Hike: Pismo Preserve Loop

Emily Bailey
1 day ago
2 min read

Distance: 3.5 miles

Time: 2 hours

Ascent: 530ft

Difficulty: 3 out of 5

A rolling loop above Pismo with sweeping views from the Oceana Dunes to Avila Bay.

Difficulty: Moderate

Some elevation, worth the climb

A few climbs with wonderful views to justify them but you'll want decent footwear and a snack in your pack. Perfect for families with older kids and anyone who's reasonably active.

The Pismo Preserve sits just off the HIghway 101, on California's Central Coast. Pismo Preserve is located in the hills that tower above Pismo Beach. Once you step through the trailhead gate and the grasslands open up ahead of you, its a hidden gem that the locals flock to. The area is managed by the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo and you can find out more on their website including a handy trail map: https://lcslo.org/pismo-preserve/

This was our first outing to Pismo Preserve and we arrived to an already full parking lot, Google Maps shows the overflow parking area which is about a 5 minute walk from the trailhead. We started on the Spring to Spring Trail to gained elevation early, the views of the bay below getting more spectauular with every stop of a breather. At the top of the trail we linked onto the Discovery Trail. The climb is steady and the 3 under 12's with us took it all in their stride — around 532 feet of ascent spread over the first two miles. From the upper reaches you can see across Pismo Beach, track the dunes at Oceano shimmering in the distance, and look north toward Avila Bay on a clear day.

The trail continues out to Lovers Point, a natural stopping spot with a well-placed benche to enjoy the views, top up on snacks and find a geocache.

The return follows the Discovery Trail back down before joining the Low Road to the car park — a gentler descent through a mix of open grassland and shaded tree sections that makes a nice contrast to the exposed ridge walk above.

The preserve is part of a broader trail network with routes ranging from around 1.5 to 5.5 miles, so it's easy to find a trail that suits your ability. The trails are shared with mountain bikers —so make sure you give way, we found most of the bikers have bells and give you fair warning but perhaps leave you noise cancelling headphones at home. Trails are well-signed and beautifully maintained.