Up and Above for Layout of the Land

On the right day, in the right light, from the right view point, the land the Spanish called Buenaventura truly appears to be the land of “good fortune.” One view point that shows Ventura to good advantage is from the foothills above the city in Arroyo Verde Park.

From these heights, the hiker can glimpse downtown, a fertile valley, the Ventura Harbor and the Channel Islands. This hiker’s view of Ventura is better than that of the U.S. 101 motorist, in whose eyes Ventura may seem to sprawl rather haphazardly across the northwest edge of the Oxnard Plain between the Ventura and Santa Clara rivers.

Ventura began acquiring land for Arroyo Verde Park in 1959, and it now totals 129 acres. The developed part of the park consists of lots of lawn, ball fields and barbecue areas. Purple sage, coyote brush, mustard, fennel and monkey flower cloak the undeveloped hillsides.

A fine network of walking trails was constructed in the park in 1969. Paths travel the arroyo walls and the hills above the developed part of the park.

Trails are color-coded on signs according to their degree of difficulty: most difficult with black diamonds; moderate ones with blue squares; easy paths with a green circle. This signage, more commonly found in New England parks, is overkill. None of Arroyo Verde’s trails is particularly difficult.

I’d suggest a clockwise tour of the park that begins from the park nature center. A three-mile loop pretty well covers the park.

Directions to trail head: From U.S. 101 in Ventura, exit at Victoria Avenue and drive north 2.5 miles to its end at Foothill Road. Turn left and drive 0.8 mile to the signed entrance of Arroyo Verde Park on the right. On weekends, the park collects a $1 parking fee. If space is available, leave your vehicle at the first lot on the left side of the road; otherwise, park alongside the road or in one of the upper lots.

The hike: From the nature center and first parking lot, walk west across the lawn to join the trail heading north along the west side of Arroyo Verde. After 0.8 mile of travel, the trail, occasionally shaded by oak and bay, descends to the main park road.

Here you may choose to turn right (south) on the trail leading along the east wall of the arroyo or opt for a longer loop (adding an extra mile or so to the hike) into the park’s back country.

McKinney’s book “Day Hiker’s Guide to Southern California” is available through The Times for $16.45 (including tax, shipping and handling) by calling (800) 246-4042.

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Arroyo Verde Trails

WHERE: Arroyo Verde Park.

DISTANCE: 2- to -3 mile loops with 200-foot elevation gain.

TERRAIN: Rolling foothills above Ventura

HIGHLIGHTS: City, coast and Channel Islands views

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate

FOR MORE INFORMATION: City of Buenaventura Parks Division, P.O. Box 99, Ventura, CA 93002; tel. (805) 652-4550.