The Pismo Preserve has opened to the public, bringing 11 miles of multi-use trails to Pismo Beach on California’s Central Coast.

Offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, the 880-acre Preserve is home to high-quality, single-track trails that pass through oak-studded canyons and rolling hills, accessible to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians.

The Land Conservatory hosted an official grand opening of Pismo Preserve in January following six years of fundraising, design, permitting and construction on the former $12 million private ranch.

As part of the Land Conservancy’s mission to protect and care for wildlands, farms and ranches, about a third of Pismo Preserve’s acreage is off-limits to hikers.

Nature enthusiasts can go online to spot the deer, foxes, mountain lions and bobcats that live in the Oak Woodland Conservation Area home, thanks to a wildlife camera project run by the Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department.

The Preserve is open from 6 am – 7 pm daily (6 am – 9:30 pm between March and October) and is free to the public. Visitors can benefit from a number of picnic tables and benches along the trails, and public bathrooms are available in the car park.

Pismo Beach is located in SLO CAL (San Luis Obispo County, California) and has long been a favourite stop for roadtrippers headed along the Pacific Coast Highway, situated midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The popular surf town is a short distance from a number of wine regions and the college town of San Luis Obispo.

SLO CAL – Where and how?

Located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California’s Central Coast, SLO CAL (San Luis Obispo County, California) brings together the best of the Golden State, with 80 miles of coastline and beaches along Highway 1, the third-largest wine region in the state (Paso Robles), a rich history (including the iconic Hearst Castle) and outdoor adventures on land and sea.

For more information on SLO CAL, please visit slocal.com.

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