Camp Fire Central Coast of http://campfirecentralcoast.org/ (805) 773-5126

Hiking Program All hikes are Sundays. Meet at Noon. Begin at 12:15.

Schedule Optional Items to Bring: Small, lightweight backpack ♦ water ♦ snacks ♦ map ♦ October 9 #86 Yucca Ridge to Cal Poly “P” compass ♦ first aid kit ♦ sweater/jacket ♦ hiking October 23 #87 Felsman Loop stick/trekking poles ♦ hat ♦ sunscreen ♦ flashlight ♦ November 13 #89 Lemon Grove tissue ♦ pen & paper ♦ camera ♦ pocket knife ♦ November 20 #90 Serro San Luis Obispo magnifying glass December 4 Pismo Preserve NOTE: Closed toed shoes are required for all hikes. December 18 #95 Johnson Ranch January 29 #82 Eagle Rock at El Chorro Park Hikes are led by Wes Armstrong, a Camp Fire Club Leader, Board Member, and outdoor enthusiast. February 12 #55 Chorro Trail to Turtle Rock February 26 #78 Coon Creek If possible, please RSVP to [email protected] or 805-459-3660; but last minute hikers are always welcome! March 12 #93 Froom Canyon March 26 #99 Camp Fire club members who attend three hikes will earn April 9 #102 Reservoir Canyon a special hike emblem.

April 23 #75 Valencia Peak Parents, please use your discretion regarding age and May 14 #122 Bluff Trail ability suitability for your children.

Hike numbers and details are taken from this book:

Day Hikes Around San Luis Obispo, 156 Great Hikes by Robert Stone, 3rd Edition. (Copy at Camp Fire Office for reference.)

This excellent resource contains detailed descriptions, maps, etc. You may wish to obtain a personal copy of the book at http://www.amazon.com/Day-Hikes-Around-Luis-Obispo/dp/1573420700.

Additional Hike Information

October 9 #86 Yucca Ridge to Cal Poly “P” Distance: 3 miles round trip. Duration: 1.5 hours. Directions: From Cal Poly entrance station drive 0.4 miles to Perimeter Road. Turn right and park 0.2 miles ahead in H-4 parking lot on right. Description: Take unpaved jogging road and head up the canyon through eucalyptus grove, parallel to creek on left. We will see the rock arch, cross Baltimore Bridge and continue through shady woodland, a field of yuccas and an unmaintained botanical garden.

October 23 #87 Felsman Loop [ Natural Reserve] Distance: 3.2 mile loop. Duration: 1.5 hours. Directions: From Los Osos Valley Road, take Foothill Boulevard 2.1 miles east to Patricia Drive on the left (north.) Continue 0.7 miles to signed trailhead on the left. Park alongside road. Description: Traverses northern flank of the peak. The sinuous path meanders across open pastures and shaded forests, offering views of city and surrounding hills. At northern end of reserve, path follows a ridge overlooking Santa Lucia Mountains, Poly Canyon, West Cuesta Ridge, San Luis Obispo, and the string of volcanic morros.

November 13 #89 Lemon Grove Loop on Mount Madonna [ Natural Reserve] Distance: 2.3 mile loop. Duration: 1.0 hour. Directions: From 101, exit Marsh street, and cross Marsh Street/Higuera intersection. Double back and continue on Higuera to Highway 101 South on-ramp. Just before entering freeway, turn right onto Fernandez Road (a dirt road) and into the trailhead parking area on right. Description: The prominent 1292 foot volcanic landmark overlooks the city and Santa Lucia Mountains… traverses east slope of mountain, following contours of the foothill en route to abandoned lemon grove that still survives on north end of the open space.

November 20 #90 Cerro San Luis Obispo Distance: 3 miles round trip. Duration: 2.0 hours. Directions: (Trailhead location is the same as Hike #89, above.) Description: Cerro San Luis Obispo is eighth of nine volcanic peaks that form a ridge between cities of Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. (Little known fact: Although the hike crosses Madonna family private property, the “M” on the face of the mountain stands for Mission School.) The hike has great views of Laguna Lake, Bishop Peak, mountains, and morros.

December 4 Pismo Preserve* *Subject to change. New Trail, not yet open to the public. Details to follow. Docent led. Take exit at Shell Beach Road to Mattie Road. Your RSVP will be important so that you will receive additional details closer to the date of the hike.

December 18 #95 Johnson Ranch Open Space Distance: 2.3-mile loop or 3.5-mile loop. Duration: 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Directions: From 101 in SLO, take San Luis Bay Drive. Turn left and cross over the freeway. Turn right on Ontario Road (frontage road,) and drive 2 miles to the trailhead parking lot on the left. Description: The ranch covers 242 acres of open rolling hills with creekside habitats; grasslands; sycamore, eucalyptus, and oak woodlands; and … forms a double loop on north and south canyon walls of the creek-fed pond.

January 29 #82 Eagle Rock at El Chorro Park Distance: 2.5 mile loop. Duration: 1.5 hours. Directions: From 101 in San Luis Obispo, take Morro Bay/Highway 1 exit. Drive 5.5 miles northwest towards Morro Bay to El Chorro Regional Park on right (north.) Turn right on the park road and continue 0.8 miles to Dairy Creek parking lot on left by the locked gate. Description: An isolated rocky outcropping, leads up grassy hillside past Chumas mortar bowls, beautiful views of Chorro Valley, West Cuesta Ridge, Cuesta College, volcanic morros of .

February 12 #55 Chorro Trail to Turtle Rock [Morro Bay State Park] Distance: 1.8 miles round trip. Duration: 1 hour. Directions: From Morro Bay, take the Los Osos/Baywood Park exit. Drive 1.4 miles south on South Bay Boulevard to trailhead parking lot on left. Description: Quarry trail (marked) leads up scrubby slope. Look for streams meandering through estuary and continue up winding footpath to the rocky summit, curving around large boulders to the Monterey pines.

February 26 #Coon Creek Canyon [Montana De Oro State Park] Distance: 5 miles round trip. Duration: 2.5 hours. Directions: From intersection of Los Osos Valley Road and South Bay Drive in Los Osos, drive 2.5 miles southwest on LOVR (becomes Pecho Valley Road) to Montana de Oro State Park entrance sign. Continue 3.9 miles to trailhead parking on left at the end of the road. (1.2 miles past visitor center.) Description: Trail heads up canyon alongside winding watercourse of the perennial stream, crosses six bridges over the creek through shade of a lush riparian corridor.

March 12 #93 Froom Canyon Loop [Irish Hills Natural Reserve] Distance: 4 miles round trip. Duration: 2 hours. Directions: From 101 and Los Osos Valley Road in SLO, drive 0.9 miles northwest on LOVR to Madonna Road. Turn left (west) and continue a quarter mile to roundabout at DeVaul Ranch Drive. Gated trailhead is just left of intersection. Park along curb. Description: This hike climbs through oak woodlands to a ridge on south half of the reserve, with sweeping views. En route, hike descends into steep-walled Froom Canyon. Prefumo Creek and Froom Creek flowing through the reserve are perennial tributary streams of San Luis Obispo Creek.

March 26 #99 Islay Hill Open Space Distance: 2.0 miles round trip. Duration: 1.0 hour. Directions: From Tank Farm Road and Broad Street in San Luis Obispo, drive one mile east on Tank Farm to Wavertree Street. Turn right (south) and continue 0.4 miles to Spanish Oaks Drive. Turn left and go one block to Sweetbay Lane. Turn right and park 0.1 mile ahead in cul-de-sac by trail sign. Description: Islay Hill is the ninth morro in the string of ancient volcanos… climbs north face up to dome-shaped summit. From the rounded peak are sweeping views of five morros, Edna Valley, airport, , and the city.

April 9 #102 Reservoir Canyon Distance: 2.5 miles round trip. Duration: 1.5 hours. Directions: From 101 in SLO, drive north to Reservoir Canyon Road on right. Turnoff is at the bottom of the Cuesta Grade, 1.1 miles past Monterey Street exit (last exit in SLO.) Drive 0.4 miles south on Reservoir Canyon Road to parking area near end of road. IMPORTANT: When departing, it is dangerous to turn left (west) onto the 101. Instead, turn right and drive 1.6 miles northbound to a turnoff for Stagecoach Road from left lane. Turn left and turn around to head back to SLO. Description: Begins at Reservoir Creek Falls, a 50-foot cataract cascading through a narrow, rock-carved chute into a broad pool. Along the way are small waterfalls and pools between serpentine rock walls.

April 23 #75 Valencia Peak Distance: 4 miles round trip. Duration: 2 hours. Directions: From LOVR/South Bay Drive intersection in Los Osos, take LOVR 2.5 miles SW to Montana de Oro State Park entrance. Continue 2.6 miles to visitor center and find trailhead parking on left. Description: Trail begins by Spooner’s Cove at coastline, crosses grassy marine terrace, and straddles a ridge between two canyons before climbing direction up to pyramid-shaped peak.

May 14 #122 Bluff Trail Distance: 3 miles round trip. Duration: 1.5 hours. Directions: From Arroyo Grande, go right at junction of Huasna Road and Highway 227. Continue 9.87 miles to Hi Mountain Road. Turn right and drive 0.8 miles to road fork. Bear left on Upper Lopez Canyobn Road and drive 6.4 miles. Turn right and drive 3.7 miles on dirt road. Park in pullout on right across from waterfalls. Description: Trail heads north following creek upstream through lush, forested canyon, past pools, cascades and creek crossings.