Tyke Hike

Active parents with young children don’t have to choose between exercise and time with the kids. They can do both at once at the Children’s Nature Institute, where people of all ages will find a variety of outdoor adventures.

A nature walk scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Los Robles Trail in Thousand Oaks is geared to parents and toddlers. They can take baby steps into the woods on a leisurely quarter-mile meandering walk with a guide.

More adventurous hikers can take advantage of the 9.6 miles of trails stretching from Triunfo Canyon in Westlake Village all the way to the Stagecoach Inn in Newbury Park.

A network of interlocking hiking and walking paths on public and private land, the Los Robles Trail has been officially open since 1985.

Open from sunup to sundown, the trail is a multiple-use destination, offering a variety of vistas and habitats frequented by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians alike. In some places, one can see for miles, while in other spots, the trail is just 5 feet wide, twisting up and down through mazes of bushes growing head high or meandering in the shade of mighty oaks. The gnarly twisted giants of the area are coast live oaks (quercus agrifola), not nearly so numerous as before, but alive and well on the Los Robles Trail.

There’s not much in the way of wildflowers at this time of the year, but plenty of greenery. One member of the local flora to be avoided is toxicodendron diversilobum, or poison oak. Although not an oak but a member of the sumac family, this plant is unpleasant by any name.

The best thing about these places is the solitude and the quiet, even though you won’t be out there alone.

In addition to the native flora, there are more than 60 species of mammals, including rabbits, raccoons, possums and coyotes. The numerous quail can be seen running wild. The area is also home to more than 5,000 types of insects, few of which will be interested in you.

At each trail head there is the obligatory warning about interaction with a pair of the more famous locals. This is mountain lion country, so even cat lovers should avoid hiking alone.

If one should encounter a big cat, one should neither approach it nor run away. Hikers should not bend down, but stand tall. Also, these areas are the home of the Pacific rattlesnake. But humans are usually so noisy, these critters will be long gone before they’re noticed by any prying eyes.

According to park ranger Glen Kinney, there’s only one caveat when it comes to the great outdoors, Conejo Valley style: “The trail is not recommended for use after a rain.”

The terrain has a lot of clay, said Kinney, and “you’ll find yourself gaining a half-inch every step from the mud on your shoes because of the type of soil we have.”

The Tuesday walk, which will be short and free of mountain lions or snakes, will begin at the trail head in a grove of coast live oaks--a place of dark shadows where Ichabod Crane would feel a thrill. Judy Burns, director of the Children’s Nature Institute, knows the itinerary for this outing and others similar in nature.

“They’re usually two-hour programs. You don’t go very far, but you do a lot. All the guides are well trained. It’s a wonderful experience for parents and children. They learn to respect nature and each other. There’s all these wonderful oases right near the city, and children are able to smell the plants, touch the plants or sing a song, depending on the guide, which in this case will be Mary Lou Izmirian.”

The Children’s Nature Institute has walks scheduled for nearly every day of the month in a variety of places. In addition to the Los Robles Trail walk, an excursion is planned for Wednesday at Happy Camp in Moorpark. Call for reservations and more information.

“We’ve been around since 1985,” said Burns. “We’re a nonprofit charity that serves children, parents, teachers throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. These walks are quite popular, especially on the weekends. During the weekdays, we may get a mother and a child, but on the weekends we may get the entire family, including the grandparents.”

DETAILS

Children’s nature walk at the Los Robles Trail, Thousand Oaks, Tuesday, 10 a.m. Directions: Ventura Freeway to Moorpark Road, south to Greenmeadow Avenue, then left to Arts Council parking lot. Cost: Donation requested. Call: (310) 364-3591 for reservations.