Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
9 mi southeast · National Park Service
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails.
Outdoors
Biking and mountain biking near Thousand Oaks
Trails and recreation areas near Thousand Oaks open to biking and mountain biking.
19places to ride
9 mito the closest
4within 30 miles
Year-roundbest months
Good to know: Wilderness areas are closed to bikes; check each area’s trail rules and yield to hikers and horses.
Closest picks
Sepulveda Dam
23 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers
The Sepulveda Dam's recreation facilities are managed by the City of Los Angeles Parks.
Rose Valley Campground
29 mi northwest · USDA Forest Service
Break free from reality and take a scenic cruise along fabulous Highway 33 for a short drive from Ojai to Rose Valley Campground and Day Use Area.
Map of all 19 places
Map of 19 places loads as you scroll.
Within 30 miles (4)
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails.
- Biking
- Camping
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
Sepulveda Dam
The Sepulveda Dam's recreation facilities are managed by the City of Los Angeles Parks.
- Biking
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Rose Valley Campground
Break free from reality and take a scenic cruise along fabulous Highway 33 for a short drive from Ojai to Rose Valley Campground and Day Use Area.
- Biking
- Camping
Middle Lion Campground
Leave the city vibe behind as you meander down a winding, partially paved, narrow road that leads you into wooded Middle Lion Campground and day use area. Relax next to the running creek, take a refreshing dip, or hike the nearby trails.
- Biking
- Camping
30 to 75 miles (13)
Lake Casitas
Lake Casitas is formed by Casitas Dam , which is a feature of the Ventura Project . Lake Casitas Recreation Area offers one of the nations best bass fishing areas.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Holiday Group Campground
Holiday Group Campground is a relaxing location to enjoy nature all year long; a quick escape from the bustle of the city. It provides access to a variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, biking and horseback riding.
- Biking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Ranger programs
- Swimming
Pyramid Lake - Los Alamos Campground
Los Alamos Campground is located 90 minutes from Los Angeles, offering a restful experience without the lengthy travel time.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Wheeler Gorge
Wheeler Gorge Campground is a great place for families to explore the Los Padres National Forest all year long. Informative tours of the area are led by forest rangers at the nearby visitor center.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
Pine Mountain Campground
Perfectly situated high above the Sespe Wilderness offering stunning views of the valley below and the Channel Islands in the distance lies Pine Mountain Campground.
- Biking
- Camping
Reyes Peak Campground
At an elevation of 7,000 feet, Reyes Peak Campground, rises above the Sespe Wilderness and is situated along a ridge with spectacular views of the Cuyama Badlands on one side and the Pacific Ocean from the other side.
- Biking
- Camping
Lightning Point Group Campground
Lightning Point Campground sits at an elevation of 6,100 feet, about 25 miles southeast of Palmdale and roughly 35 miles north of the San Fernando Valley.
- Birding
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Mountain Biking
Angeles National Forest
- Biking
- Camping
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Off-highway vehicles
- Picnicking
Los Padres National Forest
- Biking
- Camping
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Off-highway vehicles
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water sports
Whittier Narrows Dam
This project is managed by Los Angeles County Parks and the City of Pico Rivera. Whittier Narrows has no permanent pool.
- Biking
- Boating
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Brea Dam
The recreation facilities at this project are managed by the City of Fullerton (CA) Community Services. Golf and tennis are main attractions at this project, located among the picturesque rolling hills in the City of Fullerton.
- Biking
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
Cachuma Lake
Cachuma Reservoir, formed by Bradbury Dam , offers a prime recreational opportunity for the south central coast area of California.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Fs Owned
- Nature education
Temblor Recreation Area
Temblor Recreation Area was newly designated in the Bakersfield RMP (December 2014) and provides opportunities for OHV riding on a network of over 200 miles of designated routes, recreational shooting, hunting, and other dispersed forms of…
- Biking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Off-highway vehicles
- Photography
- Wildlife viewing
75 miles and farther (2)
Carrizo Plain National Monument
All vehicles including UTVs on the monument must be street-legal (DMV plated) and all vehicles must stay on roads. REMINDER: Please follow warning signs and respect private property when visiting your public lands.
- Biking
- Camping
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Nature education
- Photography
- Wildlife viewing
El Mirage OHV Area
Remember your OUTDOOR ETHICS when enjoying your public lands. Please RECREATE RESPONSIBLY.
- Biking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Off-highway vehicles
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Thousand Oaks. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Thousand Oaks
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Paradise Falls, Thousand Oaks ,CA
A local activity Short shared by Brenda Cruz.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Beautiful Wildwood Park, Thousand Oaks, CA.
A local activity Short shared by Kid Troopers TV.
Watch on YouTube ↗Around Thousand Oaks
More outdoors near Thousand Oaks
- Hiking near Thousand Oaks
- Camping near Thousand Oaks
- Fishing near Thousand Oaks
- Boating and kayaking near Thousand Oaks
- Picnic spots near Thousand Oaks
- Horseback riding near Thousand Oaks
- Wildlife viewing and birding near Thousand Oaks
- Swimming holes and lakes near Thousand Oaks
- Parks in Thousand Oaks
- Day trips
- Weather by month
Questions
Where is the closest place for biking near Thousand Oaks?
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (National Park Service), about 9 miles southeast of Thousand Oaks as the crow flies. Next are Sepulveda Dam (23 mi) and Rose Valley Campground (29 mi).
When is the best time for biking near Thousand Oaks?
Based on Thousand Oaks’s average highs, all year. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.