WONDERFUL HIKE. I did the 6 mile Perimeter loop and absolutely loved it. The view was unreal especially when it started to sprinkle a little bit! It really looked like a rainforest. I'm a beginner hiker and was able to do this; however, the two uphills was a little rough. Hike to the top to see a view of SLO! read more

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My family and I hiked this trail, The Lemon Grove Loop Trail, during our SLO visit. I initially wanted to hike Bishop Peak, but after looking at the AllTrails app, it appeared that the Bishop Peak hike had a "hard" rating. One of my family members is not a huge hiker so we decided to find a more moderate hike. I'd rate this hike a 3.75/5 on the difficulty scale. We started the hike ~2PM on a Sunday and it wasn't busy at all. We completed the 4-mile hike in ~2 hours. You gain quite a bit of elevation during the hike as my Apple Watch recorded that I had climbed 1,000+ feet. It was sunny for 95% of the trail. There are some steep descent areas so wear proper shoes with adequate traction. There is a designated parking lot. Note, Google Maps initially tried to route us through Private Property by the Madonna Inn. Don't follow that route. read more

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Love this hike! SLO is full of great hikes and cool vibes! Very easy and fancy trail! We made it to the ''M'' and it was only an hour! If you continue the route and you ll get to the top you will have ocean views! read more

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A slow, upward trail, but with a great payoff at the top. Views of peaks and valleys in this gorgeous landscape. It's especially beautiful in the early spring when everything is green and fresh. We once tried to push a stroller up it. Don't do that. read more

Beautiful view. Dog-friendly trail, but a lot of people are NOT good about keeping their dogs on leash. Parking lot is good size. Not much shade on the trail so bring a hat! read more

Cerro San Luis Trail - Hiking up - Hiking Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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My husband and I arrived in San Luis Obispo for an evening stop on our road trip across some of California and decided to take in a hike from the Charles A and Mary R Maino Open Space along the Cerro San Luis Trail. Did we get confused and possibly lost (lots of overlapping trails not well marked)? Yes. Was it absolutely stunningly gorgeous? Yes. I wish I lived near this trail - I would keep at it until I knew the trails. It was worth getting a little lost (we were never really lost since we were so uphill from the parking that we always knew which direction our car was parked in) to take in these gorgeous views. I highly recommend taking a hike here. The views are exceptional! (FYI: Google Maps took us to the highway and then said we were there but we took the next exit and the parking was pretty easy to find.) read more

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It's steep! I'll need to hike it a couple more times before I bike it! But I'll be back with my bike! read more

Cerro San Luis Trail - Hiking Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Did this hike and started at the Lemon Grove Trailhead. The signage wasn't so great and the trails tend to split a lot the further you go up. I'd recommend downloading the AllTrails app so that you can use the GPS. read more

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This is a great path for morning trail runs! Cerro has two different trail types depending on what you want to do. The most popular is the "M" trail or mountain trail. If you follow this loop it will lead you to the concrete, white "M" on Cerro San Luis. This trail is uphill, but nothing too steep. To reach the "M" it almost exactly one mile uphill. It is a short beautiful jaunt up the mountain. The best part of this trail is it is a loop, so you never have to retrace your steps. The path down is absolutely beautiful as well, weaving in and out of oak trees. I adore the forest feel of the walk down the mountain especially early in the morning. I love to start my day with this mini hike! The other trail is the lemon grove or if you are on the mountain, you'll see tiny images of cartoon lemons showing you which way to go. This is a popular path with trail runners (like me!) who want a challenge. This path goes up and down tiny hills around the bottom and middle mountain. It leads you through a lemon grove, hence the name. There are a few little paths you can take around the lemon grove, so there is plenty to explore and you have the ability to make it a long or short run depending on how you are feeling. On occasion, you will run into a mountain biker, so make sure your headphones aren't too loud so you can hear them coming to get out of the way. Both trails are well-maintained, but still watch your step (particularly if you are running!) as there are a good amount of rocks. This is one of my favorite trail runs. I always recommend it to my fellow trail runners! read more

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Perfect trail for our last day in SLO. We did the "M" trail which takes you up and you get to see the big "M" that's cemented into the mountain. It's a loop trail so it brings you up and back down with some areas of shade. It took us about an hour and 15 to get through the whole loop going at a leisurely pace. Just watch out for mountain bikers and/or runners. Great view of SLO. Plenty of parking if you get there early and no bathrooms, at least that I could see. read more

Cerro San Luis Trail - Hiking Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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We started at Lemon Grove trailhead around 10 am on Saturday morning. Parking was tight but earlier bikers were finishing up so we waited a few minutes for a spot. Lemon Grove hike is about 2.25 miles with 400 feet of elevation. It took us an hour with a small dog that we had to carry for several parts. It's mostly exposed so it was getting hot but there were several shady areas where we stopped to re-group. There were plenty of e-bikes cruising around but they were really courteous and looking out for hikers. read more

We recommend waking up early then heading out before it gets too hot to climb the Cerro San Luis Trail, just a 10 minute drive from downtown San Luis Obispo. We got our start around 9:30 AM, before the blazing sun really came out. In total, it takes just slightly over 1.5 hours. The beginning is the hardest part, as you climb the hill to get some pretty spectacular views. Several trails cross through Cerro San Luis, and its proximity to downtown makes it very popular with locals. The main trail to the summit begins at Marsh Street just before the on ramp to the 101. In total, prepare to climb 4 miles while gaining 1,100 feet. You'll pass in front of a giant "M" on the side of the mountain for the local high school -- keep going and make your way down the wooden ramps that take you through some tree cover. After the hike, head back to your accommodations to shower. And enjoy some well-earned breakfast. read more

Love this hike - The Lemon Grove Loop trail is great if you just want a quick trail run, while the hike to the summit is a must if you're looking for a ~2 hour hike with sweeping 360 views of the entire city of SLO. Big, wide trails that are shared with mountain bikers (who are few and far between and attach bells to their bikes to warn hikers). The hike can be strenuous if you head out mid-day - be sure to bring water and wear sunscreen, as the trail doesn't see much tree cover. In the late afternoon, there's a refreshing amount of breeze coming in from the ocean. It's about 4 miles round-trip, and took less than 2 hours (we did the trail to the "M," too). This is a great diversion from Bishop's Peak and offers a wider view of the Madonna/Broad part of SLO. The cage at the top stores the generator used for the Christmas tree that tops the mountain in December; it is not some kind of medieval torture device. Hike on. ;-) read more

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One of my favorite places to hike in SLO County. It's heavily trafficked, but for a good reason. Sweeping views of the city, the distant Pacific on the horizon, calm breezes, multiple trails, and spectacular beauty in a convenient location. Popular access points are the parking lot just off the Marsh St exit and from the dog park at Laguna Park. There are several trails the wind all around the mountain, so you can easily get a 360 degree view of San Luis Obispo. The top offers panoramic views, but you can also go to the Mission Prep "M." With the multiple approaches, you can climb up steeper trails, or meander gently to the top by taking the Lemon Grove Loop. read more

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Get there early so you're not battling for a parking spot! This is usually mistakenly called Madonna Mountain, but don't be fooled by the "M". I would suggest taking the lemon grove trail to the M trail, then wandering your way to the top! The trail offers views of downtown SLO, Laguna lake, Bishops Peak, and so much more! Pro tip: check out this trail in December to see the Christmas tree on top! read more

Cerro San Luis Trail - Hiking Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Fantastic hike with gorgeous views of San Luis Obispo and the surrounding area, including a clear view of the Pacific Ocean. I came here late morning on a weekday and the trail wasn't very busy except from a couple of runners and mountain bikers. There are multiple trails and shortcuts but the main trail wil lead you to the summit that will give you a 360 view of the valley. Just stunning. I suggest to hike clockwise to maximize your views. Take plenty of water, slather on sunscreen and bring a snack. There are benches along the way where you can rest and take in the view. It is awesome. A perfect hike for novice hikers and experienced ones. read more

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I think I've reviewed Madonna Mountain and I should probably let someone know these are the same place, but I feel like there is a select group of people who know what this place is really called and it's fun to see which group you fall into. Personally, I call it both, ha! But this is my favorite mountain to hike, the secret is not to hike the main route straight up but to find some of the winding trails that take you on a longer route and give you a better workout, and provide better views and terrain variety. Either way, it's a great view at the top, the paths are super wide and this can be made to be as easy or grueling as you want, another bonus. The people I see here are always friendly and parking, unless it's at peak time (Sunday afternoon) is easy to get to and use from the Marsh on ramp side. No complaints, I love this spot. read more

Cerro San Luis Trail - It's green! - Hiking Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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This is a great trail if you're limited on time, but still want a great view. I didn't do the whole loop, but instead, just went to the 'M' and took less that 1 hour round trip. I came after the rain so it was a bit muddy in some parts. Otherwise, the hike was extremely easy and made for beginners. There's a slight hill in the beginning that really warms you up but the rest of it was not bad at all, practically like a walk. I'm sure if you walked all the way up the lemon grove trail, you'll get more of a 360 degree view. There's a small parking lot in the trail head (no bathrooms though), which I didn't have a problem finding a spot. read more

This is quite a hike. You can choose different routes to make it as long/short easy/difficult as you want. Make sure to check the map so you don't accidentally wander off an extra hour that was unplanned. The inclines can be a little steep but my dogs loved it. Beautiful plants and views. I was so surprised to drive through a downtown area to get to this trail, but it has all the wildness of big shady trees with moss as well as areas of open sun and cacti. It was windy when I went so make sure to bring layers and water. There was a very limited parking area so I recommend getting there early. As we were leaving around 11AM there were cars circling the lot. This trail seems very popular for runners in the area. Great place to burn off some calories for a well earned wine tasting trip in the area later in the day. read more

The trailhead for the Cerro San Luis Trail is fairly easy to find; it's literally right off the Marsh and Higuera southbound on-ramp for US-101. There's a parking lot there that seemed quite ample. Tip: The markings on the trail can be a bit confusing; there are a number of signs, but apparently over the years mountain bikers have created so many crossings that it can sometimes be hard to follow the trail. The first time I came here, I hiked up to the big "M" (which stands for Mission High School). From there I continued the ascent up to the top of San Luis Mountain; my efforts were rewarded with some truly exceptional views! One of the most striking views is to the North, where you can see Bishop Peak. The area this venue is in called Maino Open Space; you'll find quite a lot of people on this trail. While it's not the best place to come if you only want to hike in solitude, if you know what to expect going in you can enjoy the flowers and the lovely open spaces and get a decent work out. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate this hike around a 6; it's moderately strenuous, but nothing you can't handle if you're in decent hiking condition. Tip: While the trail is dog friendly, it's best to check your pooch for ticks after your hike. read more

I did an evening hike starting around 7 PM. Beautiful scenery all the way up. It was dark when I got to the top looking down at the city lights was amazing. Make sure you take a sweater and a flashlight. The hike was fairly easy. A great way to spend the evening. read more

I really love this hike. I tend to go early morning or right after work and never have a problem with parking. The people are super friendly on the trail too. Once you hit the top - climb to the very top of the rocks and just take it all in. The views are epic. On a clear day you can see all the peaks and Pismo. You can do a short hike called - Lemon Loop. It's about ~40 min if you don't have a lot of time. read more

Hiked cerro San luis multiple times. What can I say, mother nature got it right. Try to go at a time when poly students aren't around if possible, if not then don't expect to have a quiet/peaceful time at the top. If your looking for a good free weekend hike then this is a good place to start. Dog friendly. read more

A great little hike but the trailhead and different trails are horribly marked. When you begin it appears that you're starting the "Lemon Grove Trail" when in reality the route is common for both the LGT and the two routes to the top of SL Mountain. The two routes to the top of SL Mountain are also poorly marked while the trail spur to the Mission "M" is fairly well marked. I suggest looking at the hike on Google Maps before you depart. Make sure to take some water and possibly a snack. Note a terribly strenuous hike. A hiking pole makes things lots easier for me -- particularly on the descent. Enjoy! read more

This is a beautiful series of trails that is easily accessible from the Madonna Inn. I love parking at Madonna Inn, taking in the manmade scenery, and then walking over to Cerro San Luis for an amazing walk in the hills. It's a lot more difficult in some points than nearby Johnson Ranch Trail, but it has a lot to offer as well. If you're strong enough to make it partway back, you're treated to a relaxing citrus grove and amazing views. I'd highly recommend doing this. read more

Great view from the top, just don't get lost coming down like I did. It's happened to me three times. There's multiple ways to get down, which will end in different locations. There's Laguna Lake, the entrance near the freeway entrance, several over Chorro, and I believe Foothill. I ended up at Madonna Inn once. It you walk up the road, that winds halfway around the peak, the incline isn't that steep and has great views city, lake, Bishops Peak and Ocean. read more

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This trail is great for beginners to moderates in terms of hiking. Nice views of SLO from all around. Reviews of nature from here are stunning. Bring some sunblock, water, and a great love for outdoors. read more

Cerro San Luis Trail - Nice view. - Hiking Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Apparently this is the same trail as The lemon grove loop? I think? I hope. I haven't done the full trail just the loop since I had my 6 year old with me. Totally easy for kids to do, but know that there is TONS of poison oak and cactus on this trail, so if one falls...ouch. read more

Meh. This one was two stars compared to my five star review for Bishop's peak yesterday. The reason why is because the trail was just so one toned, monochromatic, & boring. It is straight dirt and rocks all the way up; after 15 minutes I was already tired of it. Hiked this on vacation and if I am ever back again I won't hike this one. Bishop's peak is much more recommended as the scenery changes constantly, the views are better, and the summit has a variety of rock structures that you can climb and relax on as well. To add insult to injury, there is a complete lack of signs for newbies and on the way down I accidentally took the right Trail which was the access road when I should have taken the left Trail which was the rock garden Trail which led down to the parking lot on Marsh and Fernandez. I had to back track a good .3 miles when I realized my error as there was no one on the access road coming up. read more

Awesome views from the top! The trails are poorly marked so make sure you note which one you came up on and take a phone just in case.

Lots of different trails for different people ranging from lemon grove to hiking around the mountain or to the top. Views of SLO are great at the top. Carry snacks and water if you are going for a long hike. During Christmastime, there is a metal tree that is lit at the top and makes for a nice evening hike. read more

Great half-day hike, beautiful views, rigorous but not overly difficult, well-marked trails, a lot of great people coming and going. it was fun to hang out at the top with the clouds rolling over the peak. read more