HomeCaliforniaMoorpark › Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park

Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 185 Google reviews · Running trail in Moorpark, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Loop distance
12.5 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Paved12.5 miLoopShadedScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parkingQuiet

This scenic grassland & forest habitat features trails for hiking, biking & equestrian use.

What runners say about Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (185 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“This is a well used nature park, the trails are clean and well maintained, and they are relatively easy to go on.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Our hike was after all our local recent 2017 rainfall and the hills are beautiful!”

🌳 shaded & cool 4 mentions

“Multiple maintained trails, varying inclines, some are sandy, no shade once you're past the golf course.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Quiet, serene trail runs parallel to a beautifully manicured golf course.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Easy trail go far enough and you can disconnect from world for a bit”

Great hiking. Stunning wildlife. The golf course is the only bad part. To avoid it park at Broadway Rd entrance. Be aware of bobcats and rattlesnakes. Great ocean views on Big Mtn. The whole loop is about 11 miles

★★★★★ — Ben , Dec 2017

Plenty of parking on site. Multiple maintained trails, varying inclines, some are sandy, no shade once you're past the golf course. The wildflowers are very pretty even in February.

★★★★☆ — P , Feb 2022

Day time or night time hikes or runs are fabulous on the hiking trail following the paved road up to the Rustic Canyon Golf Course. About a half mile past the course, you enter a pristine chaparral environment. The trail continues on for many miles taking either the high or bottom trail.

★★★★★ — Fit2Btyed , Aug 2019

Happy Camp gets 5 stars because for Moorpark, it's the best of the best. If you're a hiker, outdoor runner, or nature enthusiast and live in Moorpark, there really isn't anything better. The trails here go on FOREVER if you keep going. But there are plenty of obvious places to turn around.

★★★★★ — Matthew , May 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 185 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 9 mentions

“Although you can not hike past the sign at Happy Camp Canyon fence with dogs, the trail continues around the top of the ridge and back to parking area.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 7 mentions

“We started hiking at 9am and did a 5 mile loop with our dog pack.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“Our hike was after all our local recent 2017 rainfall and the hills are beautiful!”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“Multiple maintained trails, varying inclines, some are sandy, no shade once you're past the golf course.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 4 mentions

“Our hike was after all our local recent 2017 rainfall and the hills are beautiful!”

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🔁 Loop trail 3 mentions

“I have a nice 75 minute loop with lots of fire road climbing and some single track downhill.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Quiet, serene trail runs parallel to a beautifully manicured golf course.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Day time or night time hikes or runs are fabulous on the hiking trail following the paved road up to the Rustic Canyon Golf Course.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 2 mentions

“We started hiking at 9am and did a 5 mile loop with our dog pack.”

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Plan your run at Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • Loop distance12.5 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitemrca.ca.gov
  • Phone(805) 654-3951
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 AM–7:30 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–7:30 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–7:30 PM
Thursday 6 AM–7:30 PM
Friday 6 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday 6 AM–7:30 PM
Sunday 6 AM–7:30 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park

Moorpark, California

Get directions

Running trails near Moorpark

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Relaxed park featuring a basketball court, playgrounds and an open grassy area for kids and hiking.

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College View Park

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Rio Vista Park

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Playground-equipped park featuring basketball courts and scenic views.

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Poindexter Park

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Miller Park

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LitScenic

Spacious park offering playgrounds, tennis courts, baseball areas, soccer fields and hiking paths, plus picnic tables.

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All running trails in Moorpark, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.