and where you want them, choosing footwear and socks compatible with hills and beach, and finding free parking. So approach this outing with agile flexibility along the loops when and where parking and restrooms are available. Wear bright-colored or white reflective clothing, face oncoming traffic, and keep an eye out for cars when making your ascent on roads where no sidewalk is available. Walk roads designed for cars at your own risk, and use pedestrian walks when possible. Also enjoy delicious meals, refreshments, Farmer’s Market Saturday Mornings, and even the Refill Store as needed along the way. Hiking poles with shoe attachments that cover the pole spikes can be helpful to reduce knee strain on the descent, as long as your shoulders and arms can handle the additional loading. Real Cheap Sports and Target are places you can find them, also known as trekking poles.  

_{This Opuntia’s condensation-sipping spines catch the sunset light.}