City of San Luis Obispo - Park Ranger Program

Hiking Trails/Open Space Map
Click here to view a complete map of City open spaces and trails.

Open Space Guidelines
Some simple guidelines to protect open space users and make the most of the experience:

Join a City Ranger for hikes of beautiful local open spaces. Hikers learn about geology, vegetation and wildlife. This program is free. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water. Hike duration varies with group. For more information or to schedule a group hike, call 781-7302.

Trail maps of City open space hikes are available online here.

Trail Workdays
In partnership with SLO Stewards, frequent Trail Workdays are held in the City's Open Space. Tools will be provided, along with water and snacks. Meet at the trailhead at 9 a.m. Please wear long pants and sturdy shoes.

Directions to Ranger-Led Hikes and Trail Workdays:

Bishop Peak Natural Reserve @ Highland Trailhead: To reach the trailhead, take Foothill Blvd. west and make a right onto Patricia Drive. Continue north on Patricia Drive and make a left onto Highland Drive. Highland Drive will end at the Bishop Peak trailhead.

Bishop Peak Natural Reserve @ Patricia Trailhead: To reach the trailhead, take Foothill Blvd. west and make a right turn at Patricia Drive. Continue north on Patricia Drive and the trailhead will be on the left just past Patricia Court.

Bob Jones Bike Trail:
Please meet at the trailhead on Prado Road. Trailhead is located near Prado Road's intersection with South Higuera to the north side of the bridge crossing San Luis Creek.

Bowden Ranch Open Space: Please meet at the Lizzie Court trailhead. To reach the trailhead, turn east off of Johnson Avenue onto Lizzie Street and continue up a short ways to end of street at trailhead.

Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve: Please meet at the Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve trailhead. To access the trailhead, turn right onto Fernandez Road just before the southbound 101 Marsh Street on-ramp.

El Chorro Regional Park:
Entrance is approximately 5.5 miles north of SLO, across from Cuesta College. Turn right onto park road and continue 0.8 miles to Dairy Creek parking lot on the left by the locked gate.

Irish Hills Natural Reserve @ Prefumo Canyon Trailhead: To reach the trailhead, take Los Osos Valley Road north and turn left onto Prefumo Canyon Road. Follow this road for 1 mile and the trailhead will be on the left after a bridge crossing.

Irish Hills Natural Reserve @ Madonna Trailhead: Please meet at the Madonna trailhead. To reach the trailhead from Highway 101, take Los Osos Valley Road north towards Los Osos. Turn left on Madonna Road. Follow Madonna to its end and find parking on the street. Walk past the green gate and up the paved road to the trailhead sign.

Islay Hill Open Space: Please meet at the trailhead. To reach the trailhead, take Broad Street south and make a left onto Tank Farm Road. Follow this road and make a right onto Wavertree Street. Make a left onto Spanish Oaks Drive and then a right onto Sweetbay Lane. Trailhead is at the end of Sweetbay Lane.

Johnson Ranch: Please meet at the turnout located at the intersection of South Higuera Street and Ontario Road.

Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve: Please meet at the Reservoir Canyon trailhead. To reach the trailhead, take Highway 101 north. Go past the city limits and turn right onto Reservoir Canyon Road (second road past the City limits). Reservoir Canyon Road will end at the trailhead.

South Hills Open Space: Please meet at the South Hills trailhead off of Woodbridge Street. To reach the trailhead take South Street east and turn right onto Exposition Drive. Go straight and the road will turn into Woodbridge Street. The trailhead is on the right.

Stenner Springs Properties: Head west out of San Luis Obispo on Highway 1 towards Morro Bay. Slightly less than a mile outside of town turn right onto Stenner Creek Road. Follow Stenner Creek Road for about 2-1/2 miles to the end. Meet the ranger there.

Junior Ranger Activity Camps at Sinsheimer Park
Taught by City Ranger Service Check Back for 2012 Information!
The Ranger Service offers Environmental Education camps during summer. Join City Park Rangers in fun-filled, week long camps designed to teach young outdoor enthusiasts about many facets of the wild environment surrounding San Luis Obispo.

Registration opens at the annual Summer Registration Fair on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Department. Limited space available; early registration encouraged.

Volunteers Needed
The generous time and work of volunteers has become invaluable to the care and upkeep of the many acres of City open space. Service groups, associations, organizations, clubs, students, families, friends, or individuals are encouraged to volunteer. For more information call 781-7302.

Help to build and maintain trails
Help restore native vegetation along the creek corridor
Build bridges, catwalks, benches and more
Litter pick-up

Living with California Mountain Lions
The Ranger Service would like to promote education about “Living with California Mountain Lions.” Sightings of mountain lions in the City’s open space are rare, however it seems appropriate to inform the public about this species of wildlife. Some quick tips to follow if a user encounters a mountain lion:

Photo Tour
Take a photo tour of the Bishop Peak Nature Reserve via the Felsman Loop.....a brochure detailing the area is available as a PDF file.

General Information
Through enforcement, education, maintenance and rehabilitation of the parks, creeks and open space, City Park Rangers manage the land for the public and for future generations to enjoy.

Protecting open space is not just a job for the Park Rangers. There are over 40 miles of trails and roads available to the public. The City encourages every user to aid in the preservation of the natural surroundings while enjoying time spent in these areas. Through environmental education on Ranger-Led Hikes, after-school programs and public contacts, the community builds awareness of the human effect on the natural environment and how people can personally help to restore its natural beauty. For more information on Ranger Service programs, call Doug Carscaden, Recreation Supervisor, at 781-7302.

City Open Space Hours: Dawn to Dusk