Looked up things to do in Avila Beach and discovered the Bob Jones Trail, glad I did. After…read morestaying many times on short getaways in Avila Beach, this was a first. We were staying at the Sycamore Mineral Springs and the trail was just steps away. The path was easy, but as we got towards the end going at a slight incline, and in the full afternoon sun, we looped back to a nice shady spot next to the stream for a respite. We then ventured back to the cafe next to the trail and enjoyed some live music and pizza.

We decided to bring our bikes to take the Bob Jones Trail! We ended up parking along Avila Beach…read moredrive where the trail met the golf course and there was a spot to exit to the road. The trail did continue down to the beach, but we didn't want that whole distance for the time we had that day. There were some neat secret spots! A playground with swings, a spot for snacks... So cool! Many families were out and about when we were there, and everyone was respectful of the shared space.

What a way to start the day after a good Starbucks experience. The views are breathtaking. We…read moreparked anf walked for 4.7 miles through many of the meandering trails at the Preserve. So amazing and the fresh air is nature's ambiance and so heavenly. Highly recommended

Parking is 5.55 and I was able to log on and use apple pay…read more This hike was very easy and moderate. The incline was slow, therefore you are not really able to feel it. But you can see it once you see other people hiking the same route. The view itself on the way up is beautiful, your able to smell the ocean smell, enjoy the view and just take it all in. Really green everywhere, watch out for the cow droppings because they do roam. If you lucky you can see them afar enjoy their grass and space. I would say it was maybe about 1.5 miles back and forth, I want to try the loop next time but these was just a quick little hike before we stuff ourselves with food!

Hiking eval.: "Making a Mountain Out of a Molehill"…read more I am not sure what some people are smoking, but for those who are not in great shape, if you do happen to take the path to the very top, it can be quite challenging. It can also be rather hazardous, since the trail is very narrow, and is composed of a lot of loose dirt. Higher up, there are wooden cross pieces that hold the dirt in place, but some are damaged, broken, or missing. If you are afraid of heights this is not a place to go. The cow with the binoculars on top of the hill is kind of cheesy, but it is a good illustration of the nice views both on the trails, and on top. Of course, since there are three different entrances, you can make the hike easier by just going part way up and then toward a far entrance. You can even return to your point of origin by either walking inside of Islay Park or in the residential areas. The hiking trail entrances, trails, & they way up the hill are maintained a bit. As for me, I made good use of hiking poles, especially on the way down. If you are as slow as I am, then you periodically need to make way for those who go faster [and in my case, that is everyone]. If you do not want to be bothered with too many other fast hikers, then going on a weekday before rush hour is a good bet. On the part of the trail that goes down to the Orcutt Road side, there can be quite a few cows in the afternoon and thus there is Cow Manure to avoid. Of course, rating the difficulty of any given trail depends upon a whole host of factors. I think Alltrails, which I do use with a grain of salt, rates this one as easy to moderate. As for me, I rate it difficult to get to the top & down. Including walking in Islay Park & the residential area, we did close to 6 miles of either walking or hiking. I already broke my back & knee from various falls in the past, so I am especially cautious. One definitely needs to have either trail sneakers or hiking shoes in view of the dirt and the real possibility of slipping. Not that anyone plans to get injured, but this trail is so narrow toward the top and the slope is so steep, I do not see how a rescue can easily happen on the way up. While I hear that this is "easier" than going up Bishop Peak, I imagine it is all relative. I think even though this is called a hill, once you manage to get up on top, it sure seems more like a "mountain", but I grew up in the Flatlands area of Brooklyn....which was...quite Flat!

One of the easier hikes out of the "Nine Sisters". It's definitely moderate and gets a little…read moreharder towards the top. You'll be rewarding with a great, 360 view of San Luis Obispo. Wear some sunscreen and a hat as there's no cover here to protect you from the sun. I started from the trail entrance near the Islay Hill Park (where I also parked my car). There's a cow statue at the top which I found hilarious. Wasn't expecting that but there are cows and farms in the area so it makes sense. It's also neat that they had dog leashes for free at one of the trail entrances since dogs are allowed on leash here.

One of my favorite places in SLO! I really appreciate the work the city workers (and/or volunteers)…read moredo to maintain this trail. I would say it's an easy to moderate hike to the top if you take the trail head near Meadow Park. I prefer the second trail on the left to the top of the main hill.

Hard to believe this open space hasn't been reviewed yet, unless everyone else is trying to keep it…read morea secret. ;-) I've been hiking and trail running through South Hills countless times since moving to SLO - if offers a peaceful serenity that borders on spiritual. It's also much farther from campus than any of the college kids are willing to go (LOL, but seriously). A great place to go if you want to get up high and get a gorgeous 360 view of SLO: Downtown, Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis, Islay Hill, Laguna Lake, the airport, and south toward Pismo are all visible during from the footpaths in South Hills. Dogs are welcome, but it's worth nothing that the paths are considerably rockier in some places than the more traveled trails around SLO. You probably don't want to drag a 5-year-old on a "nature hike" up the more risky ones, but pick-up trucks have driven some flat frontage roads into the hillside that make for great running. Wildflowers, lizards, and red tail hawks run amok in the open space, and sunsets are truly gorgeous as the fog rolls in for the night. If you're looking for a relaxing walk or a place to clear your mind, check it out.

Easy parking, easy trail, beautiful views. Would come back…read more Thanks to the Hiking Bucket List pack from Reach International Outfitters, I've been exploring more hiking trails around California. This was the first trail my bf and I have hiked from the bucket list, so I'd say we're off to a great start. The trail had plenty of free parking on both ends of the trail. You don't need to go from end to end. Once you reach the Coastal Point, you're technically at the highlight of the trail, which takes less than an hour to reach. The trail is flat with natural dirt and plants. Casual walking shoes would work just fine for this trail. Even during the summer, the overcast and the breeze from the ocean felt nice on our skin.

This is an amazing trail. There's free parking right before the start of the trail. The view of the…read moreocean is amazing and the breeze is refreshing. This is an easy hike that anyone can do without hiking gear! It's a long trail that goes all the way down along the coast before turning around and going back the same way. Theres benches to sit and enjoy the view along the way. As well as designated spots to enjoy the view over the cliff. There's also animals you could potentially spot! We saw deers and sea lions. I saw a sign about tidepool and all the animals they have but we didn't walk far enough to see it! Please note the sign says no pets.

Montana de Oro State Park has so many fun trails I hardly know which to review. Valencia Peak is…read morethe second tallest in the park and a great hike for the views of the surrounding area. This weekend was a warm one and for this hike, that meant an early start as you are exposed nearly the full time. We did a sort of loop though, so we came down through relatively shady trails and had a great time. The sign marking the peak is not at the peak, fyi. If you get that far, the picnic table at the top is just a short bit further.

One of my all-time favorite hikes to do in SLO county! I would consider this medium difficulty and…read moreif you plan to go all the way to the top, the hike in total is right around 4.5 miles, up and back down. Doing this hike in Springtime is my favorite as the weather is absolutely perfect, and there are so many wildflowers on the trail to enjoy as you go up. Most recently I went on this hike with a friend and we spotted a number of orange poppies as well as a large variety of other flowers of all different colors. It was magnificent. When you make it to the top, the views are just breathtaking with obstructed ocean views in front of you! To your right you can see the entire town of Morro Bay and Morro Rock; great for some amazing photos! It is relatively windy once you reach the top but thankfully there's a nice little bench you can sit at. One thing to note is this hike is NOT dog friendly, so unfortunately, I had to leave my fur babies behind. Overall though, one of my favorite hikes - highly recommend!! I will keep coming back again and again!

We liked it well enough! Friendly people along the way,…read moregreat view at the top, steeper hills to hike up...super cute kid tree that Invites children to exchange toys and gifts during their visit. Different than that of 3 bridges in North County, we find that decent hiking trails don't really exist unless you're willing to drive more toward the coast. This happens to fall very conveniently in the backside of Atascadero. One of our fellow hikers mentioned the morning time is a lot more "crisp" and I could see that... ...It's Shaded very nicely amongst the trees which, it did happen to be a triple digit day in the area so we didn't overheat. Rattlesnakes tend to freak me out... We were told there hasn't been a spotting but there is a warning amongst the entry of the path by the train tracks. I always say continue to be aware in the dry grassy plains next to the wood piles. It is rather annoying to run into dog dumpings as you hike, especially when you're not a dog owner but if you are a dog owner, then taking your doggo is a great idea!

We are from out of town and wanted a quick hike before wine tasting. You're going to get dusty so…read moremake sure you have clothes to change into! We loved the hike, not challenging just a really nice stroll with a couple steep hills. Very beautiful and a surprise view of a golf course coming down from the top. I will do this hike again when in town. Takes about 30 minutes.

On my second visit to Montana de Oro park, I wanted to try a different trail (having focused on the…read moreBluff Trail last time.) Having read up on Hazard Peak, it seemed like a great option to get outdoors and burn some calories, post Thanksgiving feasting. The trailhead is easy to find-just drive a mile or so past the park entrance and you will see the day use lot on the right hand side (just before the Spooner's Cove turn off-if you hit that lot, you've gone too far.) Cross the road and head up the single track trail which is 3 miles up, one way, to the peak. It's well travelled by mountain bikers but most of the cyclists we met were going up hill, not down and were very polite and respectful. While you are going uphill the entire first half, the incline is slight and not too steep. The trail is 90% open so wear sunscreen or a hat and take care on hotter days. In November, though, it was crisp and breezy-just the right temperature. Pretty narrow in spots and mainly you are hiking through low coastal scrub. There is one section that takes you through a pretty eucalyptus grove, which is a nice break from the sun. The views make this hike totally worthwhile-you get sweeping scenery of the coast, Morro Rock and the interior valleys and hills of Montana de Oro. At the peak there is a bench where you can soak it all in and take lots of pics. Head back down the trail the way you came to round out your six mile journey. There is a trail that continues after the peak which I believe will take you on a 9 mile loop, but I had other activities planned for the day, so opted to head back. The 6 miles took us about 2 hours and 15 minutes which included photo op stops. Decent workout and totally moderate if you're in good shape.

--LOCATION-- along the coast at Montana de Oro Beach…read more --HIKE-- Ideally for bikers, but it is a great hike for on-foot too. The end of the trail will take you to the highway/streets. If you hiking on foot, your only option is to hike it back. I do not suggest following the streets down to the parking lot because there is no room for pedestrians. --DIFFICULTLY-- not too strenuous. it's not a breeze the entire time or super difficult either, but your feet will be tired. --TIME-- from the base of the trail to the end (not a loop), it took ~3 hours. It will be roughly a total of 6 hours if you hike it back, too. --SCENERY-- Absolutely beautiful views. You have the hills and beach surrounding you. It is a largely open hike (you won't be enclosed by trees) so you'll see everything.