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Bishop Peak Hike
updated: Dec 26, 2012, 8:54 AM

By Robert Bernstein

On Monday I was travelling back to Santa Barbara from the Bay Area and stopped for one of my favorite hikes along the way: Bishop Peak in San Luis Obispo.

There are several trail heads, but I chose the trail at the end of Highland Drive to start. It is easy to find and fairly easy to find your way up from there.

It was between storms, so everything was lush and green. The trail is about like our Inspiration Point trail in Santa Barbara in distance and elevation gain. And it is about as popular, with a fairly steady stream of hikers and trail runners. I came down as the sun was setting and people were still heading up to catch the sunset.

I like being at the top when there is still light, because I enjoy climbing around on the huge rocks at the top. There are even some caves if you explore carefully.

I would not make a special trip from Santa Barbara to hike there, but if you are passing through San Luis Obispo, definitely stop off and do this hike!

Here are my photos!

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

PROGRESS	2012-12-27 07:20 AM
Beautiful pictures! Robert, you may not recommend a special trip to hike this trail, but the vistas are different enough from our local trails that I would make that drive.
TWOBITS	2012-12-27 11:25 AM
fantastic! thankyou!
COMMENT 357941	2012-12-28 04:15 PM
Thank you for the kind words and I am happy you enjoy the hike and the photos! When I am driving to or from the Bay Area I tend to alternate between this hike to Bishop Peak or else any one of a number of hikes at the Pinnacles National Monument. The Pinnacles are almost exactly half way to the Bay Area and there are many trails to explore from the East or the West entrance.

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