San Simeon Area & Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

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).

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 INFORMATION   TRAIL 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.