Lang Ranch/Oak Park/Cheeseboro Canyon Loop

Dogs Leashed

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This route starts in Lang Ranch, a beautiful community in Thousand Oaks and climbs and drops down into Oak Park, another beautiful community. The trail is part fire road, part singletrack and a tiny bit of street. You'll get to experience amazing views of the Thousand Oaks area all along the 10 mile loop. It is challenging with super steep climbs, but the views and the fun singletrack make it work it!

Plenty of street parking. There is a very clean bathroom at the park and a water fountain. Covered picnic benches to relax after your outing.

There are parts of this run that are very technical and rocky.

This route starts at Lang Ranch Park and you are on the street for a 1/4 mile before you access the trail on Oakbrook Vista Trail which starts as a very steep, singletrack climb. You'll continue to have rolling climbs for the next few miles as Oakbrook Vista Trail turns into the Sandstone Hills Trail before you descend on a super fun singletrack down into Oak Park.

At this point, it becomes a bit of an adventure as you need to climb a rain gutter up and over to Dumaine Ave - go left on the street to Lafitte Dr. where you make a right to Lindero Canyon - left on LIndero Canyon to King James Ct. Make a left on King James Ct and go to the end of the street where you'll access the trailhead of the China Flat Trail, also known as Dead Cow.

This is not for the faint of heart as it is super steep and technical and is a little over 1 mile. Once at the top, stop to enjoy the views of Oak Park and beyond. Continue on China Flat Trail to Albertson Fire Road. From this point you are about 3 miles back to the park and it is mostly downhill with a few short climbs. You'll come out of the trail onto Lang Ranch Parkway - just stay straight and continue back to the park. The park has restrooms and picnic tables which make it nice to relax and chill after a fun, challenging outing.

If you ask the locals here, they'll tell you Dead Cow trail was named after the purpose of its origin. Early ranchers used this trail to haul deceased cattle from the mountain top to lower ground.