One of my favorite places in SLO! I really appreciate the work the city workers (and/or volunteers)…read moredo to maintain this trail. I would say it's an easy to moderate hike to the top if you take the trail head near Meadow Park. I prefer the second trail on the left to the top of the main hill.

A beautiful place to hike in town, who wouldn't love that?!…read more I swear, I felt like I was hiking in Wales or Scotland on my recent hike in South Hills (except for the homeless dude scrambling to get out of my way.) The hills are very rocky and rugged - quite striking. However, it might be wise to think twice about taking those hikers who might struggle to safely navigate the rough terrain of the upper peaks (the lower trails are much smoother.) I parked on Woodbridge Drive (ample on-street parking across from houses) and hiked up the Ridge Trail to the first peak, then hiked across to another lower peak (past the water tank) where Tibetan Prayer Flags adorn the overlook - spectacular for a small hill situated in town. Round-trip, I hiked about 2.6 miles and up 808 feet in just about an hour. Views were awesome, terrain lovely and the hike fun - 5 stars!

I hiked Sycamore Crest Trail in late July. The weather was pleasant--high 70s--but unfortunately,…read moreonce we reached the top, ocean fog completely blocked the views. Total bummer since the panoramic photos I'd seen online were what drew me in. The trail itself was tougher than expected. AllTrails listed it as kid-friendly, but I definitely wouldn't take my 4-year-old on this hike. The way up is a steady incline that really works your calves (be ready for some breaks), and the way down was surprisingly slippery due to loose gravel--even with solid hiking shoes. It's not dangerous, just tricky in spots, and you'll want to watch your footing. Overall, it's a nice enough trail, but I wouldn't call it "easy." It's one of those hikes I might try again on a clearer day just to catch that view--but in my opinion, there are much better hikes in California. For example, Point Lobos was easier and had way better views. Bottom line: manage your expectations, don't bring young kids, unless they are older kids and check the fog forecast before you go!

This a fun, short hike up to a great and vantage view point of Avila Bay and Port San Luis. I was…read morechecking the Sycamore Mineral Springs resort out and saw this trail and decided to go for it. Total mileage out and back is only 1.5 miles but it's a great workout. It was a pretty warm day and I worked up a sweat pretty quickly. Definitely steep but I appreciated the climb. I made it up to the top pretty fast so I was all happy with myself. The elevation gain is quick so be prepared. Lots of pretty views going up but at the top by far is the best. I loved all the gorgeous oak trees that provided some much needed shade along the trail. Once you are at the top, the view is pretty epic and you will want to linger. I could see the Pismo Dunes to my left and the beautiful bay and Port San Luis to my right. Should you desire to continue your hike then head left hike along the Ontario Ridge. Just can't beat the Central Coast of California!

Madonna Mountain is still of my all time favorite hikes in SLO county! The 360 views are…read morephenomenal, the hike is extremely dog friendly and it is a full 4 miles up and down the mountain! I enjoy this hike more and more every time I complete it!

Fun hike, alittle uphill but not strenuous. Easy to park and the views were spectacular!read more

Visiting SLO and my wife heard about this trail. I checked online on how to access...unfortunately…read morethe article was from 5 years ago and seemed to be outdated. Make sure you have plenty of time as there is quite a bit to see. We had a little over an hour and weren't able to see everything. We parked at the parking village drive parking garage, which was $10. There are 2 trails that head to the entrance arch shown in the picture..the first we ran across connected to the living quarters as was a narrow trail in the grass leading to the woods. This is a tad more challenging as the other trail is a gravel road with a slight incline and this route is a small path through the woods ( incline, decline, over branches and roots, etc). After about 14 mins it connects the gravel travel. To access from the gravel trail start from the parking garage opposite of the parking garage entrance there is a sidewalk path leading to a bridge, cross the bridge and you'll be on your way. Immediately, we saw some horses wandering around and crossing us on the trail. They were calm and a pleasant surprise. I won't post much of our photos, but there are lots of interesting structures that gave me a burning man feel. Lots of graffiti too, not sure if that is welcome or just vandalism. This was a nice change of pace trail and I would recommend.

If you've heard of the Architecture Graveyard, this is the way to get there! Other reviews have…read moregood directions but I highly recommend going on a weekend so you don't have to worry about finding parking. There's also a parking garage that isn't too far, in addition to the nearby staff lots. Trail is a fire road, and occasionally there are cars/trucks on it, so stay aware. You'll eventually come to a route to your right with a bridge for a hidden trail, but keep going to the left to get to the graveyard - plan to spend an hour or two if you really want to wander around and see all the structures. The trail itself is shady, but several of the projects are out in the open - take sunblock and water, and use common sense. For better or worse, most of the architecture displays are run-down, broken, and/or vandalized with graffiti - it lends a cool dystopian vibe to the area but it's a shame that the university let them get so damaged. Still cool to explore, though, stop by to take a look and get in some steps on a nice day!

WONDERFUL HIKE. I did the 6 mile Perimeter loop and absolutely loved it. The view was unreal…read moreespecially 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!

My family and I hiked this trail, The Lemon Grove Loop Trail, during our SLO visit. I initially…read morewanted 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.

A fun jaunt amongst hike-lovers. The terrain is reasonably safe, with lots of mud and cow pies…read more During these atmospheric rivers, I'd urge you to wear, at minimum, mid-height water proof hiking shoes. Bring water, because there will be lots of beautiful sun exposure. Great spots to take pictures of the rolling green hills against a cloud lit backdrop and the historic Waddell Ranch Estate. Will return with the kid's and plan to hike the entire loop. (As long as the crest side isn't fully flooded.)

What a great location…read more First, it couldn't be easier to find as it is at the end of Madonna Road (at Devaul Ranch Rd) in between two houses, with Laguna Lake Park across the street. Residential parking is easy to find. You can even watch someone's TV while you stretch. Second, there is a variety of hikes. Check the a map out front. Take a picture of that. You will have some forks and decisions to make and that will help. We climbed UP the Maricopa trail. The first half is a steady incline under a shady canopy. Shady in both senses of the word: a) it shields you from the sun, b) it's a sneaky place for a mountain lion to hide. You will cross some teeny-tiny bridges. The second half is under the sun. There are at least three stretches steeper than 45 degrees, so stretch first. We made it to the fork and decided to go down. We were close to the 600' elevation gain, or so I'd like to think. I'm mid-40s with premature arthritis and I'm 20-30% heavier than I should be, so it wasn't too hard, but I didn't want to push it. We went down King trail. King trail has no shade as it zigs and zags through an open meadow of knee-high fire bait. That will do a number on your calves. The decline is much more consistent that the Maricopa, and is longer. You could go UP the King and DOWN the Maricopa, but I feel Maricopa's uneven terrain is better suited for climbing. Plus, going up the King, backwards in my eyes, you would be zagging and zigging.

Hiking eval.: "Making a Mountain Out of a Molehill"…read more I am not sure what some people are smoking, but for those who are not in great shape, if you do happen to take the path to the very top, it can be quite challenging. It can also be rather hazardous, since the trail is very narrow, and is composed of a lot of loose dirt. Higher up, there are wooden cross pieces that hold the dirt in place, but some are damaged, broken, or missing. If you are afraid of heights this is not a place to go. The cow with the binoculars on top of the hill is kind of cheesy, but it is a good illustration of the nice views both on the trails, and on top. Of course, since there are three different entrances, you can make the hike easier by just going part way up and then toward a far entrance. You can even return to your point of origin by either walking inside of Islay Park or in the residential areas. The hiking trail entrances, trails, & they way up the hill are maintained a bit. As for me, I made good use of hiking poles, especially on the way down. If you are as slow as I am, then you periodically need to make way for those who go faster [and in my case, that is everyone]. If you do not want to be bothered with too many other fast hikers, then going on a weekday before rush hour is a good bet. On the part of the trail that goes down to the Orcutt Road side, there can be quite a few cows in the afternoon and thus there is Cow Manure to avoid. Of course, rating the difficulty of any given trail depends upon a whole host of factors. I think Alltrails, which I do use with a grain of salt, rates this one as easy to moderate. As for me, I rate it difficult to get to the top & down. Including walking in Islay Park & the residential area, we did close to 6 miles of either walking or hiking. I already broke my back & knee from various falls in the past, so I am especially cautious. One definitely needs to have either trail sneakers or hiking shoes in view of the dirt and the real possibility of slipping. Not that anyone plans to get injured, but this trail is so narrow toward the top and the slope is so steep, I do not see how a rescue can easily happen on the way up. While I hear that this is "easier" than going up Bishop Peak, I imagine it is all relative. I think even though this is called a hill, once you manage to get up on top, it sure seems more like a "mountain", but I grew up in the Flatlands area of Brooklyn....which was...quite Flat!

One of the easier hikes out of the "Nine Sisters". It's definitely moderate and gets a little…read moreharder towards the top. You'll be rewarding with a great, 360 view of San Luis Obispo. Wear some sunscreen and a hat as there's no cover here to protect you from the sun. I started from the trail entrance near the Islay Hill Park (where I also parked my car). There's a cow statue at the top which I found hilarious. Wasn't expecting that but there are cows and farms in the area so it makes sense. It's also neat that they had dog leashes for free at one of the trail entrances since dogs are allowed on leash here.

As of Oct 17, 2020 this place is still temporarily closed due to the El Dorado fire…read more The road leading to the trailhead may close seasonally. Please DO NOT park in undesignated spots as you are likely to get towed. Adventure Pass or National Parks Pass is required for entry. Due to many search and rescue situations in the past, hikers may not venture past the waterfall at the end of this route. There is a large parking lot at the trailhead with BOTH free and PAID parking. The gravel lot to the left is free. The lined spots require a day pass which you can purchase at the general store a few miles down the road. Making it to the very top requires a little scrambling and rock climbing, but its doable. So many places to relax and enjoy nature. Overnight camping is no longer allowed, but if you want to hang out for the day and set up a little picnic there are spots and bathrooms. Upper Big Falls is currently closed until 5/21/21 due to public safety. The closure is from the observation deck up to the waterfalls itself. Do not hike or climb past the observation deck. Forest Adventure Pass Daily Pass--Costs: $5 per dayForest Adventure Pass Annual Pass--Costs: $30 Annually Forest headquarters 602 So. Tippecanoe Ave San Bernardino Ca 92408 Tel no (909) 382 2682 (800)735 2922

We decided to come here for a hike, we drove like 50 minutes from AG. The rode goes up a mountain…read morethen descents towards a series of creek passings (about 18). Luckily we took a pick up truck because the creek water level in some of them were about 3ft deep. No 4x4 is needed but definitely helps, car height is more important. When we actually got to the end of the road we went on a hike crossing a couple more creeks. When just about made it to the falls it was tough to get down if your a inexperienced hiker or kid. You have to climb down with a rope, pretty sketchy.. We just decide to hang out at one of the creeks we crossed by foot, very tranquil.