Gridley Trail

Love this trail! The first part is super steep but the view is amazing. Then as you round the mountain the wild flowers are in bloom, the butterflies are out, and it’s beautiful. I love this trail it’s an out and back so you can go as far and just turn around.

Great hike! Pretty steady incline with switchbacks galore. Very exposed, so bring your sunscreen & plenty of water!

A great trail! We started at 2:15 and got done by 7:30. It’s a little steep at first, but it’s no biggie after the first mile. Very little shade, so go on a cool day and bring water :)

Very green, constant, mild incline and overall a very pleasant hike. Went on an overcast day, but there'd be little to no shade of the sun was out. Plenty of parking on the road where the trail begins. Overall a really pleasant hike. I'd definitely go again but would do the full 14 mile loop as others have suggested.

Great trail, especially by low elevation standards. By far the greenest trail I've ever done in Southern California, thanks to the April showers we've been getting this month. It's unfortunate that the fire tore through here because the charred remains of the sycamore trees are everywhere, you can imagine the trail was even more beautiful when they were alive. I had the pleasure of an overcast day with a bunch of fog on my trip which obscured any views, but gave a sort of otherworldly "jurassic park" sort of feel to the trail. Do this trail in the Spring, I think it's probably at its best from March-early May I did the Gridley Trail to Pratt Trail loop counterclockwise from the Gridley trailhead. Full loop using Nordhoff Ridge Road and Fuel Break Road to connect Gridley-Pratt is ~14 miles, 3,500ft elevation gain, but it's easier than it sounds because the grade is so consistent. Pratt is definitely steeper than Gridley, I would probably recommend going up going clockwise instead so it's easier on your knees on the way down. If hiking counterclockwise, it may look like there's a couple ways to get from Pratt to the Gridley trailhead but don't take ANYTHING other than Fuel Break road to get you back. Foothills Trail is not only private property, but the eastern section was heavily damaged by wildfires and never rebuilt or maintained after that.

id do it again!

Beautiful trail!

Took reviewer Andi’s advice and did the hike from Gridley trail to Pratt trail as a 14 mile loop. Definitely the way to go as it allows you to take in more scenery. Would rate this as moderate difficulty with a few areas you really need to watch your footing as there are some steep drop offs.

Recommend doing gridley trail to the Pratt trail then doubling back. Great 14 mile loop. Was tough but not terrible. Get on the trail at 7am and you have the place to yourself with plenty of shade. Was also one of the more green trails I’ve been on. Will be back!

Great for training very exposed.

I’ve been on this trail many times. It is one of my favorites for getting in a long run. I always start at the Pratt Trailhead and go up to Nordhoff Peak then come down Gridley and cut across Shelf Road. It makes for a very nice loop that is approximately 15 miles. There is very little shade on any of these trails but you get amazing views of the surrounding Ojai valley and when it’s clear you can see Lake Casitas and the ocean. Gridley generally has more traffic as it seems to be a favorite for mountain bikers but it’s great for trail running as well. I would consider this trail to be moderate and I highly recommend if in the Ojai area.

I didn’t finish this trail so it’s kinda hard to write a review... I hiked for about two hours. No shade. Good views. Plenty of space on the trail.

Beautiful hike. I would rate this moderate not hard. There are a few spots where the trail is narrow and you have to step carefully. It was foggy on the way up and then sunny on the way down . Bring a hat etc since there is no shade.

Nordhoff Peak loop!

April 2019 the trail has two water sources. Exceptional flora and fauna. Everything blooming. Absolutely fantastic.

Great hike

Stream, avocado trees, amazing views. Didn’t hike the entire trail, was incredibly warm, but looking forward to going back to finish it.

Beautiful trail. Was warm but the views were worth it. Only saw a few hikers and few mountain bikers. We got there around 8:30am and had no problem getting a parking spot at the end of the road in the cul-de-sac.

If you’re in fairly good shape, this is the trail for you! I saw a couple mountain bikers, trail runners, hikers, and backpackers going up and down. It’s rated hard due to the long distance, but the trail is at a mild to moderate incline the whole way. Parking is at the “end” of Gridley Rd - there’s a circle where private driveways begin. You can park there or along the street by the entrance of the trail. It starts off rocky and parallels a stream and up to a large sign - go right. The trail continues through someone’s avocado trees and then onwards. I crossed several established and new streams due to the heavy rain 2 days before. Currently is exploding in growth with all the rain, making the hills green and peppered with wildflowers. If you have the energy, head to Nordhoff Peak to the fire tower. Phenomenal views. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and layer up - it is cool at the top. Minimal shade and few nooks to toilet as you go up. I started at 9:00 am and finished at 3:00 pm with an hour at the top and a few photo stops. Good luck!!

My favorite so far!! Green, hard, and very rewarding!!

beautiful views of Ojai and the mountains. There was a lot of water running down all of the mini creeks and you could see poppys starting to bloom. Trail was in good condition. parking is limited but I have been able to find a spot the past couple times.