A hike along the coastline has to be one of the most beautiful ways to hike. And the California coastline does not disappoint. During our stay in Cambria we took three beautiful hikes. Let us show you how to take advantage of the beauty on Fiscalini Ranch Preserve trails, San Simeon Point Trail, and the Harmony Headlands Trail.
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
We parked at the north end of Windsor Blvd. Enter the trailhead here and walk an easy loop enjoying the wooden walkways or gravel paths throughout the preserve. The Marine Terrace Trail (.75 miles) and the Meander Trail (.41 miles) take you down to the S. Windsor Blvd entrance. Loop back with the Bluff Trail (.86 miles) along the dramatic coastline. These gorgeous coastline trails encourage appreciation, even contemplation, of nature. With seventeen different trails, you have your choice of hikes for lovers of plants, birds, reptiles, and marine life just to name a few. Enjoy the even pathways and level trails or stop and sit at each of the uniquely designed benches.
San Simeon Point Trail
Just across Hwy 1 from the entrance to Hearst Castle is the San Simeon Pier. The back of the pier parking lot hides a road that leads down to the beach parking lot. Head out to the right side of the beach and your beach day just got even better. After a short walk, you see a dirt trail up a small hill leading to the Monterey Pines. There is a private property sign, but next to that is a notice stating the trail is open to the public from sunrise to sunset. So feel free to venture on! You can take the San Simeon Point Trail hike to the bluff for a respectable 2.5-miles. Or you can continue past that peak for a 4.1-mile out and back. Stop along the path to notice the remarkable trees that actually reminded me of the banyan trees in Hawaii.
Breaks between the Monterey Pines afford amazing views of ocean and cliffs. The pounding surf exposes millennia of layers of sediment along the rocky coast. There are plenty of places to step down to a trail that hugs the cliffs but trust me it’s not for the faint of heart. We had to step back up to the path in the safety of the tree line, as the overgrowth had blocked significant parts of the cliff path. You don’t lose any of the beauty by walking the safer path as there are many peak-a-boo views through openings between the trees. I wouldn’t risk the cliff side path if traveling with kiddos. Not many tweeners are known for their basic coordination and I’d hate to lose one of them just on a dare.
Teaching your kids about hiking safety is essential. Get our guide for what to teach your kids about hiking safety.
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Harmony Headlands Trail
Just outside of Cambria on the way to Cayucos is the small town of Harmony. And I mean small in the most literal sense as the total population is 18. Yes, 18. Establish in the mid-1800s by Swiss immigrants the sweet name doesn’t provide any clues to its difficult past. Frequent changes to leadership in diary operations led to conflict, rivalry, and eventually a killing. But just after the turn of the century a truce was called. The name Harmony serves as a reminder that forgiveness and charity can win the day. The one-block town has been reinvented numerous times over the years. Its latest renovation in 2015 brings us what we see today. You’ll find Harmony Glassworks, a pottery studio, and an Instagram worthy chapel that makes you want to be a wedding photographer. Go through the town’s website (click here) to book the Little Red Cottage on airbnb.com for $185 a night (2-night minimum, maximum 4 guests).
Wanting a hike, and possibly an ice cream from the Harmony Creamery Scoop Truck, we pulled over from the southbound side of Hwy 1 to a small dirt parking lot at the trailhead. Tip – don’t follow Google Maps as it has you turn off too early. With over 780 acres, Harmony Headlands State Park preserves a large swath of the central coast. The easy out and back loop crosses a small valley and continues west to the coast. Follow the Headlands Trail west out from the lot. When you come to a fork in the trail go right to get to an old ranch house and the only bathroom facilities on the trail. This is just a port-a-potty but it’s nice to have if needed. There was no hand santizer or washing station when we went, so bring your own. Stay to the left to continue on Headlands Trail. Three benches are spread along the length of the trail with the last bench hosting the most welcoming views of the Pacific. Follow the trail along the bluff. As you come to fenced-off private property, the trail will loop around back to the path you came in on for a total of about 4.5 miles. Tip – sunset is a beautiful time to go as the light makes the hills glow and the sunlight on the water winks a goodbye as you turn to head back to your car.
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Need more details about how to enjoy a stay in Cambria then check out our detailed Getaway to Cambria guide.
Or continue your outdoor adventures by driving north. You can enjoy amazing hikes at one of America’s newest national parks when visiting Pinnacles National Park. Or enjoy the urban green space by continuing up to San Francisco. There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors in this iconic California city.