Hike

TOP TEN HIKES

I am not typically drawn in by the yahoo headlines of "Is your house really worth what you think it is?" or "See these random stars are nerdy teenagers," but I tell you what, I am a sucker for top ten lists. It doesn't matter much what the top ten is of, I will probably click on it. So, here is one for you: The top 10 beautiful hikes in San Luis Obispo County, in approximate order of amazingness. If you haven't done them, do them.

This  may not provide all the information you need to do all these hikes, and if you are looking to hike lots around here, I recommend the book Day Hikes in San Luis Obispo County, California by Robert Stone.  I tried to give you a link for each with helpful enough information.

Note: I have done all of these with my children, so this is not a list of top 10 most strenuous hikes in the county. 

10. Black Hill, Morro Bay State Park. The view says it all. And I've had multiple two-year-olds walk up it, so you can too.

9. Cal Poly Design Village, San Luis Obispo. Cal Poly architecture and engineering students build a cool random structure out in the hills above Cal Poly.  For example, you will see the most giant jungle gym you've ever seen, and a building shaped like a shell. 

8. San Simeon Bay Trail, San Simeon State Park. View worthy of the cover of my hike book and a cool tunnel-like cypress grove that feels like you're in Lord of the Rings.

7. Point Buchon Trail, Montana de Oro. Electric fences, and a giant sinkhole into the ocean. And last time we saw beach goats. Weird.  Make sure you check on times with PG&E.  It's on the nuclear power plant land, so there are only certain days and times you are allowed.

6. Bob Jones Trail, Avila Beach. Paved bike/stroller trail with beautiful Avila Beach as the destination.  I usually start this one at Sycamore Mineral Springs when doing it with smaller children on bikes, otherwise everyone is crying by the end.  Don't miss the labryinth across the street from Sycamore Mineral Springs before heading out.

5. Hazards Canyon Reef Trail, Montana de Oro. Lush, short walk to tidepools and giant sand hill.

4. Reservoir Canyon Trail, San Luis Obispo. Waterfall, cave, pleasant rolling cascades of stream. Very close to civilization.

3. Ragged Point Cliffside Trail. This is very treacherous hike down a cliff to a black sand beach. My husband got really mad at me for taking my boys on it, and I couldn't blame him. But it is awesome.








2. Little Falls Trail, behind Lopez Lake. Boy, oh boy, I wish I had brought my camera on this one. 40 foot mossy waterfall with crystal clear pool at the bottom. You have to drive through a creek 7 times to get to it. Truck/4-wheel drive required.

1. Bishop Peak, San Luis Obispo. Perfect, long steep climb to sweeping views with lots of bouldering opportunities.









KID HIKEABILITY TABLE

	Driving Time	Hike Time	Coolness	Elevation change	Perils	Age suitable for
Salmon Creek Falls, North of San Simeon	1 hour	20 minutes	Awesome - waterfall and pools, beautiful views	Moderate, but waterfall at start	Low if kids good at staying on trail	All, but consider child to adult ratio
Ragged Point, Hwy 1 north of san simeon	50 minutes	30 minutes	Remarkable - breathtaking views, amazing private black sand beach	Very steep	High Plummetability	Probably 9+, but I was comfortable with baby backpack
San Simeon Bay Trail	35 minutes	1 hour	Awesome - amazing views, beautiful beach, cypress tree tunnel	All level, except one slippery, sandy hill	Easily avoidable cliffs and poison oak	All, but consider child to adult ratio
Jim Green Trail, Atascadero	30 minutes	1 hour	Pleasant - preferable in winter when green	Some hills	Very low - no poison oak or cliffs	Baby backpack, 3+
Cerro Alto Loop Trail, Hwy 41	20 minutes	1.5 hour	Pleasant -Beautiful views, pleasant shaded woodland; $5 in dropbox	Very steep	Getting lost	Baby backpack, 6+ or turn around early
Black Hill, Morro Bay State Park	5 minutes	30 - 50 minutes	Awesome - beautiful views entire way of the bay from los osos to cayucos	Moderate, but not unreasonable	Sometimes slippery for little feet, only a little poison oak at top	All
Portola Point/Live Oaks Trail, Morro Bay State Park	5 minutes	1 hour	Ok - good views of bay, immediate surroundings not very interesting	Moderate	Low	Baby backpack, 3+
Elfin Forest, Los Osos	10 minutes	1 hour	Pleasant - good views of bay, little pygmy oaks are cool	Level	Low	All, including strollers
Sweet Springs, Los Osos	10 minutes	30 minutes	Ok - a few pleasant lookout points, particularly if you're into waterfowl	Level	Low; there is poison oak, but the trail is wide enough if you are careful	All
Los Osos Oaks, Los Osos	10 minutes	1 hour	Pleasant - beautiful gnarled coastal oak trees	Level	Poison Oak everywhere, not very wide trail	Anyone who you can keep from brushing plants on the sides
Hazard Canyon Reef, Montana de Oro	25 minutes	30 minutes (plus beachtime)	Awesome - lush little canyon hike to tidepools, beach, and giant sandhill	Level	Low, some poison oak	All; consider child to adult ratio while at tidepools
Bluff Trail, Montana de Oro	25 minutes	1.5 hours	Awesome - amazing views, cool rock formations, fun beach stop	Level	Hikes along the cliff, so moderate plummet potential	All, but consider child to adult ratio
Coon Creek Trail, Montana de Oro	30 minutes	2 hours	Pleasant - shady willow and oaks up a canyon along creek	Moderate	Low	Baby backpack, 4+ (or turn around before end with younger)
Point Buchon Trail, Montana de Oro (see note)	30 minutes	2+ hours	Awesome -amazing views, cool rock formations, sinkhole; best in spring with wildflowers	Mostly level, except large hill at beginning	Electric fences, moderate plummet potential	All, consider child to adult ratio; jogging stroller capable
Bishop Peak Trail, San Luis obispo	15 minutes	2 hours	Awesome - beautiful views for entire hike, bouldering at top	Very steep	Moderate Plummetability	Baby backpack (if you are very fit), 5+
Cerro San Luis Obispo Trail, San Luis Obispo	20 minutes	1.5 hours	Pleasant - similar to bishop peak but not as cool.  They do have cactus though	Very steep	Moderate Plummetability	Baby backpack (if you are very fit), 3+ with enough adults if hike up to the "M"
Poly Canyon Design Village, Cal Poly	20 minutes	1.5 hours	Pleasant - cool creations by architecture/engineering students like a house shaped like shell	Mostly level hike, structures are on a grassy hill	Low on hike, some sketchy to climb on structures once you're there	All, you can take a jogging stroller for most of it; Bring money to pay for parking on campus
Reservoir Canyon Trail, just north of SLO	20 minutes	1.5 hours	Awesome - waterfall, cave, shaded hike crosses pleasant creek, swimholes	Moderate, but most of fun is at the beginning	Low	All to waterfall, baby backpack and 3+ for rest; consider child to adult ratio when playing in water
Bob Jones Trail, Avila Beach	30 minutes	2 hours	Awesome - great mostly shaded trail to avila beach	Mostly level	Low	All, strollerable or bikeable (it's paved)
Monarch Butterfly Grove and Meadow Creek Trail	35 minutes	1 hour	Pleasant - Monarchs in winter are cool; hike is across dunes to pleasant beach	Level	Low	All
Gulton Trail, Oceano lagoon	35 minutes	1 hour	Ok - hike around lagoon with small nature center at beginning	Level	Low	All
Little Falls Trail	1 hour	30 minutes	Remarkable- 50 foot mossy, cascade waterfall with clear pools, hike through shaded woodland	Mostly level	Low - but you absolutely need 4w drive and/or a truck to get there; creek crossing on road 8 times	All
Notes:
1. All driving times from morro bay
2. If you're going to buy a hike book for the area, I love my "Day Hikes in San Luis Obispo County California" by Robert Stone
3. Point Buchon Trail - This is on pg&e nuclear power plant land, so it has specific days and times that it is open, and you must check in at a gate to promise you're not a terrorist and what-not
4. Other hikes I've done with kids that I do not consider worth it based on coolness vs difficulty for kids: Reservoir Flats Trail (Montana de Oro),  Dunes Trail (Montana de Oro), CuestaRidge Road (Cuesta Grade Summit), Cave Landing and Pirates Cove (near Avila, beautiful, but nude beach)

DOCENT LED HIKES

For those of you who prefer a tour guide on your hike, pick up a copy of all the (free) docent led hikes each month at the Morro Bay Natural History Museum.  There are about three hikes every week.