Public access to Ventura Hills Nature Preserve is under threat following a lawsuit filed by Chevron and Aera Energy.
The companies claim that public use of Hall Canyon Road interferes with their asserted legal rights related to oil operations. They are asking the court to close Hall Canyon Road and the Ventura Land Trust trailhead to the public.
Ventura Land Trust is currently engaged in litigation to keep the preserve open. The organization says Ventura Hills Nature Preserve represents more than 25 years of community effort and public investment to protect and preserve the land for public use.
The preserve includes 1,645 acres of open space and 12 miles of publicly accessible trails, offering recreation and connection to the natural landscape for current and future generations.
Supporters say the outcome of the case could impact long-term public access to one of Ventura’s significant open space resources.
Community members are encouraged to stay informed, learn more about the case, and support efforts to keep the preserve open at Ventura Land Trust Access Page. www.venturalandtrust.org/access.
Lawsuit Update:
Today, 5/13/26, Ventura Land Trust secured an important victory in our fight to keep Hall Canyon Road and Ventura Hills Nature Preserve open to the public.
This morning, a judge denied Chevron and Aera Energy’s motion for a preliminary injunction that sought to close public access to Hall Canyon Road and Ventura Land Trust’s trailhead during ongoing litigation.
In the ruling, the Court cited Chevron’s failure to present competent evidence supporting their request. This is a meaningful step forward and a powerful reminder that community voices matter.
Ventura Hills Nature Preserve represents more than 25 years of community effort, public investment, and conservation work. Public access to this landscape has always been central to that vision.
But this fight is far from over.
Chevron and Aera’s lawsuit against Ventura Land Trust remains ongoing, and the legal process ahead may be long, complex, and expensive. Today’s ruling allows public access to remain open for now, but continued public engagement and community support will be critical in the months ahead.
Now more than ever, we are asking our community to stay informed, stay engaged, and continue standing with us. Every letter sent, every donation made, and every public voice raised in support of access to Ventura Hills Nature Preserve strengthens this effort.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has already stepped forward in support of this effort. This victory belongs to the community that has helped protect this landscape for decades, and we will need that same collective commitment as this case continues.
Ventura Land Trust remains fully committed to defending public access and protecting the future of Ventura Hills Nature Preserve for generations to come. We will continue to keep you informed as the case moves forward.
Thank you for standing with us. VLT.
