The local botanical gardens has a wonderful shady loop trail that follows a creek before climbing a hill to the top of the garden. In the garden, you'll find a beautiful mix of native Mediterranean plants as well as Mediterranean plants from around the world. From the top, there are great views overlooking the Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park valleys. Parking is free, there is a bathroom (though it is not always open), and there are plenty of benches throughout the gardens where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the surroundings. Gate open at sunrise and close at sunset. Just outside the botanical garden gates, there's also a great park with lots of open green space and a playground, where you'll often find families. read more

Such a cool little hidden spot! Honestly, the fact that it's completely free is awesome, and parking was a total breeze. It was super nice to get away from Cristy for a bit and just chill out in nature. The trails are pretty neat, and you get some really awesome views of the valley once you walk up a bit. Only real downside is that it gets super hot during the summer, so definitely bring some water and try to go before the sun starts scorching. read more

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I really love this place. It's such a peaceful little escape and one of my favorite spots in the area to just walk around and enjoy being outside. The gardens are beautiful without feeling overly manicured, and I love that you can see so much wildlife there too. I actually spotted a gray fox on one of my visits, which was pretty amazing! It's quiet, relaxing, free, and just a really special place to spend an hour or two. Definitely one of those local spots I never get tired of. read more

This was my first time here which I've heard some good things about it. It's about 5 min drive off the 101 freeway. The entrance to the park is off one of the main roads and about a 2 minute drive till you arrive to the parking lot. There's also a baseball field that's there as well as a picnic area. Public restrooms are also where the parking lot is. From there, it's a short walk along the path which leads you to the main entrance. The garden is like a hiking trail. You'll start with signs leading ways to different direction. The garden itself is on a path so it's easy to manage. There's different area that's guided. Just following the path we ended up at the butterfly garden with a cute little butterfly chair. Depending on which path and direction you head to, there's other gardens. With plants everywhere, they have signs identifying what they are. We thought there would be some kind of water garden but no luck. There was a small waterfall feature but it was shut off. A section was catered to Rare fruit orchard with a good variety of trees and shrubs. Different type of guava, avocado, figs and so on. Some that were new to me. Throughout the garden, there's loads of benches placed throughout the area. All at different spot while some have amazing views of the city. Once you reach the top area, there's bench with an amazing view and it's also the cactus garden area. If you go through that area you'll end at the tranquility garden with a small red bridge and loads of rock sculptures. A cute small part of the garden. The paths all leads back to each other. The garden area isn't that big but the way the layout with the paths are, it does seem like it while walking. As we were walking out, we notice another path which leads to a trail. That trail goes along the creek that run along the side. It's not a long hike, pretty easy as it's all trail. There's a bridge that crosses over the creek which I'm not sure where it leads to. We followed the trail which does come out from the shady creek area to an open area. Views of the city along the way. It's basically goes around the whole garden area and connects back to the main entrance. Overall, it's a decent hike. The garden, I expected more. I thought there would have been a lake or some kind of pond. It's wasn't much of botanic garden but more of a community garden. Positive note, it's free to get in. read more

I'm giving it 4 stars because there aren't any blooms through the area we visited and the herb garden area was mostly an overgrown rosemary bush . This was the first time my friend and I attempted the park, here's the low down: Sturdy shoes . you need good decent walking shoes ankle support is helpful . There is serious grades . Water: i'd say 4 bottles minimum in the fall on a 70+ degree day . Time: if you plan to do the whole park. I believe it would take several hours , we made it to one entrance and past another and back and that took us old geezers about 45 minutes , at a leisurely pace . We figure we can finish the whole park splitting it into 4 visits . Hat: little shade in the area we visited so you'll definitely need hat . read more

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It was a lovely visit to the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden -- always free admission and parking! Before our walk, we first enjoyed our lunch at the covered picnic area. Then at the garden entrance we reviewed the map and picked up a guide. The husband chose to start with the Nature Trail. Even though it was a warm day, the many trees kept most of the trail cool. There were numerous benches for breaks and a nice breeze in some areas. After the Nature Trail, we then took a relaxing walk through the Trail of Trees and the Specialty Gardens. Our steps total was 3.4 miles. :) The signage is great -- there was no confusion as we navigated the grounds. The amount of plant and wildlife information along the paths were just enough to keep things interesting. The adjacent park and playground are clean and well maintained. Parking was surprisingly easy for a Saturday. read more

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Spent a lovely afternoon here. Unlike most botanical gardens, this is more like an outdoor hiking trail, which made it more enjoyable. We brought sandwiches and snacked on them along the hike. There were many benches and tables throughout the park. Parking and entrance to the park was free. read more

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A beautiful place to enjoy nature, have a leisurely walk, and take in the views of Thousand Oaks!

One of my favorite places to hike, walk, breathe, meditate, write, think and heal. I always feel good being there and for a few days afterward. There's magic here that cannot be explained. The nature, trees, lizards, birds, bunnies, squirrels and the breeze or fog all are a pleasure to see and experience. If you're looking for calmness and serenity this is Mecca. Highly recommended. read more

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I don't know about YOU.... But I LOVE the outdoors. Sure, I love sitting on my big booty like the rest of you watching Netflix, Hulu, Prime, Apple TV+, Peacock, Disney+, Max, Paramount+ and yes, even Tubi... Ohh please, like you're not password sharing just so you can say you have all of these streaming services just like we do ;) But despite all the dramatic, gritty, binge-worthy shows out there, nothing will ever compare to being outdoors. Being able to feel the sun on your skin, sit back & smell the flowers and to just be one with nature... Is something that watching episode after episode of Breaking Bad, the Game of Thrones, Presumed Innocent or even Yellowstone will ever match. And the best thing about Nature... You don't really have to go too far to find it. For me, despite living in a mid-sized suburb; we are lucky enough to be surrounded by nature. From a Regional Park with miles and miles of Nature Hikes, Waterfalls and various Wildlife to a Botanical Garden tucked in between a residential neighborhood... Nature is just a hop, a skip & a jump away. And since we are talking about Nature, let's get right to it and have a little talk about... The Birds & the Bee's (Don't worry, it's not what you think) The Birds... The Conejo Valley Botanic Garden not only showcases a vast array of plants, flowers, shrubs & trees, but they also house a bird habitat that attracts both local and migratory birds which provides fresh water to the various avian population that live and pass through the area. The Bee's... Where Nature vs. Nurture join forces. Let me explain. It was June 12th 2023... There we were, on a family hike, admiring the beautiful flowers, taking in the picturesque views, listening to the buzz of nature... Wait? What's that buzzing? And WHY is it getting louder?? Are those bee's??? Suddenly, and I'm not exaggerating.... A swarm of about 1,000 bees was coming straight for us!! Suddenly, my instincts kicked in. Nature was like....Run!!!! Nurture was like... Runnnn, but FASTER!!!! So I immediately picked up my two little girls, who were then 5 and 3 years old, told my then 7 month pregnant wife to run... (as quickly as possible of course) And we "Bee-Lined" it out of there! (Pun intended). All joking aside, it was a little terrifying witnessing my little girls frightened faces and my wife's motherly instinct suddenly go all Mama Bear to get her and our unborn baby girl to safety. But hey, we made it out alive to tell about it, and we now have a new appreciation for natures unpredictable beauty. Approximately, 14 months later, our then unborn baby girl blessed our lives and we returned to the Botanic Gardens once again where we had our family photographer take her one year old photo shoot. This time, no bee's, just birds. So why the Conejo Valley Botanic Gardens?? -The main garden is open Sunrise to Sunset unless it's raining of course. Got kids?? -There is a separate Kids Adventure Garden that's open ONLY on Sundays; sorry Chick-fil-A, but I've got plans ;) -There's an Australian Garden, sadly no Kangaroos :( -A Butterfly Garden, a Desert Garden, an Herb Garden, a rare fruit orchard, and the trail of trees featuring 50 different varieties of tree's just to name a few of the things to see. And the best part... ITS FREEEEEEE!!!! See I told you Nature was fun! So bring a book, bring your favorite photographer, bring a light snack and if you have it, bring along that bee keepers suit just in case... And come experience what nature has to offer. read more

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Love the rock climbing park here and the sand pit off the swings and the beautiful lawn.

Came here in a drought but foliage was still thriving. Lots of native plants and insets. Cute little trail to stroll on.

Very nice place for a hike/walk or just relaxing on of the many benches available. It is kept clean and the people there are outdoorsy people. Lots of trees. I liked their South America. Cacti collection at the top of the hill. read more

What a lovely, lovely place. My family visited the gardens for the first time recently and we were surprised to find how expansive and wide it is! The kids adventure garden (open sundays) was especially fun for my little one. read more

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This is a beautiful gem tucked away in Thousand Oaks. During the pandemic, it was one of the things that saved my daughter and I to be able to get out and have the peace of mind of privacy. It is such a quaint little adventure, and it has so many beautiful plants Trees to explore. I love that on Sundays. They have the child section open and you can explore and feel like you are in an entirely different world. It is truly magical and a beautiful little secret here in Thousand Oaks. read more

If you live out in the suburbs of Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, or Westlake this garden is worth a visit if you want to get away from the city and be one with nature. A small botanical garden is nested in Thousand Oaks not too far from the busy Moorpark road. Also this garden is free, of course donations are always welcome. Various pathways lead you through different gardens. There is even a nature trail that is 3/4ths of a mile long. For kids there is a great playground. The area also has plenty of places to picnic. Furthermore all throughout the green there are benches to rest. Even places in strategic locations to relax in the shade with a great view. During the summertime you can come to the park by the garden for concerts. Don't forget your picnic. And if you desire a more serious hike, across the way is tarantula hill, and it's all uphill. Cute gardens, but not quite as manicured as other gardens. Can't complain as the vegetation is local and it's a free garden! In summary, definitely worth a visit if you like gardens and live nearby! read more

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I love exploring my surroundings. I love exploring nature the most. There is a good amount of parking. This garden is connected to a park as well. The garden is free to go in. They run on donations. There is a box as you enter to put donations in. This garden is so beautiful. They have lots of different trees and flowers. It's a pretty good size. I don't think we walked all of it. We probably walk around half. I love how they have different sections for you to enjoy. There's even a kids area but that's only open on Sundays. The park connected to the garden has a really nice kids play area. That's open every day. It's also a good size park to walk in. Glad we came. We will for sure be coming back. read more

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We came here on a high school prom afternoon in search for picture perfect spots. This place beat all of my expectations. There are tons of different scenery and garden. Cool play areas for toddlers and plenty of parking. Keep in mind this is a garden and there are dirt walkways. I will be retuning again to explore the rest of the garden. You could very well spend all day here. You are able to rent out sections of the park, including a playground with a fairly accommodating location for birthday parities. read more

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We were excited to visit the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden on a Saturday, we checked the website to make sure it was open (according to the website it was), so we piled in the car and made the trek out to Thousand Oaks. The garden is nestled in Conejo Community Park, a large urban park with a baseball field, large oak trees, and a playground for the kids. There are lots of walking paths with bridges crossing the creek that bisects the park. It's a lovely place to spend a Saturday afternoon... HOWEVER. Upon arrival the Botanic Garden was closed. No explanation, no sign, all the gates were padlocked. Adding to the confusion, is that the website does seem to be updated with recent information (for example, I checked it today when writing this and it states that the Kid's Adventure Garden was closed today), so our experience was quite frustrating as we were unable to see the gardens other than peeking through the fences. That said, the gardens do look lovely, and I hope to return on a day when it is open, but until then 2 stars for poor communication/website updating that led to a wasted trek to Thousand Oaks. read more

One of the best botanic gardens with lots of trails and wonderful views over the surrounding valleys. Great for any time of year, and dog-friendly, so you can bring your pooch--please keep them on a leash. There are benches to sit on, so you can relax, and some areas have shade, so it's nice even on hot days. The entry is near a park with a kiddie play area. Go and enjoy yourself! read more

Very quaint and cute place to see, and walk on a set trail and have kids explore a little bit. Not a lot to explore but just enough that lasts a few hours. read more

The Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is a perfect place to spend an hour or so. There are a lot of picnic benches as well, and it would be a lovely setting for lunch. This Botanical Garden is 33-acres of natural terrain near the city of Thousand Oaks. But it honestly felt smaller. The hike takes you some small hills, but was perfect for our grandkids, age 6 and 12. There are several specialty gardens along the hiking trails as well as a beautiful small waterfall. Parking is free and there is an adjacent children's garden that is only open on Sunday from 11a-3p. The children's garden looks like a loft of fun for the kids. This Botanical Garden is very well maintained and clean with panoramic views. We enjoyed the fresh air and our grandchildren were proud of themselves for 'hiking'. This is in no way a challenging trail for serious hikers but Excellent for kids and older adults. There is a lot of signage as well. Best of all, ADMISSION IS FREE! ​ read more

Conejo Valley Botanic Garden - Bringing our Grandkids to the Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Thousand Oaks, California

It was a long walk and no way out as the gate was locked so we had to walk all the way back. I wish that end gate had been left open longer as we arrived at the gate at 5. I called the number posted, only got a computer. So 78 year old me and my 81 year old friend had to hike back. I was short of breath. The sign said it was a moderate walk. Other than that I liked the foliage. read more

Beautiful garden! Great place to go for a walk. I loved the little themed areas of the garden with different kinds of plants. I also enjoyed the trail that brought you away from the garden and back to the entrance. Wonderful place to be surrounded by nature. read more

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You can always find areas of beauty, a myriad of hiking trails, views, unusual plants, birds and butterflies, trees to climb or a bench where you can sit and contemplate life. It's amazing that this is a volunteer project. You can see all of the work it has taken to create the gardens as well as to maintain them. read more

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We chose to come here before an event at CSU Channel Islands. So glad we did! It was open, and very few people were there (maybe 3-5 cars), on a Friday. The herb garden was closed. We visited all the gardens and sat on a bench overlooking the surrounding area and the mountains. Very peaceful. Onward. First we thought it'd just be a leisurely walk looking at some pretty flowers & shrubs, but oh boy, we did not foresee this (optional) hike. If you follow the trail signs, and hop on the trail, hopefully you have water and a towel for sweat. We did NOT expect that hike at all. There's a beautiful stream alongside part of it but I wouldn't chance getting too close (it's downhill and probably a slippery slope.) But if you're allowed, do as you wish, fellow nature scouts. The trail ends going uphill, maybe it was just hard for us because it was 95+ degrees that day. Save yourselves. It felt so good to finish that hike (in my rayon event dress) and I'm so glad I wore my vans and not heels. We circled back to where we started and again sat on a bench concluding our nice time here. Come! See what it's all about :) Highly recommend Love the little informative signs about the wildlife, etc. read more

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Such a wonderful place, def would recommend especially if you have kids. The kids play area is so cute, the hiking trails are kid friendly too and they have great staff read more

Great little trails, nicely shaded and well maintained, great for kids Would be nice off the children's garden was open more than 1 day read more

Conejo Valley Botanic Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Thousand Oaks, California

Spend just a few minutes in these gardens and you'll appreciate the beauty surrounding you. Gardens aren't fancy and the paths aren't paved which adds to the charm. There are hiking trails, a butterfly garden, rare fruit trees and benches to enjoy the scenery or contemplate the day. Was amazed to also see running water in the creek at this time of year. So much care and effort goes into maintaining these gardens. It's amazing that the gardens are run by volunteers and admission is free. There is a donation box close to the entrance which I'm sure any amount would be appreciated. Parking is free in a huge lot out front. read more

This place is awesome, had a great time exploring and learning about native plants! Some areas could maybe use some TLC like the old benches andFor a FREE activity what a great way to spend a day in nature, and learn something too. Almost all plants you'll find, native and non-native, come with little tags with the scientific and common name to help learn about what they are and where they come from. Basically from as soon as you walk in! I cant believe how long I've lived here and didn't know this place existed. Beware of bees of course since there are flowers everywhere but just leave them be and they'll do the same. Only wish the kids' area was open more than just 1 day a week, at least do Saturdays too! We wanted to take my niece but we're surprised when it wasn't open on a Saturday. read more

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Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is a free garden with 33 acres of mother nature with hiking trails and beautiful plants and flowers to look at. This botanic garden is free, including parking and also welcomed leashed dogs. Right next to the parking lot are picnic benches, grills and a sports field with a playground. My husband, our little girl and I came by this garden after visiting The Oaks mall on a Friday afternoon, a little before 2 pm. We bought lunch at a restaurant and ate at the picnic benches right before exploring the garden. Please note that there are restrooms but I did not use them and so I cannot comment regarding cleanliness. This garden has easy to find, marked paths with numerous of gems behind each corner. There are a lot of beautiful views of the city and a few benches in a few places throughout the garden. Surprisingly this garden is lot bigger than you would think. I really liked the dessert garden and the butterfly garden. In this garden is a beautiful green butterfly chair that I thought was really pretty and would make for some great photos. Actually this whole garden would be a great place for a photo shoot. This garden has a child's garden and this part of the garden can be rented out for children's birthday parties with a donation of $200. Plant sales also are available on Sundays. This garden is open every day from sunrise to sunset. But not open during high winds, rain and when the pathways are muddy. And this place is also closed on July 4th. If you have an afternoon with nothing to do and the weather is nice, consider coming to this beautiful garden. Bring the family and your four legged pet. Maybe even pack a picnic and make some memories. read more

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Looks like this place is only open on Sundays? Plant Sale Sunday overpriced horrible looking plants. Bathrooms locked up, should be open more days then not read more

This was the perfect place to be on a warm Sunday in December. It is free and there is plenty of signage, which was super helpful because it was my first visit. There weren't a ton of people and except for one couple, everyone was masked up, even the handful of kids I saw. There are several benches throughout the garden, many dedicated to people which is nice to see. They are into education and you'll see many of the plants are labeled. There are several small gardens such as the desert garden, a meadow, rare fruit trees, etc. and a hiking trail. There were a few dogs too. Not a ton of cars in the parking lot and I'm giving them an extra star for the clean public restrooms - very important during these coronavirus days. Although it is not on the scale of Huntington Gardens or the Arboretum, it is well-tended and a peaceful place to be. Highly recommended. read more

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Beautiful, dog friendly, and free! Great place to spend an afternoon enjoying nature!

The trails are barely visible due to overgrowth of mustard and foxtails/weeds. It would be difficult to see snakes and predators, as you can barely visualize the path. It is supposed to be on-leash dog friendly, but a woman coming off the trails advised me against walking my dogs there, as she had pulled several ticks off of her dog. Until the do necessary brush abatement, I don't feel comfortable walking there, with or without dogs. I was really hoping to spend some time there. read more

The place is beautiful and it is always well maintained. The only downside is sometimes it can be difficult to find a parking spot. I recommend you carpooling or taking one car. read more

Very peaceful garden! My friends and I wanted to check out this garden to see pretty plants and all. This place is free to go in and out as you please. The garden doesn't have too much, and my guess is that since the garden is free, there's not much maintenance for it. The garden lies on a hill, so there is a top with a beautiful, large tree. There is a view and a bit of a breeze as well. There aren't too many large, vivid plants in this garden but there are some small colorful ones. There's plenty of benches to sit on if you ever want to just relax and take it in. Overall, definitely recommend checking out this place if you reside in Thousand Oaks. read more

Great place to relax and to enjoy the outdoors in a calm setting. Beautiful plants and well identified and well kept.

Came to check out the garden trails on a Sunday, not alot of people on the trail. It was a peaceful walk seen a few butterflies and some birds. Came across a few families also enjoying the spring sun. Our first time bringing the new pup, he was wiped out after the trail. read more

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I think this place needs a better name. Maybe Conjeo Valley Nature Center or Nature Trails. There wasn't much in the traditional sense of the word garden. There were several trails that were nice hikes if that had been what we were looking for. I was looking forward to the tranquility garden, but it was disappointment, everything was run down and not maintained well. I know it was free, but maybe get with a scout group to spruce up some of the areas, add labels to the items that aren't labeled. If you are looking for hiking with some scenic overlooks, this is your place. If you are looking to see different plants, flowers etc. look elsewhere. There was a playground that looked like it would be fun for kids, and a large grassy area for a picnic. There is a cute kids area, but it is not open on saturdays. read more

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