It’s the season of mini road trips, and I recommend heading north to San Luis Obispo County, where I’ve been exploring trails (and restaurants).

While recently exploring the coast by Cayucos, I went for a run along the Estero Bluffs. Starting from the southernmost entrance to the bluffs, it’s probably about a 6-mile path out and back. It’s not that different from the Ellwood Bluffs, where I regularly run. Like Ellwood, it traces a blufftop route through low grasses overlooking the ocean with the occasional snowy plover down below.

With a morning marine layer, the cool air refreshed me while I ran even if it slightly obscured my views of the pelicans and harbor seals on the shoreline’s rocks.

I only encountered one snake blocking my trail, but there were many scampering chipmunks and ground squirrels. I would not recommend running this on a sunny day because there is absolutely no shade, and I suspect sunny weather would bring more snakes out to bake along the trail.

 

There are tradeoffs. The benefit is that it’s a long trail run without much elevation change, but the cost is that the trail has many cracks and holes that could turn an inattentive ankle.  

TO GET THERE: Take Highway 1 north of Cayucos. Just after the divided highway ends, you’ll see a dirt pullout on your left. From there, you can access the trail toward the ocean. When facing the ocean at the edge of the bluffs, the trail extends for a brief while to your left and farther to your right. Explore and enjoy.