Updated February 24, 2026

Ventura Hills Nature Preserve & Harmon Canyon Preserve Are Now Open

We’re happy to share that Ventura Hills Nature Preserve and Harmon Canyon Preserve are now open following temporary closures due to the recent storm.

The heavy rainfall created extremely muddy trail conditions, and we closed both preserves to prevent significant damage that can occur when trails are used before they have a chance to properly dry. Allowing time for the soil to firm up helps prevent deep ruts, erosion, and long-term impacts to the landscape.

After monitoring conditions closely, the trails have dried sufficiently and are ready to welcome visitors back. Thank you to our community for your patience and for helping us protect these special places by respecting closures when conditions require it.

Closure for Upper Harmon Canyon

Upper Harmon Canyon past the intersection with Long Canyon Rd. will remain closed due to complications with road repairs. The 2023/2024 wet season brought over 35 inches of rain, causing significant damage to trails and roads, especially north of the 1.5-mile gate. While Ventura Land Trust (VLT) is eager to restore access, repairing these roads falls under Southern California Edison’s (SCE) responsibility, as they lie within SCE’s easement area for high-tension power lines. If VLT were to conduct repairs and they later failed, the trust could be held financially liable.

Earlier this year, VLT worked with SCE to expedite road repairs, but in September, SCE reclassified the project from “maintenance” to “improvement,” transferring oversight to their civil engineering department. As a result, there is no timeline for completion, leaving Upper Harmon Canyon inaccessible for now.

In the meantime, VLT is actively seeking solutions while balancing environmental stewardship and public safety. For updates or questions, contact info@venturalandtrust.org.