Central Coast South - Avila Beach - Bob Jones City-to-the-Sea Trail
5.6 mi 
Suitable for
Touring *
Fitness *
Beginner *
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Directions
Exit Highway 101 at Avila Beach Drive, 5 miles south of San Luis Obispo. Follow Avila Beach Drive west 0.25 miles. Turn right on Ontario Road and continue 0.3 miles to the Park and Ride lot. The trail is on the west side of the road near the bridge.
Map
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Notes
The Bob Jones City to the Sea Trail is a little gem of a trail. Bob Jones was an environmental pioneer who was instrumental in the protection and restoration of San Luis Obispo Creek. Following the San Luis Obispo Creek, the Bob Jones Trail starts out in a lovely sylvan area shaded by oak, willows and and one of the biggest sycamores I've seen. It also provides a great alternative access to Avila Beach on those summer days when the beach parking lots are overflowing.
The first mile is fairly new and smooth. After crossing San Luis Bay Drive (be careful crossing this busy road) there are some root heaves to watch out for. At about 1.5 miles the trail joins a very low traffic, two lane street The view opens up to include the lagoon, golf course, nearby hills and the ocean. There are frequent sightings of egrets, herons and, of course, gulls. At mile two, there is small rolling hill. Up to this point, the trail is suitable for adventurous beginners. At about 2.2 miles, the official trail leaves the road dropping steeply to the left to cross the lagoon on the golf course trail. If you'd like to skate another fun hill, stay on the road another 0.4 miles until it ends at the Avila Beach Resort, turn around and come back.
Cross the lagoon to the Avila Beach Drive trailhead. To reach the beach, continue across the Drive and into the town of Avila Beach on San Miguel Street. You can also turn right and go another mile to the end of the road at Port San Luis. Cross the bridge on the sidewalk on the ocean side. Be careful here because the drivers are watching the view - not you.
Unfortunately the trail does not live up to its ambitious City-to-the-Sea name. There are plans to extend the trail into San Luis Obispo, but this appears to be more of a dream than a near-term reality. Intrepid skaters can skate to the city. See the link to the Avila Beach to San Luis Obispo tour below.
Avila Beach is coming back nicely from near oblivion. San Luis Bay has long been a oil terminal. Ocean-going ships pick up oil piped here from inland oil wells. For years, pipes running under the town leaked oil into the sand, creating a toxic polluting nightmare. In order to clean up the mess, nearly the entire downtown area was razed. The underlying sand was decontaminated and now the town is being rebuilt as a modernized version of its former funky self.
The first mile is fairly new and smooth. After crossing San Luis Bay Drive (be careful crossing this busy road) there are some root heaves to watch out for. At about 1.5 miles the trail joins a very low traffic, two lane street The view opens up to include the lagoon, golf course, nearby hills and the ocean. There are frequent sightings of egrets, herons and, of course, gulls. At mile two, there is small rolling hill. Up to this point, the trail is suitable for adventurous beginners. At about 2.2 miles, the official trail leaves the road dropping steeply to the left to cross the lagoon on the golf course trail. If you'd like to skate another fun hill, stay on the road another 0.4 miles until it ends at the Avila Beach Resort, turn around and come back.
Cross the lagoon to the Avila Beach Drive trailhead. To reach the beach, continue across the Drive and into the town of Avila Beach on San Miguel Street. You can also turn right and go another mile to the end of the road at Port San Luis. Cross the bridge on the sidewalk on the ocean side. Be careful here because the drivers are watching the view - not you.
Unfortunately the trail does not live up to its ambitious City-to-the-Sea name. There are plans to extend the trail into San Luis Obispo, but this appears to be more of a dream than a near-term reality. Intrepid skaters can skate to the city. See the link to the Avila Beach to San Luis Obispo tour below.
Avila Beach is coming back nicely from near oblivion. San Luis Bay has long been a oil terminal. Ocean-going ships pick up oil piped here from inland oil wells. For years, pipes running under the town leaked oil into the sand, creating a toxic polluting nightmare. In order to clean up the mess, nearly the entire downtown area was razed. The underlying sand was decontaminated and now the town is being rebuilt as a modernized version of its former funky self.
Links
- Avila Beach Website - Lots of local information
Nearby Tours
| Last Skated
Nov 26, 0003
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Updated
Dec 7, 2003
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