Day Hikes Around San Luis Obispo 2nd Robert Stone Day Hike Books Inc. 2nd edition

May 28

Since 1991, veteran hiker Robert Stone has been writer, photographer, and publisher of Day Hike Books. Robert has hiked every trail in the Day Hike Book series. With twenty-one hiking guides in the series, many in their third and fourth editions, he has hiked thousands of miles of trails throughout the western United States and Hawaii. He is an active member of RMOWP (Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers), OWAC (Outdoor Writers Association of California), and a Los Angeles Times best-selling author. Robert resides summers in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and winters on the California Central Coast.

Bishop Peak Trail: “Bishop Peak is the seventh in a string of nine extinct volcanoes (known as morros) stretching from Morro Bay to San Luis Obispo. The peak, which stands at 1,559 feet, has three distinctive peaks and is the highest morro in the chain. Sitting at the northwest corner of San Luis Obispo, it is the signature backdrop for the city. The climb to the rocky peak winds through perennial native grasslands and live oak woodlands. Near the summit, the trail becomes a scramble over massive granite boulders. From the peak is a panoramic 360-degree view from the inland mountains, across the city of San Luis Obispo, and to the Pacific coast.” (followed by driving and hiking directions, map)

San Luis Obispo County is located where the white sand beaches of central California merge with the dramatic Big Sur coastline. Inland from the Pacific Ocean are oak-studded hills, verdant farmland, pristine mountain lakes, and the Santa Lucia Range of the Los Padres National Forest.

Day Hikes Around San Luis Obispo includes 128 day hikes throughout this central California coastal county. These trails take the hiker along the scalloped Pacific coastline to secluded coves and tidepools, to rocky promontories along the chain of volcanic morros, through wetland sanctuaries, and up cool interior valleys. Highlights include waterfalls, bluffs, sand dunes, lakes, rivers, swimming holes, canyons, extraordinary rock formations, and panoramic views. Many hikes are found in or near the college community; most are located in undeveloped tracts of land, state and county parks, and national forests which are home to an extensive network of hiking trails.

Easy to moderately strenuous hikes accommodate all levels of experience, ranging from urban pathways to wilderness retreats. All hikes can be completed during the day. Map sources and references are listed for extending the hikes.

Each hike includes:
>Detailed map
>Accurate driving and hiking directions
>Distance, time, and elevation statistics
>Summaries to help hikers find a trail appropriate to their ability and desire
>Several overall maps to show the hikes in the greater area

Day Hikes Around San Luis Obispo, 2nd

Day Hikes On the California Central Coast, 2nd

The Central California coast has some of the most spectacular scenery in the state. Crashing surf pounds against craggy headlands or washes ashore expansive beaches, while undulating mountains run parallel to the coastline. These 120 coastal hikes provide access to the shoreline, describe the best trails in the state parks, and offer many opportunities to explore the beautiful landscape. A range of hikes accommodates amateur to avid hikers, from urban strolls to panoramic peak trails.

The Central California coast has some of the most spectacular scenery in the state. Rugged coastal terraces are backdropped by mountain ranges that run parallel to the Pacific coastline. Picturesque communities dot a landscape abundant with valleys, white sand beaches, cool forests, and natural preserves. The surf crashes onto craggy headlands and carved canyons along the Big Sur stretch of coast. Day Hikes On the California Central Coast includes 120 hikes along 400 miles of coastline between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The hikes describe how and where to access the best trails and features from Highway 1, offering many opportunities to explore the beautiful landscape. Highlights include tidepools, off-shore rock formations, huge dunes, wildlife observation sites, expansive overlooks, canyons, waterfalls, and lighthouses. The best trails in the state and county parks are featured, as well as city trails that are often overlooked. A wide range of hikes accommodates amateur to avid hikers. Companion guides include Day Hikes Around Monterey and Carmel, Day Hikes Around Big Sur, Day Hikes Around San Luis Obispo, Day Hikes Around Santa Barbara, and Day Hikes On the California Southern Coast.
Day Hikes On the California Central Coast, 2nd

Day Hike Books, Inc. 2nd editionRobert Stone

Comments

giftcardblogger

May 28th, 2010 at 7:53 AM


Another great book for those of us on the Central Coast.
Even as a native I found some that I didn’t know existed!
Great fun.
Natalina Odus

May 28th, 2010 at 11:29 AM


This book is just what is promises – a practical guide to local hikes around SLO. Gives very clear directions and advice on where to park, etc. It is handy to have along in case plans change.
Banker Number

May 28th, 2010 at 12:10 PM


Over a hundred fine day hikes are recommended for visitors and residents to California’s central coast in DAY HIKES AROUND SAN LUIS OBISPO, which is certain to receive added attention from students from the local college as well. From bluff trails along the mountains to city paths to canyons and nearby state parks, DAY HIKES AROUND SAN LUIS OBISPO is an excellent title for in the area.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
chango

May 29th, 2010 at 12:57 AM


This book is great because it has a plethora of various hikes in the area. It has hikes that I had never known about or seen in other books. It also shows maps and describes how to get to each location in detail, which is helpful. It does a good job describing the hike in detail as to the perks and what you’ll see. However, some hikes seem grander in the book than when you actually do the hike yourself. For that, I wish they had a picture of the highlight of each hike (but I know that costs more money). Overall, good book and I’m glad I bought it.
Rachel Verona

May 29th, 2010 at 2:26 PM


It has been seven years since the first edition of ‘Day Hikes on the California Central Coast’ was published. In some ways, one could argue that not a lot changes on the central coast, and indeed many of the trails that were described in the first edition are still found in this one. But the second edition covers far more territory than the the first. Instead of going from Santa Barbara in the South to Monterey in the north, this new edition extends the central coast through Santa Cruz county and in the process introduces readers of the older version to many new hiking opportunities.

Like all the books in the Day Hike series, this one focuses on relatively easy walks, most of which are under 5 miles. Indeed, many of the hikes are less than three miles and those driving along the coast looking for a spot to stretch their legs will find ample opportunities on paths that are under 1 mile in length. Route descriptions are for the most part straight forward, and each hike suggestion includes a sketch map of the trail which is usually all one needs to find your way around.

Stone includes several trails in state parks, natural areas, and other popular tourist sites, but one of the strengths of this book, and others in the series, is the number of trails found in city parks and small wildlife preserves. Usually only locals are aware of these hidden gems but using the earlier edition of this book, I discovered several scenic hikes like the Sweet Springs Nature Preserve that I might never have found otherwise. Indeed, the best reason to buy this book is that careful use of it can result in finding quiet parts of the coast for yourself, even during high tourist season.

But this feature is not enough for me to give the book 5 stars. There are a couple of problems with the book that concern me. In the first instance, like the other books in this series, the only photos you will find in this volume are on the cover. I like to catch a glimpse of the scenery that awaits me on a new trail and all of Robert Stone’s books come up short in this regard. I am also concerned, however, about some of the trails described in this book in particular. It includes some absolute gems like the Skyline to the Sea Trail and several walks on the Point Lobos Peninsula. But Stone also includes the “nature” trail at Ragged Point Inn in this book. That trail was always steep, but of late it has become overgrown and is washed out in several places. Indeed, having hiked it in the last few months, I would describe it as outright dangerous if the weather is at all damp. Yet Stone’s description of it is virtually unchanged. Similarly, a portion of the trail at Carpenteria Salt Marsh was no longer as described in the earlier edition when I last hiked it, but the sketch map appears the same in the updated edition. I am therefore moderately concerned that the author may not have rechecked all the trails for the new edition. So be sure to exercise caution when you stop for some of these hikes.

That said, I still recommend this book. It makes a nice companion volume to Stone’s ‘Day Hikes on the California Southern Coast.’ If Stone should ever write a volume covering the north coast, then one could plan an entire summer vacation around these guides. The California Coast is beautiful, and seeing it by foot, even if only briefly, is the best way to experience this wonderful portion of the Golden State.
Terrman

May 30th, 2010 at 6:25 AM


We spend a lot of time on the Mid-coast. Wish we had this book sooner. We found some new places that we had not been. Reviewed those we had seen. Well written and good place to start when looking for treks in SLO area.
My Fair Share

May 30th, 2010 at 12:59 PM


Robert Stone has written dozens of day hiking guides since 1991. His work originally centered around his home near Montana’s Beartooth mountains. But several years ago he discovered coastal California and he has since written some of the most comprehensive guides to these regions available. Unlike other outdoor authors, many of the trails he highlights are can truly be completed by just about anyone.

This second edition of the San Luis Obispo volume includes 128 hikes. The majority of these trails are 3 miles long or less, and require only minimal elevation gain and loss. Ten trails are less than a mile. Such routes are more suited to casual strolls, perhaps with one’s pet, than strenuous hikes. Of course, the search for the perfect sunset along the central coast should not involve a masochistic endurance test. Even many of the longer routes Stone offers, such as the five mile tour of historic La Purissima Mission grounds, are so easy that most people could finish the walk with some careful pacing.

Stone does suggest a few more challenging routes, such as the summit of Cerro Alto and some longer trails in the Lopez Lake area. But this book is mostly for people who want to get out of their cars a bit and explore some of what the central coast has to offer. And for my part, that is exactly what I wanted when I purchased this volume. South of Monterrey and north of LA is a stretch of California coastline I have spent very little time along. I always seem to be passing through and not pausing sufficiently along the way. This book is great because, in the final analysis, the best way to really get a feel for the south central California coast is to take a variety of short walks during the limited time I have there. Stone tells me where these trails are, how to get there, and provides decent sketch maps of each route. What more can one ask for?

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