The beauty of Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura, California

Nestled behind the beautiful suburbs of Ventura is Arroyo Verde Park. It is a park that withholds all the things that you would look for from a checklist of park potentials. It is dog-friendly, has trails that are sprinkled with beautiful wildflowers and butterflies, playgrounds for children, and picnic areas shaded by leafy trees.

When you first enter the gates to the park, you immediately see how much greenery, trails, and park space there is for you to roam freely, without feeling like you are intruding in someone else’s park time. The park is open daily from 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

While planning for an Arroyo Verde Park excursion, be prepared that there is a parking fee that applies at the front gate; however, there are multiple options for complimentary street parking right outside of the park. Once you enter, the park seems to stretch for miles! With ample parking space, foliage that stretches from the front gate to the mountain tops, you immediately feel energized and ready to jump out of your car and enjoy the vast park.

If you are planning for a long trail hike, bring water and a hat. Although the park is filled with big trees when you enter, there is minimal shade on the hiking trails. While on the trail, you get the opportunity to see the beauty of what Ventura has to offer. The wildflowers bloom up to three or four feet tall in some areas, and butterflies flutter so close to you that you can see the shades of orange and blue on their wings. After a long hike, you can walk back down to the grassy, shady section of the park and take a nap under a tree. With birds chirping above, and the soft laughter of children playing, for a moment you realize that you stumbled upon a hidden oasis that neighbors Downtown Ventura and the beach, only miles away.

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If you are planning a family day picnic, there are playgrounds for your children to run around. These playgrounds are a jungle-gym of fun; it will even bring out the child in any adult. With slides, swings, and fun playsets, a child can explore their imagination and play a game of lava and rocks, pirates, or a princess trapped in a castle waiting to be rescued. After running around, there are multiple picnic tables that allow you to bring out snacks for your family to enjoy.

This beautiful 132-acre park with miles of hiking trails plus open grass areas, a nature center, playgrounds, and trails, is the perfect getaway for a day. Whether you are planning a birthday party for your child, a quiet hike in the wildflowers, or a place for your dog to run-free happily, plan your next adventure at Arroyo Verde Park. You will be astounded on how much this beautiful park has to offer.