Hikes in California

The community of Los Osos on the San Luis Obispo County coast is buffered on the south side by an ecological reserve. A 2.6-mile hike through Morro Dunes Ecological Reserve (also called Bayview Ecological Reserve) ascends 800 feet, briefly entering Montaña de Oro State Park at the trail's highest point. The loop travels over ancient sand dunes that became grown over by grasses and brush. ...Read more.

Elfin Forest Natural Preserve (also know as Los Osos Elfin Forest and El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area) lies between the communities of Morro Bay and Los Osos on the coast of San Luis Obispo County. A mile of boardwalk circles the 90-acre preserve, providing opportunities to gaze across Morro Bay and admire nearby peaks in Morro Bay State Park. There is a thin 80 feet of elevation gain along the loop, making it suitable for strollers, walkers, and wheelchairs. ...Read more.

On Tunnel View Trail, you can expect to see exactly what the name advertises, a view of the Gaviota Tunnel crossed by northbound traffic on Highway 101 between Santa Barbara and Buellton. You can also expect this 2.6 mile loop with 600 feet of elevation gain to deliver a rustic hiking experience up a narrow overgrown trail. If you could tune out the din of the freeway below, the trail would feel completely remote. ...Read more.

Sycamore Canyon Campground sits just off the beach in Point Mugu State Park on the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu. The 13,300-acre park boasts beautiful beaches, rocky peaks, and miles and miles of hiking trails. Tents and RVs are welcome attack this drive-up campground. In addition to beach access, Sycamore Canyon Campground provides fire rings, picnic tables, potable water, coin showers, and flush toilets. ...Read more.

Point Mugu State Park preserves a stunningly picturesque portion of the Santa Monica Mountains at the west end of Malibu. When you see park trails with names like Scenic Trail and Overlook Trail, you anticipate first class ocean views. Scenic and Overlook Trails Loop delivers the goods! This 2.7-mile hike climbs 425 feet to tremendous vistas atop a ridge west of Big Sycamore Canyon. ...Read more.

Tuna Canyon Park preserves 1,255 beautiful acres in the mountains between Topanga and Malibu. Despite being relatively unknown and under-visited, the park delivers some of the grandest ocean views to be found anywhere in the Santa Monica Mountains. From ridges 1,500 feet above a silken Pacific Ocean, Tuna Canyon Park looks east toward Santa Monica Bay and west up the coast of Malibu. ...Read more.

Hahn Park's Community Trail is quite well named. It isn't the type of hike you would travel a long distance to visit, but if you live nearby, you are lucky to have it. The highlight of this 2.5-mile hike in the Baldwin Hills is a string of ridge-top viewpoints that looks north over Los Angeles. The 319-acre park is bordered by oil fields that limit the natural charm. ...Read more.

Next to Will Rogers State Historic Park is a shady canyon with a shady past. The ruins of Murphy Ranch, a compound built by Nazi sympathizers in the 1930s have been left behind to decay in Rustic Canyon. For adventuresome hikers, a trail enters Rustic Canyon from the east side of Will Rogers SHP. Beyond the end of the trail is a long unmaintained path up an overgrown canyon to the ruins. ...Read more.

In addition to a rare polo field, renown ranch house, and a lawn that begs to be picnicked on, Will Rogers State Historic Park has plenty to offer to hikers. This is the eastern end of the 65-mile long Backbone Trail, which crosses the Santa Monica Mountains all the way to Point Mugu, and Will Rogers SHP is also home to a delightful short hike to a popular overlook. ...Read more.

Ah, what could be finer than a night beneath the pines and oaks at a cozy campground in Los Padres National Forest? A peaceful camping experience awaits at Cerro Alto Campground, located just off Route 41 between Morro Bay and Atascadero in San Luis Obispo County. The year-round campground has 22 sites spread out along a mile-long road in an oak-shaded canyon below Cerro Alto. ...Read more.