Hikes in San Luis Obispo County

Located in the Santa Ynez Mountains, 1,800-feet above the Santa Barbara Coast, Inspiration Point attracts hikers with panoramic views over city and sea. Two routes lead to this picturesque perch. If you want to make a day of it, you can approach the viewpoint from the west on a moderate 7.55-mile round trip trek up Jesusita Trail to Inspiration Point from San Roque Road. ...Read more.

Coon Creek Trail explores a coastal canyon at the south end of Montaña de Oro State Park. The trail heads inland for 2.5 miles to a pleasant grove of Monterey cypress at the site of an old homestead that has since disappeared. Take a break in the shade of the cypress trees before turning around for a 5-mile round trip hike with 250 feet of elevation gain. ...Read more.

Pinnacles National Park preserves some of California's oddest landscapes with out-of-place rock spires and boulder-filled gorges with talus caves just waiting to be explored. Grab your headlamp and head to the west side of Pinnacles National Park for a trek into Balconies Cave. This fun 2-mile out and back hike or 2.4-mile lollipop loop hike crosses a playground of volcanic rock formations and journeys through the dark, twisting passages of Balconies Cave. ...Read more.

Pinnacles National Park is a spectacular place to hike with a High Peaks area covered in rock spires and equally impressive boulder-filled gorges with talus caves. See both the High Peaks and Balconies Cave on a great 9-mile loop through diverse Pinnacles landscapes. Starting in the east, this clockwise loop ascends 1,575 feet to a thrilling crossing of the High Peaks, then descends Juniper Canyon to the west side of the park, and passes through Balconies Cave to close the hike with an easy walk back on Old Pinnacles Trail. ...Read more.

Pinnacles National Park has spectacular boulder-strewn mountains and gorges filled with talus caves. The park is a playground for hikers and climbers. For campers, there is Pinnacles Campground, a 149-site campground set within an oak woodland on the east side of the park. While the campground isn't in the middle of all the awesome rock formations, the park's fun is close at hand. ...Read more.