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Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis, and the Morros: A Hiking Guide
Updated: 2 days ago
Drive Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to Morro Bay and you are driving along a line of ancient volcanic plugs, the Morros, that march from the middle of the city all the way to the rock in Morro Bay harbor. Locals sometimes call them the Nine Sisters. They are the reason the SLO skyline looks the way it does, and hiking the Morros is the best outdoor time most residents will ever have within walking distance of home.
We have climbed the ones you are allowed to climb more times than we can count, and we have sold homes beneath nearly all of them. This guide covers the peaks in order, from the city out to the coast, with the practical notes that matter.
CHUMASH PEAK · CERRO ROMUALDO · HOLLISTER PEAK
First, the ones you cannot climb
Not every Morro is open to the public. Several sit on private ranchland or are closed to protect habitat. Chumash Peak, Cerro Romualdo, and Hollister Peak are the big ones you will see from the highway and cannot legally hike.
Morro Rock itself is a protected bird sanctuary, and climbing it is prohibited. Please respect that; the peregrine falcons nesting there depend on it, and the fines are real.
The ones below are open, and they are more than enough.
ISLAY HILL · TERRACE HILL · CERRO SAN LUIS · BISHOP PEAK
The city peaks
Islay Hill
The southernmost Morro sits at the edge of the newer neighborhoods on the south side of San Luis Obispo, near Orcutt Road. It is a short, steady climb on a well-graded trail to a summit with views across Edna Valley and back toward the city. This is a before-work or after-dinner hike, and the people who live in the Righetti Ranch area treat it as their backyard. We touch on that in our guide to SLO's newer south side.
Terrace Hill
Small, central, and worth mentioning because it is the easiest summit in the city. Terrace Hill rises out of the middle of San Luis Obispo near the Johnson Avenue corridor, and the walk to the top takes minutes. The reward is a full-circle view of downtown, the other peaks, and the hills to the east.
Cerro San Luis Obispo
The mountain with the "M." Cerro San Luis sits right on the west edge of downtown, and it is the peak we recommend to most people first because the trails are wide and the grade is forgiving. The Lemon Grove Loop circles the lower slopes through what used to be a lemon orchard, and the service road climbs to the summit with views straight down onto the city.
Locals know two things about this peak. One, it is the best sunset hike in SLO, and there is a tradition of heading up for it. Two, parts of the mountain are privately owned and open to the public by permission, so seasonal closures happen. Check before you go, and stay on the trail.
The trailhead's proximity to the Laguna Lake and downtown neighborhoods is one of the reasons homes on the west side of SLO hold such appeal for active buyers. We wrote about that side of town in our Laguna Lake and west side guide.
Bishop Peak
The highest of the Morros and the most popular hike in San Luis Obispo County. Bishop Peak rises above the Foothill neighborhoods on the north side of the city, and the summit trail is a genuine climb with switchbacks through oaks and boulders to a rocky top. From there, the whole county opens up: the city below, the other Morros marching to the coast, the Irish Hills, and the Pacific.
Practical notes:
There are two main trailheads, one off Patricia Drive and one off Highland Drive. Both are in residential neighborhoods with limited street parking. Weekend mornings are crowded. Go early, or go on a weekday.
The Felsman Loop at the base is a gentler alternative that skips the summit.
The final stretch involves some rock scrambling. It is fine for most people but not for everyone, and not for small kids without help.
The summit is rocky and exposed. Bring water, and in summer, go early before the sun is high.
Bishop Peak is also a climbing destination, with established bouldering and rope routes on the granite-like rock, and you will often see climbers on the north side.
Living near Bishop Peak is a specific kind of SLO life. The Ferrini Heights and Foothill neighborhoods below it are older, established, and full of people who hike before work. If that is you, say so; it narrows a home search quickly.
CERRO CABRILLO · BLACK HILL · MORRO ROCK
The coastal peaks
Cerro Cabrillo and Black Hill
Out toward Morro Bay, two more Morros are open and worth the drive. Both sit in Morro Bay State Park.
Black Hill is the easy one, a short climb from a trailhead near the golf course to a summit with a spectacular view of Morro Rock, the harbor, the estuary, and the sandspit. It is the hike we bring visitors to when they have one hour.
Cerro Cabrillo is bigger and steeper, rising above the back bay near Los Osos, with a rougher trail and fewer people. Views from the top take in the whole estuary and the coast north toward Cayucos. This is a real hike, and a great one.
For people considering Morro Bay or Los Osos, these two peaks are the equivalent of Bishop Peak and Cerro San Luis in the city. We compare the two towns in our post on Los Osos vs Morro Bay.
Morro Rock
The last of the chain, standing in the harbor at the end of the Embarcadero. You cannot climb it, but you can walk around its base, watch the surfers and otters, and see the peregrines if you bring binoculars. It is the anchor of the whole line, and the view of it from Black Hill is the photograph that ends up on every visitor's phone.
The Morros are the one thing every SLO County resident shares. We all live under the same peaks; we just argue about which one is best.
ONE A WEEK · ABOUT A MONTH
A suggested progression
If you are new to the county and want to work through the Morros in a sensible order:
Terrace Hill or Islay Hill for a quick first summit.
Cerro San Luis for the sunset.
Black Hill in Morro Bay for the coastal view.
Bishop Peak when you are ready for the climb.
Cerro Cabrillo when you want to be alone on a mountain.
That progression takes about a month if you do one a week, and by the end of it you will understand the geography of the county better than most people who have lived here for years. It also happens to walk you through the neighborhoods we spend the most time in: the south side of SLO, the west side, the Foothill area, and the coast.
Living under the peaks
Homes beneath the Morros are, for obvious reasons, some of the most sought-after in the county. The views are permanent; no one is building on those hillsides. If living within walking distance of one of these trailheads is part of your plan, we wrote a broader piece on homes near the trailhead in SLO County, and we would be glad to show you which streets sit closest to which peak. Start with a hike, then take a look at what is for sale in the neighborhood you liked from the top.
Talk With Kim & Kristen
We are Kim San Jule and Kristen Gentry, Broker Associates with Real Broker, serving San Luis Obispo County and the Central Coast. Whether you are buying, selling, or simply thinking ahead, we are glad to be a resource.
Kim San Jule · Broker Associate, DRE 01948144 · 805-345-8303 · kimsanjule@gmail.com
Kristen Gentry · Broker Associate, DRE 01968754 · 805-441-4618 · kristengentryslo@gmail.com
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