We have many great hiking trails and public open spaces in San Luis Obispo County, with all levels of outdoor enthusiasts available and many offering mountain biking and equestrian access also. Check out our list of top hiking trails in and near Pismo Beach, with something offered for the whole family:
Montana De Oro State Park, Los Osos: Located 15 miles west of San Luis Obispo, Montana De Oro State Park features rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, a historic ranch house, and the golden wildflowers that bloom in spring and gave the park its name (Mountain of Gold). Popular for hiking, beachgoing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, camping and tide pooling, guests can enjoy a full day of exploring here with eight miles of coastline, windswept cliffs and multiple trail systems leading up to Valencia Peak, a little over 1000+ feet elevation gain and a 4.5 miles trail with gorgeous ocean views of Morro Bay, Cayucos and Cambria. Stop at Spooner’s Cove beach after your hike for a cold dip in the ocean.
Bishop Peak, San Luis Obispo: This hiking trail is popular with Cal Poly State University students and locals alike, with 1145 ft in elevation gain in 3.8 miles. This peak is the highest of the “Nine Sisters” (or Morros) in San Luis Obispo County sitting at 1559 feet at it’s summit. The peak is the centerpiece of the Bishop Peak Nature Reserve and offers 360 views of the hills of SLO from the top. Be prepared for some rock scrambling to get there, first switch backing through open oak woodland, the trail then emerges into an open area near a seasonal cattle pond. Follow the main trail uphill to another cattle gate, where the signed Bishop Peak Trail branches left. The trail then goes through a shaded forest, passing a popular rock-climbing and bouldering area before emerging into open chaparral on the south side of Bishop Peak. A series of switchbacks lead up to the saddle between the west and east summits of the peak. At the saddle, a bench marks the end of the maintained trail. The east (and slightly lower) summit can be reached from here by a short scramble over sandstone boulders. On top, there are outstanding views of the entire San Luis Obispo area, including nearby Cerro San Luis Obispo to the east.
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Cambria: Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is a peaceful oceanfront getaway, just a short walk from the village of Cambria on California’s Central Coast. The Ranch is full of life, with over 150 types of native plants and 430 different birds, including some rare ones. On the north side, a mile and a half of wetlands, marshes, and tidal areas provide a home for many animals. The Monterey pine forest, one of only five left in the world, gives shelter to wildlife moving between the hills and the ocean. The most amazing part of the Ranch is its stunning ocean bluff, which stretches for more than a mile along the shore. The rocky cliffs rise to 200 feet, offering breathtaking views of whales swimming, birds soaring, and otters playing in the waves. In spring, the meadows burst into color with wildflowers. With over eight miles of trails, the Ranch is the perfect place to walk, explore, and enjoy nature. It feels like a hidden wilderness but is still close to restaurants, shops, and inns. You can even join a guided nature walk to learn more about this beautiful place. The preserve is open and free for everyone to enjoy every day from sunrise to sunset.
Pismo Preserve, Pismo Beach: At 880 acres, the Pismo Preserve offers truly exceptional and diverse recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors will enjoy over 11 miles of trail traversing serene oak woodlands and coastal ridgelines with stunning panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean stretching from the Irish Hills to Point Sal. Hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian riding are popular uses of the Preserve, along with special events such as “Hike with Yoga” and “Seed Collection” days, where proceeds benefit the Land Conservancy and hikers can help collect native seeds, the materials gathered from the event will be used for future restoration projects at the Preserve. The focus for the event includes species such as California sage brush, black sage, and sticky monkey flower.
Dune Vista Trail, Lopez Lake Arroyo Grande: This 8.9 mile loop trail near Arroyo Grande, located only about 15 minutes from Pismo Beach, is generally considered a moderately challenging route and takes about 4 hours to complete. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit any time offering great views, wildlife sightings (including deer and bobcat), and a mostly flat start. Challenges are steep climbs and loose gravel once you start to round the mountains but the views from the top of Lopez Lake are worth the climb.
Laguna Lake, San Luis Obispo: The Laguna Lake Upper Trail is a relaxed 2.3-mile loop, making it a perfect hiking spot for a family outing or a quiet, reflective hike. The space is also home to diverse ecosystems, providing an educational aspect to every trek. The park is dog friendly with a 1.4 mile loop around the water as well, and a fenced dog play area if the pup has extra energy to burn after the short and easy hike. The lake is also a great fishing spot for the kids and has a playground and picnic areas available.
Estero Bluffs State Park, Cayucos: Estero Bluffs State Park offers 7 miles of oceanfront trails, dog friendly on-leash, with stunning ocean views, abundant wildlife and easy access. This park is home to the snowy plover, along with other endangered species. There are a rich array of habitats in this small park. The purpose of Estero Bluffs State Park is to preserve and protect a rich, diverse and particularly scenic area of the California Central Coast. This viewshed includes sea stacks and intertidal areas, a substantial area of wetlands, low bluffs and coastal terraces punctuated by several perennial and intermittent streams, also containing a pocket cove and beach at Villa Creek. The property's rich diversity of habitat types includes marine, intertidal, estuarine, riverine, coastal salt marsh, freshwater marsh, coastal foredune, coastal and riparian scrub and grassland, collectively providing habitat for several endangered species, including the snowy plover. The property also includes sensitive Native American occupancy sites.
Harmony Headlands State Park, Harmony: Located 3 miles south of the tiny town of Harmony, this park offers a short hiking trail to a coastal marine terrace grassland with steep hills and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The 784-acre coastal park is in a secluded and peaceful setting along Highway 1 and offers several recreational opportunities such as hiking, picnicking, and bird watching & wildlife viewing. A short, level 1.5 mile trail from the parking lot extends west to a coastal marine terrace grassland with steep hills and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Human occupation along California’s Central Coast dates back at least 10,000 years. The native people, ancestors to today’s Salinan or Chumash people, lived along the coastal bluffs and further inland. They traveled seasonally up and downstream drainages to take advantage of the various food, shelter, and tool resources needed for survival. The Museum of Natural History in nearby Morro Bay State Park has exhibits that cover natural features, cultural history, Native American life, geology, and oceanography if you are interested in learning more after your hike.
Hearst San Simeon State Park Bay/Point Trail, San Simeon: The San Simeon Bay Trail is a coastal walking route offering an easy, scenic path along the shore out to San Simeon Point where hikers can spot elephant seals sunbathing on the beach below. This 3.8 mile out and back trail offers beach views, forest entries, paths through pine trees and a field of wildflowers at the point. Enjoy many different ocean viewpoints with spectacular views from the bluffs along the way and bring fido as this trail is dog friendly on leash. The property is shared with cattle so be prepared to pass a few along the route.
We hope you get the chance to get out and explore some of the amazing trails and open spaces SLO County has to offer next time you are visiting Pismo Beach and the central California coast, enjoy the great outdoors!