Need a break from holiday hubbub? Here are the best hikes in SLO County
If you’re looking for a break during the busy holiday season, San Luis Obispo County has you covered.
From seaside sand dunes in Montaña de Oro State Park to Monterey Pine forests in Cambria, the Tribune put together a list of some of our favorite hikes in the county.
The length and description of the trails are from the trail guide all AllTrails.
Pismo Beach and South County
Stroll under a canopy of eucalyptus trees and catch a glimpse of the season’s monarch butterflies at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove at 400 South Dolliver St. The dirt trail is relatively flat and shaded, and leads into the Meadow Creek Trail — where you can amble along a boardwalk with a view of the ocean or take a side trail through the sand dunes.
Another popular South County trail is the Pismo Preserve, which offers numerous hikes starting in a parking lot at 80 Mattie Road.
The 5.4-mile Discovery Trail is a moderately challenging route at the Pismo Preserve. Explorers can also enjoy the Spring to Spring Trail, which is a gentler, 3.8-mile hike.
Hikers looking for a challenge can embark on the Ontario Ridge trail in Avila Beach, a 2.2-mile route that starts with a steep climb up the hillside on Shell Beach Road. You may briefly feel like you’re trekking up Mount Doom in Mordor, but never fear — you will be rewarded with ocean views and a variety of tree swings.
Also in Avila Beach is the Bob Jones Trail. The paved, shaded route is dotted with benches and popular for biking, running and strolling. The trail starts at a parking lot on Ontario Road and ends in downtown Avila Beach.
If you’re up for some extra planning, you can make a reservation to hike the Pecho Coast Trail to the Port San Luis Lighthouse in Avila Beach. The hike starts at the gates of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, winds through the bluffs and ends with a beautiful view of San Luis Bay.
The Oso Flaco Lake Trail in Nipomo is about 2.2-miles long and popular for birding and strolling. Meanwhile, the James Way trail is a 1.7-mile loop among the oak trees in Arroyo Grande.
San Luis Obispo
A local San Luis Obispo favorite is Bishop Peak, the tallest of the Nine Sisters in San Luis Obispo County with a 1,559-foot summit.
The hike is 3.7 miles from the Patricia Drive trail head and 4.7 miles from the Highland Drive trail head. For a moderate hike, take the 2.5-mile Feldsman Loop through the Bishop Peak Natural Reserve, which is home to oak woodlands, sagebrush and grassy hills.
Cerro San Luis Obispo is another popular out-and-back hiking route. The 3.9-mile loop starts at Laguna Lake Park and is considered a moderately challenging hike.
Elsewhere in San Luis Obispo, the Froom Canyon loop starts at the edge of the Costco parking lot on Froom Ranch Way. The 3.8-mile hike travels through the Irish Hills and offers a view of San Luis Valley.
The Islay Hill Trail starts on Sweet Bay Lane, and guides hikers up a sometimes steep hillside to a peak with a view of San Luis Obispo and Edna Valley. A statute of a cow with binoculars will greet you at top of the trail.
As of Wednesday, hikes at the Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve and the Johnson Ranch Open Space were closed due to weather impacts. You can check the status of San Luis Obispo trails at bit.ly/4g8ESSM.
Morro Bay and Los Osos
Montaña de Oro State Park offers numerous hiking trails with breathtaking views of the ocean.
The 4-mile Bluff Trail stretches along the coastline, offering views of the ocean and access to the beach and tide pools.
Those seeking a challenge can tackle the 4.4-mile Valencia Peak trail, which summits at 1,347 feet with a view of the ocean.
Also in Los Osos is the Elfin Forest Natural Area, a 1-mile loop on a boardwalk trail that guides visitors along the Morro Bay estuary and through a grove of pygmy oak trees.
In Morro Bay, hikers can summit Black Hill, one of nine volcanic peaks in the county. The 2.5-mile hike travels through a grove of Monterey Pine Trees.
You can also find numerous trails at Cerro Cabrillo, another volcanic peak in Morro Bay. A popular entry point is at the Quarry Trail at South Bay Boulevard.
Cayucos and Cambria
The Estero Bluffs State Park offers the Estero Bluffs Trail, a 4.6-mile route along the windy Cayucos coastline with views of the ocean.
For an extra adventure, hikers can venture down to a shipwrecked fishing boat nestled into a cove at the Estero Bluffs.
Further north, the Harmony Headlands Trail offers a 4.3 mile route between Cayucos and Harmony that ends with a view of the ocean.
The Moonstone Beach Boardwalk offers a one-mile stroll from the north end of Cambria to Leffingwell Landing, according to its website.
The Fiscalini Ranch Preserve offers 17 hiking trails along Highway 1, winding through bluffs, pine and oak forests and coastal prairies. Explorers may spot whales breaching along the coast or monarch butterflies migrating south.
At the San Simeon State Park, hikers can take the 3.5-mile San Simeon Trail to the Washburn Campground and back.
Paso Robles and Atascadero
In Paso Robles, hikers can enjoy the 3.9-mile Salinas River Walk at Lawrence Moore Park. Meanwhile, the Montebello Oaks Open Space trail offers a 2.1-mile loop through grasslands dotted with trees.
The Lake Nacimiento Shoreline trail is a 5.9-mile loop with a view of the lake. This moderately challenging hike requires a $15 day pass from Lake Nacimiento Resort.
The Pine Mountain Trail is a 1.7-mile loop in Atascadero. Nearby is Cerro Alto, a popular but challenging 4.7-mile trail in the Los Padres National Forest.
For a gentle stroll, check out the Atascadero Lake Park trail, a 1.3-mile loop that passes by a playground and the Charles Paddock Zoo.
This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 9:14 AM.
