SLO Outdoor Guide

slo outdoor guide 45

46 trails

CERRO SAN LUIS (MADONNA MOUNTAIN) LOCATION 1177 Fernandez Rd, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 4 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 1,100 feet TIME 1 hour 30 minutes Located just west of downtown San Luis Obispo, Cerro San Luis offers sweeping views over the city and surroundings. Cerro San Luis is a member of the Morros, or Nine Sisters, a chain of prominent volcanic peaks stretching east from Morro Bay. These beautiful peaks set the postcard-like backdrop for San Luis Obispo and are excellent places to hike. Several trails explore Cerro San Luis, and its proximity to downtown makes it quite popular with hikers. DisuorfainsggtiatrnuhtnegChhloirlgiihdstatysmsaaetsasttohrnee,eptmehaaekdree slo outdoor guide 47

RESERVOIR CANYON LOCATION Reservoir Canyon Road, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 5.35 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 1,350 feet TIME 3 hours From a less heralded summit in the Santa Lucia Foothills northeast of San Luis Obispo, you will find triumphant views of the peaks and valleys surrounding this gem on the Central Coast. The hike from Reservoir Canyon to this 1,715 foot crown is not for the meek. The 5.35 mile round trip hike ascends 1,350 feet, and over 800 of those feet come in the final grueling mile. euAicna,lailttyrphtotelperueeso’svstwerarienegagi.awmniittleh 48 trails

slo outdoor guide 49

50 trails

HIGH SCHOOL HILL LOCATION 1670 Lizzie St, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 4 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 1,456 feet TIME 2 hours Bowden Ranch, also known as High School Hill, is a 4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near San Luis Obispo, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. slo outdoor guide 51

LEMON GROVE LOCATION 1183 Fernandez Road, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 2.2 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 300 feet TIME 1 hour 15 minutes 52 trails

This 2.2 mile loop explores a 120 acre open space between Cerro San Luis and downtown San Luis Obispo. With just three hundred feet of elevation gain, this is a quick hike on its own, or an easy extension to the steeper trek up Cerro San Luis. The abandoned lemon grove that gives the trail its name is less exciting than it sounds, but the views over this city are rewarding. slo outdoor guide 53

54 trails

SOUTH HILLS RIDGE LOCATION 385 Woodbridge Street, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 1.5 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 450 feet TIME 45 minutes While shorter than the more celebrated peaks around San Luis Obispo (those attention-seeking Morros known as the Nine Sisters), the 580 foot summit of the South Hills provides excellent easy- to-reach views of San Luis Obispo. A perimeter loop trail tours the 133 acre South Hills Open Space, along with a ridge trail that provides a 1.5 mile round trip hike as it ascends 450 feet to the top of the green space just south of downtown San Luis Obispo. slo outdoor guide 55

56 trails

PREFUMO CANYON VISTA POINT LOCATION 4425 Prefumo Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 3.5 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 820 feet TIME 2 hours Prefumo Canyon Vista Point Trail is a 3.5 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located in San Luis Obispo, California. It features beautiful wild flowers, stunning views, and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. slo outdoor guide 57

OLD PROSPECTOR LOCATION 1540 Froom Ranch Way, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 4.4 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 650 feet TIME 2 hours 15 minutes Today the Irish Hills are like a gold mine for hikers, but the small mountain range in San Luis Obispo historically hosted several mines for chromium and mercury. The ruins of one of these mines can be visited on Old Prospector Trail, which opened in 2015 to join the growing group of trails in Irish Hills Natural Reserve. Alongside the ruins of the mining operation at the top of Old Prospector Trail, there is a junction with Wednesday Trail (formerly Pond Trail), which can be used to reach the Johnson Ranch—­ Irish Hills Connector Trail and form a loop for a hike that’s 3.4 to 4.4 miles round trip with 650 feet of elevation change. Put the Old Prospector to work on this less-explored loop in the Irish Hills! 58 trails

slo outdoor guide 59

60 trails

FROOM CREEK LOCATION Madonna Road & Devaul Ranch Drive, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 3 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 500 feet TIME 1 hour 30 minutes On the east side of the Irish Hills, there is a canyon with a surprisingly southwestern feel. Though surrounded by traditional coastal chaparral, the trail follows an old road up a canyon akin to the old mining roads converted into hiking trails found in the California desert. Above the canyon, there are broad views of San Luis Obispo’s most prominent Morros, Bishop Peak and Cerro San Luis. Thanks to the honeycomb of trails across the Irish Hills, there are several potential hikes exploring Froom Canyon, including this short but varied 3 mile loop with 500 feet of elevation gain. For a little extra hiking, consider adding a 1.1 mile loop around the end of Froom Canyon. For something more, add 2.9 miles with Old Prospector Trail Loop. slo outdoor guide 61

ISLAY HILL LOCATION 1364 Sweet Bay Lane, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 1.8 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 550 feet TIME 30 minutes Islay Hill stands at the eastern end of the chain of volcanic plugs running across San Luis Obispo. If Bishop Peak is the most iconic Morro, than Islay Hill is about the easiest to hike (with the exception of Black Hill). The dome-shaped 776-foot summit is more mound than mountain, but you will find 550 feet of elevation gain on the 1.8 mile round trip hike to the top. Since Islay Hill is farther east than any other Morro, it offers the closest perspective of the Santa Lucia Mountains and a panoramic overview of Edna Valley. hTiAhllerwtcaoGwsGaamallrtaeedrtteyhZbSeyoptoeCkoca.pilaolPfisotlty,h’se 62 trails

slo outdoor guide 63

JOHNSON RANCH OPEN SPACE LOCATION Johnson Ranch Loop, San Luis Obispo DISTANCE 3.7 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 200 feet TIME 1 hour 45 minutes 64 trails

Johnson Ranch Open Space preserves 242 acres of old ranch land just south of San Luis Obispo. The 3.7 mile Johnson Ranch Loop explores the municipal open space, which is dominated by rolling grassy hills accented by serpentine rocks. slo outdoor guide 65

ONTARIO RIDGE (AVILA RIDGE) LOCATION 1717 Cave Landing Rd, Avila Beach DISTANCE 4 miles ELEVATION CHANGE 1,332 feet TIME 2 hours Ontario Ridge Trail via Sycamore Springs is a 4 mile out and back trail located near Avila Beach, California that offers scenic views. The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. When you get to the top, there’s a rope swing and a couple bowls for dogs to take a drink from. At the bottom of the loop is Pirate’s Cove and it’s famous “Smuggler’s Cave.” 66 trails

slo outdoor guide 67

68 trails

BEACHES slo outdoor guide 69

CAYUCOS STATE BEACH Cayucos State Beach is right on the waterfront in Cayucos. The Cayucos Pier is a popular old wooden fishing pier that has excellent views of the town, the beach, the rolling hills, and even Morro Rock in the distance to the south. LOCATION Cayucos Dr and Ocean Front Ave, Cayucos Take the Cayucos Drive exit off Highway 1 and head toward the pier. Parking is available on Ocean Front Avenue and Ocean Avenue. 70 beaches

AMENITIES Fishing Pier, Lifeguard, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Showers, Kids Play Area, Tidepools DOG POLICY Dogs are allowed on a leash FISHING “Cass’ Wharf” pier is open for public fishing without a license day or night. Stop at Brown Butter Cookie Company in town for some of the Central Coast’s best cookies! slo outdoor guide 71

TORO CREEK BEACH (MORRO BAY DOG BEACH) Toro Creek Beach fills the gap between the north and south sections of Morro Strand State Beach. This mile long beach is considered “Dog Beach” because canines can roam leash-free on this beach. Highway 1 and a bank of dunes are right behind the beach. Morro Rock is visible to the south and the Cayucos Pier is to the north. 72 beaches

LOCATION Cabrillo Hwy and Toro Creek Rd, Cayucos There are parking spaces along Highway 1 between Toro Creek Road and the bridge over Toro Creek. AMENITIES No Facilities DOG POLICY Dogs are allowed off leash slo outdoor guide 73

MORRO STRAND STATE BEACH This beach is a coastal frontage park featuring outstanding picnic sites. A three-mile stretch of beach connects the southern and northern entrances to the beach. Fishing, windsurfing, jogging, and kite flying are popular. LOCATION Yerba Buena St and Beachcomber Dr, Morro Bay The beach is two miles south of Cayucos on Highway 1. Take the Yerba Buena exit. 24th Street allows access to the northern part of the beach. AMENITIES Picnic Areas, Restrooms, Outdoor Showers, Drinking Water Available, Wheelchair Accessible DOG POLICY Dogs are prohibited 74 beaches

slo outdoor guide 75

MORRO ROCK BEACH Morro Rock is a beautiful Northern California Beach with a rough ocean environment and sandy dunes. This beach is often used for commercial shoots, weddings and festivals. LOCATION Coleman Dr, Morro Bay The parking lot is located where Coleman Drive ends at the base of Morro Rock. Drive toward the Rock and stay left until the road ends. AMENITIES Fishing Pier, Lifeguard, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Showers, Kids Play Area, Tidepools DOG POLICY Dogs are allowed on a leash 76 beaches

slo outdoor guide 77

78 beaches

SANDSPIT BEACH Sandspit Beach is a long sandy beach backed by dunes on the long spit that protects Morro Bay Harbor. This is the best place for a long beach walk and beachcombing. If you walk far enough to the north you’ll reach the Morro Dunes Natural Preserve with unique views of Morro Rock and the town of Morro Bay. LOCATION Change to Montaña De Oro State Park, Pecho Valley Rd, Los Osos Drive out Pecho Valley Road and turn right into the Sandspit day-use area and park at the end of the road. It is just a short walk on a wide trail to reach the beach nearest the parking area, but it’s a long walk north on beach if you want to reach the sand spit. AMENITIES Trails, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Dunes DOG POLICY Dogs are prohibited slo outdoor guide 79

HAZARD CANYON REEF Hazard Canyon Reef contains some of the top tide pools in the state. Come here at low tide to see the colorful tide pools. West of the parking lot there is a large sand dunes structure to play around on. Hiking trails meander in all directions in the sandy hills. LOCATION Change to Montaña De Oro State Park, Pecho Valley Rd, Los Osos Head south on the Pecho Valley Road from Los Osos. As you are driving through the eucalyptus tree groves, look for a parking lot on the right signed Hazard Canyon Parking. To reach the reef, walk north from the north end of the parking lot and follow the trail as it drops down a gulch to the water. To find the dunes, walk south from the south end of the parking lot then turn right on the first trail toward the ocean. AMENITIES Tide Pools, Trails, Dunes DOG POLICY Dogs are prohibited 80 beaches

slo outdoor guide 81

82 beaches

SPOONER'S COVE Spooner’s Cove Beach sits in a cove where Islay Creek empties into the Pacific Ocean. This beautiful cove has a pebbly beach, tide pools, caves, and unique rock formations to climb around on especially at lower tides. Islay Creek Campground, the only campground in Montana de Oro State Park, is across the street walking distance from the beach. Spooners Cove is the only area of Montana de Oro State Park where dogs are allowed on the beach, but they must be on a leash. Trails branch out in all directions from this central hub of the park. Some trails are open to mountain bikes and horseback riders. LOCATION Change to Montaña De Oro State Park, Pecho Valley Rd, Los Osos Leave the town of Los Osos on Pecho Valley Road and look for the entrance to the Spooner’s Cove day-use parking area on the right just before reaching the campground. AMENITIES Campground, Trails, Restrooms, Tide Pools, Picnic Tables, Caves DOG POLICY Dogs are allowed on a leash slo outdoor guide 83

OLDE PORT BEACH Olde Port Beach is a wide sandy cove alongside Avila Beach Drive just west of downtown Avila Beach, CA. This beach is a little calmer than Avila City Beach and less populated. A graded swtichbacking ramp and a separate stairway lead to the beach from the center of the cove. A car ramp leads down to the beach for launching small boats, but requires a four-wheel drive rig to avoid getting stuck in the sand. The second cove, called Fisherman’s Beach, has a smaller sandy shore and RV camping spaces above the beach. LOCATION 6520 Avila Beach Dr, San Luis Obispo Continue through Avila Beach on Avila Beach Drive and look for parking spaces along the shoulder of the road at the first cove after crossing the bridge. AMENITIES Restrooms, Small Boat Launch, Lifeguard, Fire Pits DOG POLICY Dogs are allowed off leash BONFIRE Yes, seasonally using fire rings Bonfires are allowed only in District fire rings, which are generally available the second Sunday of March through the first Sunday of November. 84 beaches

slo outdoor guide 85

AVILA BEACH Avila Beach City Beach is the large wide sandy beach that takes up the entire waterfront of the town of Avila Beach. For those who want to see the area on bike, the Bob Jones Trail is a scenic paved bike path that begins at 1st Street and Avila Beach Drive. Near the beach are shops, restaurants, and wine tasting rooms. LOCATION Front St and San Francisco St, Avila Beach Take the Avila Beach Drive exit off Highway 101. Parking is available along Front St, First St, and the surrounding area. AMENITIES Fishing Pier, Restrooms, Lifeguard, Picnic Tables, BBQs, Shops, Grass Park, Basketball Court, Aquarium, Kids Play Area, Tide Pools, Volleyball nets DOG POLICY Dogs are prohibited FISHING The Avila Pier is open for public fishing without a license day or night. Stop by the farmer’s market in downtown Avila for live music, dancing, and great food. The Avila Farm- ers’ market takes place Fridays 4pm-8pm, from April–September. 86 beaches

slo outdoor guide 87

SOUTH PALISADES South Palisades Park is a grassy park along the bluff in the Shell Beach area of Pismo Beach. There are picnic tables and benches here with nice views from the bluff. Near the stairs there are unique rock formations and tide pools to investigate. When the tide is out it’s possible to walk north along the shoreline below stunning blufftop homes. Walking south leads to the beach below Ebb Tide Park where more tide pools can be found. LOCATION 194 Beachcomber Dr, Pismo Beach Turn off Shell Beach Road onto Silver Shoals Drive, Beachcomber Drive, Searidge Court, or Indio Drive and park at the end near the water. The stairway to the beach is centrally located on the Beachcomber Drive loop, but all these roads lead to the park. AMENITIES Grass Park, Picnic Tables, Walking Paths, Benches, Tide Pools DOG POLICY Dogs are allowed on a leash 88 beaches

slo outdoor guide 89

90 beaches

SPYGLASS PARK Spyglass Park is a blufftop park in the Shell Beach area of Pismo Beach. This grassy park has a playground, picnic tables and barbecues. A rough eroded trail leads down to a storm drain at the shoreline. From there it’s possible to walk over rocks to a sandy beach below Spyglass Park. At high tide the sandy part of the beach is hard to get to. When the tide is out there are tide pools exposed. Be careful not to get stuck by the rising tide if you venture down the shoreline. LOCATION 2549 Spyglass Drive, Pismo Beach Turn onto Spyglass Drive from Shell Beach Road north of downtown Pismo Beach. AMENITIES Kids Play Area, Tables, BBQs, Restrooms, Benches, Grass Park, Tide Pools DOG POLICY Dogs are allowed on a leash slo outdoor guide 91

ELDWAYEN OCEAN PARK Eldwayen Ocean Park is a long narrow park along the bluff in the Shell Beach area of Pismo Beach, CA. At the center of this stretch of Ocean Boulevard near Morro Avenue is a small grass area on a point with benches and picnic tables with excellent views. Near this grass park is a stairway to the narrow sandy beach. Another stairway can be found farther north at Vista del Mar Avenue. At low tides there are plenty of tide pools to explore. Kayakers put in here to explore this impressive shoreline including the arches and caves below nearby Margo Dodd Park and Dinosaur Caves Park. LOCATION Ocean Blvd and Morro Ave, Pismo Beach Street parking spaces for Eldwayen Park are available along Ocean Boulevard. AMENITIES Tide Pools, Picnic Tables, BBQs, Benches DOG POLICY Dogs are allowed on a leash 92 beaches

slo outdoor guide 93

94 beaches