I could not say enough nice things about this awesome ride! We chose the Ojai roots through the Orange Groves and it was beyond perfect the views were amazing Ian was super friendly and made us feel very comfortable on the trail. Ojai roots is the perfect place post ride. Nice vibes and drinks! Can't wait to be back and try the beach rides read more

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4 of us took bike tour with Ian as guide. Great experience. Beautiful scenery. Over a bridge. Past mountains. Flowers. Wildlife. End at ocean. stop to rest midway. Ian made it fun. Transport back to starting point. read more

Had the most amazing private rock climbing experience with Ian! It was my first time climbing outside of a gym and Ian made me feel super comfortable and safe. He was very informative and taught me all about his process, the ropes, and knots too. He was clearly very passionate and knowledgeable about the sport and wanted to give me the best possible experience. I stayed at the ojai valley inn and he picked me up straight from the hotel. 100% recommend this company especially if you are staying at the hotel! Best price and experience in town! read more

Trails By Potter - Hiking Near Me

My boyfriend and I just had our first tennis lesson together with Stacy in Ojai, and it was such a memorable experience! It was my first time visiting, and this lesson made the trip even more special. I hadn't played in months, and he never had, but Stacy was warm, encouraging, and made it easy (and fun) to get into the game. She gave us so much confidence! It was the perfect mix of learning and laughing, and such a great way to connect as a couple. We're definitely planning to keep this up together. So glad we started with Stacy! I highly recommend! read more

Booked a tennis lesson for me and my daughters (10 & 9). Stacy was welcoming and wonderful, and somehow managed to make time for all three of us. Stacy is so very experienced that she was able to quickly assess us and figure out what we could learn in an hour. My daughters both had fun, and we all picked up a few new skills. Will definitely do this again on our next trip to Ojai. Thank you! read more

we did the bike ride in the orchards and ended our 10 mile ride at Ojai Roots. we loved every minute! Stacy and Ian were kind and patient with our group of 10 girls. gave us history and orange samples locally grown to snack on. so nice to enjoy a new land with such welcoming guides. Ojai Roots was btw so delicious and charming. our group unanimously would do this bike trip all over again in a heartbeat. read more

My wife and I did a wonderful bike tour around Ojai to learn more about the area. Stacey was a wonderful guide with 20+ years of knowledge of the area. The bikes and equipment are top notch, a great activity if you plan to visit OJai. read more

Trails By Potter - Ojai Orchard bike ride just outside downtown - Hiking Near Me

Amazing couple, Ian and Stacey led us on a wonderful hike. so informative regarding history of the area as well as all the foliage we saw. Absolutely a must with Trails by Potter if you are going to see the area. Steve Kalin Lisa Doty read more

My husband and I visited Ojai for the first time, and we were looking for an engaging way to see the beautiful and scenic Ojai valley. Considering we were only in town for a couple of days, we wanted to make the best of our time. We came across Trails by Potter on a Google search and one of the many travel publications we hung on to. After seeing the promotional video online, we decided to go with Trails by Potter and have zero regrets! The company owners, Ian and Stacy, were an absolute pleasure to work with. I called only 48 hours in advance to see if they could accommodate us. We booked our reservation and were all set for the weekend. Ian arrived on time at the Ojai Valley Inn to pick us up. We got set up on our bikes and hit the trail. Our first stop was to meet Stacy who was training some clients on a local tennis court. Then we started to make our way on a 16 mile ride to the beach. Ian was a great host. Our bicycle tour was informative, relaxing, fun, engaging, and exceeded our expectations. We stopped for pictures and quick chats along the way. Once we reached the beach, Stacy picked us up at a local cafe and they returned us back to the Ojai Valley Inn. You can tell that Ian and Stacy love what they do and that running their business is enjoyable. After we parted ways, my husband and I thought...what a great way to live, stay active, socialize, and meet others from near and far. We are truly appreciative of our experience with Ian and Stacy and definitely plan to sign up for another bicycle tour or a hiking tour when we return. read more

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I was heading to Ojai for a few days and wanted to do a private hike with someone knowledgeable. I contacted Trails by Potter, who got back to me quickly. Ian was certainly experienced, engaging, welcoming, and quite proficient. We stopped several times so Ian could point out some of the plants and trees along the way i.e. avocado, sage, pepper. He was aware of my fitness level and planned the perfect hike. Fresh oranges and grapefruit slices, water, and little protein bars added to the thoughtfulness. The area is simply beautiful. If you want an awesome, attentive experience, choose Trails by Potter. You won't be disappointed. read more

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I originally contacted Ian to do bike tour or rock climbing. But he advices against it because of the high heat. He is so nice and honest. He literally talked me out of it and suggest me to rent bikes at Ventura because it would be cooler near the beach. Later I found out his wife Stacy teaches Tennis and she can come to teach my kids at the vacation home we stay in, RedBarnHappyHouse. So that's what we did. Stacy is a great teacher, she is super friendly and my kids learned a lot even though this is their first ever tennis lessons. Will definitely contact them next time I am in Ojai. read more

I LOVED our orchard ride with Ian and Stacy! They are so sweet, charming and hospitable. I hadn't ridden a bike in years, and was a little nervous to start but they coached me and led with patience and confidence. After ten minutes I was grinning ear to ear! The ride was perfectly paced, with lots of information on the areas we were riding through and plenty of time to chat and look around. I was looking for a relaxed experience with a tinge of adventure, and Ian tailored this ride to be exactly that. What a great memory for 2020! read more

Trails By Potter - Three friends out for an enjoyable, leisurely bike tour with Tours by Potter in Ojai. - Hiking Near Me

My team and I just had a company retreat in Ojai. Trails by Potter hosted a guided low impact hike for us. It was a wonderful experience. They were knowledgeable, welcoming and ready to go. They also brought us snacks and water. We will def be booking them again. I highly recommend working with Trails by Potter. read more

We are in from San diego and I decided to take a mountain bike tour. Ian was a great tour guide and it even included the bike! I highly recommend this company for any of their services. Well worth it! read more

Ian is consummate host and guide! Extremely personable, knowledgeable and all-around good guy. Kept tabs on my stamina and fitness level. Took breaks and initiated relative conversations. I'd totally have a few beers with him after! Don't miss the opportunity if you are visiting Ojai! read more

We had the pleasure of joining Stacy & Ian for a biking trip/tour of Ojai. The tour was excellent and they are such a wealth of knowledge of the area! Thoroughly enjoyed our adventure with them! read more

Oh heck yes! Ian Potter is our favorite hiking guide ever. I'm not super athletic but he goes at whatever pace is comfortable for you. Also, he's great with identifying local flora, knows Ojai history, and I must say he's very entertaining! Super flexible, can make great recommendations on hiking areas, also great "insider" dining and entertainment tips. He will bring walking sticks, water, and if you're lucky yummy home grown oranges. Don't miss a hiking experience with him. He picks you up at your hotel so it's totally stress free. read more

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We LOVED our family bike ride from Ojai to Ventura Beach with Ian. Trails by Potter provide everything we needed and Ian helped adjust the bikes to fit our kids before the ride. We took a couple quick stops along the route and learned about the valley and surrounding area. Stacy made the booking process easy and quick. We would highly recommend them to anyone visiting Ojai who want's to get out and explore the valley. Can't wait for our next trip back to Ojai so we can enjoy another ride, a hiking trip or maybe even a climb! read more

Trails By Potter - Ojai Valley Trail - Hiking Near Me

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GREAT DAY iN OJAI!!!! Don't miss this guided hike with Stacey and Ian. The views are spectacular and so is the conversation. There is no better way to connect with nature than this guided tour. Simply superb! Thank you Trails by Potter! read more

Trails By Potter - Hiking Near Me

I had a great time literally learning the ropes with Ian Potter! If you just want to top rope or learn more about mountaineering, Ian has a great way of preparing you for a climb! read more

Loved hiking with Stacy in Ojai. She booked a tour for us even during COVID which was greatly appreciated. Wore masks and kept our distance and was great peace of mind to get outside! She knew the area very well and was very educated on the local plant life. Brought snacks and water and adjusted to everyone's pace. Highly recommend and will reach out next time in town! read more

Ian and Stacey were great with my two boys for a beginning safety training rock climbing class. This was my gift to them for their birthday and they had a great time and learned so much. They now say they feel safer and learned so much with Ian. Thank you again for taking good care them. read more

My Daughter and I had a great experience rock climbing with Ian. He was safety first. We felt safe and ready to take on some heights that we had never done. Thank you Ian. I highly recommend !!! read more

Highly recommend rock climbing with Ian. My husband Bob, two children (ages 10 and 11) and I didn't realize exactly what we were getting into when we signed up for this but we are so glad we did. Ian had us hike to the top of an 80 foot crag. We took in the beautiful views as he carefully set up and explained the durability and purpose of his specialized climbing equipment. He then patiently took each of us through the necessary climbing and repelling techniques as we "went over the edge" and climbed down. He made it very clear to all of us that there was no pressure to do anything we didn't feel comfortable doing. That quickly put our kids at ease and earned their trust. Ian is a pro and was great with all of us. It was scary but so empowering to climb the steep rock face. The kids had a blast climbing it twice. Ian made us some delicious English tea and we hiked back down to the car. It was an unforgettable experience! read more

Trails By Potter - Hiking Near Me

Sooo....I belong to the category "adult beginners who never learned to ride bikes as kids". I was so happy to have found Stacy and Ian to teach me when I visited Ojai this weekend! Right from the get-go their expertise showed. Explaining the parts of the bike, what the gears do, how the seat should fit, how the brakes work, all before I actually got on it. With Ian running along side me, holding the seat while I pedaled on the grass, I started to get the feel and gain the balance and confidence I needed to ride and stop shaking. With Stacy and Ian's expert guidance, constant encouragement and attention to safety, I ended up riding on my own by the end of the lesson! I couldn't believe it! I've been wanting to do this for so long. They have made a very old dream of mine come true. I will be back to go on some trail rides now! Thanks Ian and Stacy! You guys rock! read more

A couple girlfriends and I did the orchard bike tour, it was great! We rarely ever ride bikes, so Ian and Stacy made sure we felt comfortable before we started. Ian was our tour guide. He's very friendly and knowledgable about stuff to do in Ojai. Due to Covid the options were extremely limited, otherwise we would've loved to check out a winery! We'll be back. :) read more

I had a great day rock climbing outdoors for the first time with Ian! He was fun knowledgeable and a great photographer. I wouldn't hesitate to book another climb, bike, or hike. Ojai is just lovely and he had great recommendations for all parts of my stay. read more

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This beautiful outdoor rock climbing experience in Ojai was the cherry on top for my girls weekend. Ian was so thorough with safety, gentle and clear in instruction and an excellent guide. Was a momentous event in our vacation. Definitely going to come back with my kids and hubby. read more

Looking for a relaxing day-vacation getaway with my girlfriend from busy LA, I called up Trails By Potter to inquire about bike rentals. Looking to ride around Ojai that next day, Ian was extremely gracious and accommodating. On a busy Sunday, he told me he would meet us any time and any place with two bikes. Giving us a good start on his recommended trail, we got going right away as he was already there waiting for us. Ian also gave us amazing recommendations for local restaurants and hot spots to check out while we were in town, and they did not disappoint. He really took care of everything for us, and the day couldn't have turned out any better. I highly recommend these great people if you're looking for a fun day outside in beautiful Ojai. We can't wait to try rock climbing with them next time! read more

Thank you for taking my son out for a truly wonderful rock climbing adventure! Ian was GREAT! He is professional and puts safety first and foremost! We are so very pleased with him, we will be back for more adventures with him for sure. If you're looking for a great guy to take you out on a great adventure, Ian is your guy! Ethan loved every minute of his time outdoors. Thank you again. read more

I had an amazing tennis lesson with Stacy of Trails By Potter yesterday. I'm a total beginner, and she did a great job of simplifying techniques for me. I look forward to taking many more! read more

I had the opportunity to rock climb with Ian and absolutely loved it! You have to have complete confidence in someone before they talk you into walking off an 80 foot ledge. Ian does a great job of instilling that level of confidence. He explained all the gear he was using and the precautions he had taken. It allowed me to relax and enjoy the experience fully. You have to try rock climbing. It's an adrenaline filled, zen-like experience. You have no choice but be completely immersed in the moment. The views are like some I've never seen in California before. I'm already looking forward to the next time. read more

We went on a hike with Trails by Potter during our Bird Rock Yoga retreat. It was the perfect compliment to our weekend yoga experience! They were so knowledgeable about the area and pointed out interesting things along the trail. Really nice and great guides. :) Highly recommend for your trip to Ojai! They have other offerings I'd love to check out next time (like biking to the beach). Thanks for the epic experience! read more

My review is about the rock climbing only. I've been indoor climbing since February of this year, and wanted to start outdoor climbing. I also love Ojai, and visit frequently. I was told about the Potters by the staff of the Oaks, who gave them a very high recommendation. Unfortunately this past week the weather was unusually stormy. However Ian returned my phone call right away on Sunday and we ended up climbing the one nice day which was Monday. We spent well over 4 hours climbing Foothill Crag - Ian spent a lot of time showing me how he set everything up, I got to rappel a couple time, top rope climb up a couple of routes, use an ascender...I also learned a lot of things I wouldn't ever have learned in the gym - more knots other than the figure 8, different ways to belay, details on different pieces of equipment and so on. Ian's not just a climber - he's a mountaineer with 27 years of experience, and I always felt completely safe. Plus, he's freakin' hilarious! HIGHLY recommended, especially if you want to learn more about technical climbing. If the weather had been better, I would have climbed every day with Ian! oh well, next visit! KC read more

We just returned from our company retreat which included a hike with Stacy and Ian Potter. We were staying at Ojai Valley Inn, and Stacy and Ian picked us up and drove us to the hiking site. I can only imagine how challenging it is to determine what level of fitness a random group of 8 people are, but they did a great job. Our hike was about 3.5 miles 2/2.5 hours or so. I think we were moving average to slow speed, but it was still challenging. I am a biker and not a hiker so the uphill was challenging but not overwhelming. Stacy and Ian are not only knowledgeable about about the terrain and the plants, but they are truly nice people and both are very funny and easy to get along with. They provided water and healthy snacks for us as well. The following days my legs were a bit sore, but a hey I accomplished something sore, not a OMG I can't walk sore. I truly enjoyed our hike, and so did everyone in our group. Ojai has nice stores, and places to eat, but you get to appreciate a different side of Ojai if you hike it. I highly recommend Trails by Potter. If you are searching for experienced hiking guides look no further, they will be a decision you won't regret. read more

Trails By Potter - Midway Car Rental October 2018 hike with the Potter's - Hiking Near Me

My husband and spent Labor Day weekend this year in Ojai. We wanted to book some fun activities while we were there. I did some research online and found Trails by Potter. They had so many options - biking, rock climbing, hiking... It all seemed amazing. We decided to go with the biking tour that included an Olive Oil tasting. It was easy to book online and Stacy got back to me with our reservation very quickly. We paid half with a PayPal deposit and then we were to pay the rest after the tour was finished. Ian was our tour guide. My husband and I instantly clicked with him and he made our tour a memorable experience. We rode through orange trees and avocado trees. The landscape was amazing. The olive oil tasting that he took us to was great. It was owned by a friend of his - and she opened up the shop early just for us. We tasted so many different oils and ended up buying a few. (And they all have been consumed already). After the tasting, we rode back into town where the Farmer's Market was going on. He gave us some time to look around. We would have bought a lot more if we had the space! Ian's wife Stacy (and co-owner of Trails By Potter) also happened to be in town, so we got to meet her. Ian gave us many recommendations for restaurants and other activities. If you're also on a getaway to Ojai, I highly recommend doing a tour with Ian first on your agenda because he'll tell you how to make the most of your trip. We did the tour on our second day and didn't have time to do everything he recommended. However, our next two meals in Ojai were at restaurants that he suggests and they were both very, very good. Another thing - make sure you have cash to pay the second half of the bill. I had forgotten (or read the initial emails too quickly) so when it came time to pay I didn't have the money. Ian graciously took us to an ATM back in town, but I was a little embarrassed that I wasn't prepared. Next time we're in Ojai we will definitely book another tour with the Potters. Perhaps we'll do the rock climbing! read more

For several months I have been walking the El Camino Real and decided to bike part of it. I rented a bike from Trails by Potter and it was a great decision. My ride began at the Mission in Ventura and ended in Santa Barbara. This is a 29 mile trek that goes along the Ocean on a well marked path, ending at the Mission in Santa Barbara. Most of it's flat with a hill in SB. I so enjoyed this ride and as it has a historical twist on the Camino and great ocean scenery. Stacy and Ian were terrific, taking time to give riding advice and tips. The bike performed great. read more

This was money well spent! What an awesome experience. Ian and Stacy love what they do and it shines through. They led us on a fantastic hike. Both were very knowledgeable about the area and the plants and animals native to Ojai. The experience was superb! We did the hiking and wine tasting afterwards. We are already planning our next adventure when we are in Ojai again. Thank you for a wonderful experience, Ian and Stacy! Sincerely, Rachel and Rommel read more

We spent a few days in Ojai last Summer and had the pleasure of getting to go rock climbing with Ian. I LOVE rock climbing but none of my friends do it so I have only been a couple times. Indoors and 'bouldering' in JT. (Basically just scrambling over big rocks, no crash pad!) This was the first time I got to go lead climbing in the outdoors. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I was concerned that I would walk away from the experience realizing that I really don't have the skittles to rock climb and ended up with the exact opposite emotions. 'I need to do this more...and find some friends!" Ian is very safe and meticulous. He shows you what he is doing every step of the way and told us how much weight each rope holds every time he clipped in. ('This will hold an elephant...this will hold a truck'). He provides all the gear....you just come prepared with your sunscreen/bug spray. He even provides snacks. He brings oranges and grapefruits that he grows with his wife and they were so delicious. And he is fun and full of great stories. He also is very positive and encouraging. And he gave me tips on places I could find gear. I am a human Dory and had mentioned to Ian that I would never be able to go out on my own with a partner b/c I could never remember how to tie the ropes and all the prep work that goes into creating a safe/proper climb. But I have been so inspired by this experience that I'm going to make it happen. So I'm studying. And practicing rope tying skills. And keep a grip master at my desk to work on my grip strength. You dont need to do any of this obsessive stuff though! No experience needed at all. If you've ever wanted to rock climb or even if you have experience, he is an awesome guide. And this was truly one of the most memorable experiences of my life. :) read more

We had an amazing experience rock climbing with Ian, celebrating my August birthday. Ian is super friendly and knowledgeable about rock climbing and all sorts of other outdoor activities. He made me feel very safe and even though I am afraid of heights, I was able to repel down a 80 foot wall without (much) hesitation. Safety is his number one concern! Ian picked us up at the hotel in the morning and drove us to the general climbing area, the rest we had to walk, carrying some of the equipment. He brought water and fruit snacks for us, yum... the whole experience took about 3-4 hours and after that he drove us back not without pointing out the best places to eat or grab drinks... I would not have been able to do this without Ian... he's a great climbing guide. Don't climb with anybody else if you're in Ojai! read more