The Hideout Bouldering

There are two ways to reach The Hideout. They both take about 40 minutes but Pratt Trail seems a bit less steep, and offers more shade.

• Pratt Trail

--The drive -- From downtown Ojai, turn onto Signal Street (a left hand turn off the main drag if coming from Ventura). After a few blocks, the road curves right but head straight, staying on Signal. Go up the steep hill and turn left at the huge water tank (there is a sign for the trailhead at this turn). Follow the road until you reach the parking area for Pratt Trail.
--The hike -- From the Pratt trailhead, take Pratt trail and hike for one mile, eventually passing houses and gardens. Soon you will reach Foothill Road, which you follow until you pass a gate and a large water tank, the road now being dirt. The dirt road crosses a dry creek and heads up and right. Take the trail that heads off right. The boulders are about ten minutes up this trail, look for an Ojai Valley Land Conservancy sign about halfway.

• Shelf Road / Fox Canyon Trail

--The drive -- From downtown Ojai, turn on to Signal Street, driving towards the mountains. After a few blocks, the road curves right but head straight, staying on Signal. Go up the steep hill, head straight, and park at the gate where the road ends. This is the parking area for Shelf Road / Fox Canyon Trail.
--The hike -- Hike up the dirt road until you reach the large Ojai Valley Land Conservancy kiosk on the left. The kiosk marks the trailhead for Fox Canyon Trail, which will take you uphill for about one mile until you reach a fork in the trail, marked by a sign-post. Go left. Hike for about five more minutes until the trail tops out. You will encounter the boulders, on your left, just as the trail begins to head downhill.