San Simeon is the midpoint between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It’s also the location of the Hearst Castle — a popular spot to visit on the coastal drive. Some of the best places to run in San Simeon are:
San Simeon State Park. This scenic park, located 5 miles south of San Simeon, is known for its coastal bluffs with views of the ocean and rocky shore. A 3.3 mile, fairly narrow trail leads runs through the park, with terrain that includes scenic overlooks, riparian forests and coastal wetlands. Rolling hills, with a couple of steep sections (385 feet over 3.3 miles).
Google Street View
Coastal Road and Path from San Simeon to Moonstone Beach. There’s a nice run along coastal roads and some boardwalk paths between San Simeon State Park and Moonstone Beach. It’s ~2.5 miles, scenic, and runnable. Some great views!
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. Our top running recommendation in the area. Located a few miles south of San Simeon in Cambria. Former ranch is now a 437-acre coastal preserve, with wide, open trails along a coastal bluff, and through grasslands and inland forest. A highlight is the 1-mile coastal bluff trail. There are several miles of trails, but no one trail is all that long. This trail map has excellent details on the types of trails and distances. You’ll have to mix and match. TRAIL INFORMATIONTRAIL MAP
Coastal Highway Between San Simeon Pier and Friends Of The Elephant Seal Visitor Center. The ~3 mile section of Highway 1 (Cabrillo Highway) is good for running. The road runs right along the water, and features a wide shoulder and great views.
San Simeon is the midpoint between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It’s also the location of the Hearst Castle — a popular spot to visit on the coastal drive. Some of the best places to run in San Simeon are:
San Simeon State Park. This scenic park, located 5 miles south of San Simeon, is known for its coastal bluffs with views of the ocean and rocky shore. A 3.3 mile, fairly narrow trail leads runs through the park, with terrain that includes scenic overlooks, riparian forests and coastal wetlands. Rolling hills, with a couple of steep sections (385 feet over 3.3 miles).
Google Street View
Coastal Road and Path from San Simeon to Moonstone Beach. There’s a nice run along coastal roads and some boardwalk paths between San Simeon State Park and Moonstone Beach. It’s ~2.5 miles, scenic, and runnable. Some great views!
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. Our top running recommendation in the area. Located a few miles south of San Simeon in Cambria. Former ranch is now a 437-acre coastal preserve, with wide, open trails along a coastal bluff, and through grasslands and inland forest. A highlight is the 1-mile coastal bluff trail. There are several miles of trails, but no one trail is all that long. This trail map has excellent details on the types of trails and distances. You’ll have to mix and match. TRAIL INFORMATIONTRAIL MAP
Coastal Highway Between San Simeon Pier and Friends Of The Elephant Seal Visitor Center. The ~3 mile section of Highway 1 (Cabrillo Highway) is good for running. The road runs right along the water, and features a wide shoulder and great views.
The Pismo Beach area has wonderful running options: miles of gorgeous beach with compact sand, a coastal bluff trail, the Bob Jones multi-use path, and a killer hill on a wide trail for those who want to get their lungs going.
There is some spectacular beach running on California's central coast. Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, and Morro Bay feature miles of rugged, undeveloped beach, with reliably firm, compact sand near low tide.
San Luis Obispo is an attractive town on the central coast, 11 miles inland from the Pacific. Pleasant running downtown in numerous historic districts, and scenic but hilly running in the numerous hills and open spaces in town and right nearby.
Wonderfully scenic running in the hills in and around SLO. Poly Canyon trails are a favorite. Rugged trails around Bishops Peak and Irish Hills Preserve. Flatter options in the Laguna Lake Open Space. For a hilly road run, see our route just behind Cal Poly.
One of the most spectacular places for running on California's Central Coast. There are scenic coastal paths, beaches, and hills. A variety of gentler terrain, and some hillier, more challenging trails. Something for everyone!
One of our favorite running spots on the central California coast. There's something for everyone here: gorgeous beach running, a coastal road/path, scenic and challenging trail running in the hills above the bay, and some decent running in town.
Huge & gorgeous area 90 minutes from San Luis Obispo is a worth-it destination run. Known for white alkali flats of Soda Lake, Painted Rock, vast open grasslands, and a broad plain rimmed by mountains. FAMOUS for wildflowers, in season!
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