2026.03.25 Matilija Canyon

Matilija Canyon is only a few miles outside of Ojai, but it often feels much farther away. The road winds into a quieter, more rugged landscape where steep hills, dry creek beds, and rocky edges take over.When storms come or the water rises, this area can become isolated, cut off for a time and left to itself. That sense of distance and vulnerability is part of what makes it feel so distinct. I’m drawn to the rawness of the canyon—the exposed earth, the heavy shadows, and the way the land feels both beautiful and a little untamed.