HomeCaliforniaVentura › Seaside Wilderness Park

Seaside Wilderness Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 134 Google reviews · Running trail in Ventura, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Seaside Wilderness 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.

Natural surfaceScenicRestrooms

Beach, plus a park with trails, as well as camping, surfing and biking.

What runners say about Seaside Wilderness Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (134 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“$10 to get in gave me access to pit toilets, outdoor showers, a clean beach and some solitude”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Beautiful beach with island views and a nice, wide stretch of sand (if you go at low tide 😉).”

Entering through Emma Wood SB, I followed the bike path in and went down under a bridge where it was kind of swampy and continued on a dirt path out onto the beach. I was able to get my bike and kid trailer all the way to the site of the beach.

★★★★★ — Brooke , Apr 2019

Beautiful beach with island views and a nice, wide stretch of sand (if you go at low tide 😉). No easy access to bathrooms, and you have to walk a bit to get there, but it's totally worth it because it's not usually too crowded, even in the summer.

★★★★★ — Maggie , Jul 2018

I grew up there and that was the name everyone knew that area by. We camped out grunion runs, bonfires, good times.

★★★★★ — Darryl , Aug 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 134 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“Beautiful beach with island views and a nice, wide stretch of sand (if you go at low tide 😉).”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 3 mentions

“Entering through Emma Wood SB, I followed the bike path in and went down under a bridge where it was kind of swampy and continued on a dirt path out onto the beach.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“No easy access to bathrooms, and you have to walk a bit to get there, but it's totally worth it because it's not usually too crowded, even in the summer.”

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Plan your run at Seaside Wilderness Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitecityofventura.net
  • Phone+1 805-652-4594

Hours

Monday 7 am–7 pm
Tuesday 7 am–7 pm
Wednesday 7 am–7 pm
Thursday 7 am–7 pm
Friday 7 am–7 pm
Saturday 7 am–7 pm
Sunday 7 am–7 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 Seaside Wilderness Park

Ventura, California

Get directions

Running trails near Ventura

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

Emma Wood River Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 47 reviews

Ventura, CA

Scenic

under a mile away

Surfers Point at Seaside Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,739 reviews

Ventura, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

Small destination beach for surfers & windsurfers, with picnic tables, showers & restrooms.

under a mile away

Ventura River Bike Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Ventura, CA

PavedScenic

under a mile away

Serra Cross

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,103 reviews

Ventura, CA

Natural surfaceLitScenic

Time-tested wooden cross with a storied past, nearby hiking trails & panoramic hilltop water views.

under a mile away

Grant Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 217 reviews

Ventura, CA

Scenic

Rugged 107-acre hilltop park offering sweeping coastline views & picnic benches.

under a mile away

Kellogg Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 378 reviews

Ventura, CA

4 miScenic

Neighborhood park with picnic tables, a playground, and exercise equipment, plus a public restroom.

1.3 miles away

All running trails in Ventura, 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.