Bob Jones Trail Head

The Oak Trees are absolutely beautiful! At certain times of the day I can imagine it can be very magical. It was when we were walking around 1 o’clock to 2 o’clock. It’s a great walk, very easy and beautiful. I use a walker. It was so nice and much more walkable than I thought! It was flatter and not bumpy, which is fantastic when you have a Walker! I could only make it so far but many people can. And it was wonderful to see them all out having a wonderful walk, run or a bike ride. I really enjoyed myself. Took some pictures and video. We Had my our dog with me and my husband. She is getting so good at walking right in the middle with the Walker beside her and my husband on the other side. It’s very easy, paved well and maintained beautifully. Someday I’m going to make it all the way to the ocean and let my dog play on the dog beach if she has energy left after walking all that way too ha ha ha! Thank you for keeping up this beautiful trail. The Oak Trees are amazing!

I've been walking/running on the BJT to Avila Beach since 2005. It never gets old. I always see something new with the changes in foliage. My friend and I just walked it on Jan 25. We stopped in to listen to: Dulcie Trio at the Secret Garden and just love that atmosphere. Dulcie Trio sounded really good; played 80's songs (we only stayed for two songs).

As a first time visitor vacationing with my family I was ecstatic to learn that this trail was right next to our stay at the Avila Village Inn. As a marathon runner in the middle of a training block, I was taking a break from training but then I came across this trail. Heading out at 7am on a Wednesday morning to run was my zen along this quiet and peaceful trail. I came across a group of vultures, birds, saw some lambs on the hillside, a few golfers, early bird runners and people walking their dogs. I’m sure that even during the later part of this day, the shade from the trees still makes for a wonderful experience. My run from one end of the trail to the other was just shy of 5 miles.

Great hiking, jogging, and bike riding trail. Asphalt trail, lined with beautiful Sycamore trees and an adjacent creek. There is plenty of parking even on weekends. Mid-trail is a beautiful garden with refreshments, including beer, wine, and cocktails, and a place to relax. This is provided by Sycamore Springs Resort. It's usually open around 11 am. I'm not sure when it closes. It doesn't have set hours. The Sycamore Springs Trail branches off here and heads up the mountain to a beautiful overlook of the ocean. Sycamore Springs Trail is more of a moderate trail because of the incline. It's less than a mile to the top where there are 2 coastal oak trees, each with a swing!

A local favorite trail. Beautiful scenery, free parking, paved trails and ample shaded parts of the path. I chose to ride my bike and my girlfriend walked with the dog. Good for biking, skating or walking. Bring water as it can be a little warm in the summer months and there are no faucets for drinking water until you get to Avila. Also, try and get there early or be prepared to wait to find a parking spot!

Great paved, accessible trail for walking, bikes, etc. My wife has CP and limited leg mobility and had a great time with her electric assist trike, as I walked along. Signs, benches and stopping points along the way. Some moderate incline may be hard with wheelchair. Was a lovely trek. Trail ends at pier near many restaurants and bars.

So for me when I read a review what I really want to know is if the person writing the review will actually go back and do business at this particular location again. Really that's all that matters right? It's either yes I can't wait to come back or no this place is not for me so what's my answer? The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES!! Awesome trail from the city to the beach. If you plan on visiting Avila Beach I would recommend that you consider a nice walk to the beach.

What pleasant walk through the live oaks. Round trip about two hours on a paved road. Lots of runners and dogs.

Nice easy paved trail. We have ridden our bikes and there is plenty of room to pass walkers and families. Trail is nicely maintained and clean. Plenty of things to do around the trail area, so be sure and take some time to shop around Avila Beach or cool off by the ocean.

One of my favorite walking trails in the area! If you start this trail at the beginning, you can walk all the way to Avila resort club and downtown Avila Beach. It will take you a few miles to get there, but the walk is totally worth it, especially if you're looking for a good 5+ mile walk with coastal weather! The trail is always filled with dogs, babies/families, and lots of bikes, especially on the weekends! It's a very popular E-bike and normal bike trail so prepare yourself. There's a couple of restaurants along the trail before you get to the actual Avila city proper, which is super nice for stopping to grab a bite along your walk. The secret garden is our favorite place to stop at along the way! 5 stars all the way for Bob Jones!

Great trail if you are looking for something easy with kids! The trail is paved so you can also bring or rent bikes. You'll walk right past the Avila Golf Course and straight to the beach! I highly recommend if you're looking for something easier than the other local hikes

Drive slow, or you will miss the entrace and parking lot. We turned around and parked in the gravel lot. Their is a big sign notify you of trail parking. Parking is free. Easy trail, flat paved road and beautiful scenery. High recommend.

Did the Bob Jones Bike Trail and it was a really nice, easy ride. There were a few people walking but nothing crowded. We started around noon from Sycamore Mineral Springs Spa and Resort and made it to Avila Beach in about 20-25 minutes, going slow just to enjoy the ride. Weather was good and the trail felt safe since you're not riding next to cars like on a regular road. Definitely recommend it if you're in town. Only reason that I don't give it a 5 is because I've done bike trails in Lake Tahoe and some of those are nicer.

Beautiful trail within walking distance of Avila Beach. We enjoyed the open green space, estuary with numerous birds, pedestrian bridges. We witnessed a majestic eagle perched on a tree. Watch out for bikes!

So for me when I read a review what I really want to know is if the person writing the review will actually go back and do business at this particular location again. Really that's all that matters right? It's either yes I can't wait to come back or no this place is not for me so what's my answer? The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES!! Awesome trail from the city to the beach. If you plan on visiting Avila Beach I would recommend that you consider a nice walk to the beach.

I'm an avid walker and everywhere I go on vacation ... I have to fit in a walk /hike! This trail was nice!! A bit Over 5 miles! Great walk to stretch my legs after a 2.5 hour drive from SoCal! They even have a little trailer where you can buy a drink.

I love the forest the trees it was calming It's such a good place like there's a lot of people around a good business you could ride your bike there you could walk it's very like for everyone, family and I'm nine years old.

A wonderful biking/walking trail that connects Avila Beach to the trailhead a few miles away. It was paved and goes through a bridge, near a creek and you get some beautiful views on the way. Very family friendly as well as stroller friendly. We enjoyed biking there. The highlight was The Secret Garden which was a little stop off the trail where you can relax where they have Jenga/game and area where you can order coffee/pastries and food. It's a hidden gem.

My husband and I enjoyed this scenic walk so much that we rented e-bikes and rode it again the next day. Reward yourself with a delicious lunch overlooking the beach at Mulligans.

We love Bob Jones Trail. We try to walk it a couple times a month. It's usually busy with bikes, electric bikes, walkers, and runners. It's a great flat surface. Once you past the neighborhood, it opens up to a much larger road where there is plenty of space for everyone. Sometimes it gets a little tight in areas. You also need to pay attention and listen for bikers. Not all of the riders let you know they are behind you and ready to pass. Overall, this is one of the best trails around. It's definitely family friendly. It has a playground halfway. The trail leads to Avila beach and you can't beat the weather.

We walked the trail for only a few miles. We didn't make it all the way to Avila beach because the trail which was shady at first, seemed to have more spots of pure sun once we got to the golf course. We were able to see the Steelhead trout in the stream so that was nice to see. I also could not help but laugh that there was the Sycamore Spa's Secret garden as a pit stop where you could buy alcohol during your walk/bike ride. I think I actually would have enjoyed this trail more on bike. So if you are thinking of giving it a go, I would recommend bikes.

This is a fantastic trail if you are looking for an easy paved walk. I learned about Bob Jones from the signs on the trail. He sounds like a pretty terrific man, anybody that's an environmental pioneer gets a thumbs up in my book. There's so much lush foliage to see as you are walking on this trail, and there are streams and creeks that run along side it as well. It's really just so beautiful. You can take this from the city to the sea, as the sign says. Or you can take it to other trails, which is what I did. I took it to the Sycamore crest Trail which gives you fantastic views of Avila Beach and Avila Valley. The only downside of this is that it is heavily trafficked with people, cyclists, strollers, etc. unless if you get there early enough. But obviously it's going to be heavily trafficked as it really is a terrific walking trail. I'd recommend going mid week, early in the morning.

I walk the Bob Jones trail most days, along with 1-5 friends. The trail is pretty good, they have been recently trimming branches. the biggest thing is the motor bike and hovers. My friends and I always move out of the way and we appreciate a callout, horn, not just to zoom by us. There are kids on the trail and you have to be careful. Also, there is no reason why someone cannot pick up after their dog. there are plenty of trash cans and bags.

We stopped to ride our E-Bikes along the Bob Jones Trail on our way to Paso Robles & what a surprise it was!!! The paved, tree-lined trail is absolutely breath taking and so enjoyable to ride!! This trail takes you along the San Luis Obispo Creek and also through a beautiful golf course!! We rode to Avila Beach, stopping at Pier Front for a beer & an appetizer (delicious)!! On our ride back we stopped at The Secret Garden (nestled away within the trail)... what a fun place to relax, eat a little something & play a game of corn hole!! Its a really cool spot to check out!!! HIGHLY recommend this trail if you're visiting or passing thru!!!

I enjoy frequenting this trail once or twice a month. Most people are courteous of others. Lots of bikes, scooters, and skaters along the trail. Haven't had a negative experience to date.

I just had to be the 100th review because I LOVE this trail. It's the perfect scenic flat trail to enjoy with young children or anyone else wanting a leisurely stroll. Even after moving to Santa Maria, our family still often finds its way back to good old Bob Jones! Wonderful for biking, strollers, scooters, roller blades, dogs, and whatever else you can think up!

Great place. The trails are very easy and well marked. This is a wonderful place to observe birds, animals and plants. My Merlin app identified several interesting and unique birds there

Wonderful trail to walk and bike on. Free parking lot across from trail entrance. Restroom available in parking lot. Bring your hand sanitizer- no hand washing station. Only 1 unisex restroom which is spacious and clean. Trail is paved and lined for biking. The trail is tree lined and luscious. There are sporadic signs along trail with info on Bob Jones as well as the various plants along trail. There's a creek that runs slo g side the trail. About mid way on trail there is a lovely garden area spot that offers snacks as well as beer and other beverages. Tables for relaxing while enjoying your snack/drink. Trail has benches to rest on and plenty of trash cans for pet waste bags etc. Wonderful walk as well as bike riding trail that the entire family can enjoy. Highly recommend.

This is truly a wonderful trail and I wish I lived closer. It is very scenic with a lot of greenery and interesting foliage. We routinely stopped to admire a rock formation or a tree or a vista. Highly recommend it if you are in the area.

Sooo beautiful! Nice paved walking/bike route that wraps around a golf course, along lots of shaded trees and a couple of places to stop and get a drink and snack! We rented electric bikes and has a blast...a definite highlight of our trip to Avila Beach!

We rented electric bicycles from BoltAbout near the waterfront to ride this 2.6 miles Bob Jones Trail, it took us 20 minutes to reach the end of the trail. The road winds along the San Luis Obispo Creek, passes a golf course, through two bridges and half of the trail is on a path lined with trees on both sides. It was an easy paved route so there were quite a few people out enjoying it as well.

This trail is the best for that post-brunch Sunday walk. The trail is backed up to hills so you can ease your mind by listening to the birds. It is completely paved, flat, and ends directly at Avila beach. It is an easy walk to the beach and back, being around 5 miles.

A fun family-friendly trail (walking and bike trail) that's not very stressful. To start from the parking lot to the beach is about a six mile commitment but don't worry it's mostly flat. There are portions where you'll be walking through an oak forest, a golf course, and even through a condo and resort community. The Bob Jones Trail is billed as a bike path, but I'd say there were more walkers than bikers. So don't worry if you're bikeless. Tips - Have a picnic on one of the many tables at Pirate Park right next to the beach.. There's also a bathroom in that park too. - Not a lot of smiles on this trail. One of the least friendly trails I've been on. Not sure if it's because of all the tourists or what. - Restroom in the parking lot.

Great bike path! Took our two bikes with our son in his child seat and had a blast all the way to the beach and back.

Finally made it to this trail! Parking was located in a gravel lot (east to access the trail from this parking lot). Bob Jones trail is Paved, clean, spacious considering how many people use this trail. The trail is bike, stroller friendly, pets must be on a leash. It's about a 2 hour hike one way to Avila Beach. So total a 4 hour hike. There is a secret garden along the trail that has a garden (used to make some of their dishes), water, kombucha and beer. Plenty of seating here for those who want to take a quick break from the trail.

Love this trail super easy. Good for kids & pets. There is a lot of shade and the trail is paved so it's good for strollers, wheelchairs, wagons, bikes etc.,

This is our go-to spot for a quick and easy walk. Safe and well-maintained, about half of the stretch is comfortably wide to allow bides and other vehicles to comfortably pass. There is also the nice variety of wooded area and open coastal sections along the San Luis Obispo Creek to provide a change of scenery. I hesitate to recommend it only as I selfishly don't want to see it become "too popular."

My husband and I (along with our dog!) were in SLO. I was looking up trails in the area to walk our dog and stumbled upon Bob Jones Trail. I am so glad we did! Free parking, major plus! We enjoyed our walk to Avila Beach! We got lunch and drinks at Mulligan's at the end of the trail, highly recommend! On the way back, we stopped at The Secret Garden for a drink. We would absolutely go back when we're back in SLO and definitely recommend Bob Jones Trail to others!

While staying in Pismo we decided to take our fur baby for a nice stroll at Bobs trail. The parking lot is located across the street from the trail. There's also a restroom located at the entrance of the lot. The trail was a bit narrow when passing others (groups of more than 3). But the trail is very easy and great for families, pets, cyclist, skaters, etc. I believe the trail continues to the beach but we stopped shortly after passing a health club.

Wow-it's been 7 years since I've been on this trail and revisiting this weekend reminded me how amazing and what a local gem it is. Some has changed in the last several years-last time when I came at 7:45 am, I was the only car in the lot. This time around, there were at least 10 or more other cars. The trail was more bustling but not overly crowded. Parking lot near the trailhead on Ontario road seems to have gotten bigger and there is also now a pit toilet at the start of the trail. I forgot what a scenic walk this is. At the start you've got oaks, fall foliage and lush greenery on both sides. Once you get past the first mile or so, the trail widens as you walk along a creek, then the golf course and eventually the bridges that go over the estuary before it terminates at Avila Beach. This time I made it all the way to the beach and pier, where the trail terminates (across the street from the Central Coast Aquarium.) It's about 5 miles round trip and took me under 2 hours. So many people were out enjoying the trail, even on a drizzly day. This is a short and sweet and scenic paved path. Easy to walk or bike and plenty of nature to enjoy along the way. Definitely will make a point to walk this trail anytime I'm in town.

The Bob Jones Trail is so much FUN!!!!!!!! It's about a 10 or 15 minute walk to the secret garden but, if you keep going it will take you to the beach. The secret garden was so much fun. They have food and drinks and many other stuff. They have soda, juice, beer, cookies, chips, cinnamon rolls, and more! They had games like Jenga and Cornhole. They have tables outside and a beautiful garden! Sometimes they have a band play there and it is very cool! If you take the bridge it will take you down to the Sycamore Springs Hotel. The Trail it's self is very beautiful!!!!!! Me and my family had lots and lots and lots of FUN going to Bob Jones and I recommend you go there if you are bored in the house and you feel like getting out!!!!!

This is one amazing gem of a trial on the central coast. It's a great length, mostly covered from sun with food stops along the way and beautiful Avila beach at the end with plenty to do for the day.

Beautiful trail very easy to walk, can be a little busy on the weekends but most people walking the trail are very kind! Lots for families, couples, and seniors frequent this trail.

Great trail that is for all skills and ages. Most of the trail is paved so one can walk, hike or run on stable grounds.

My family and I have been walking this trail for 14 years. We start at the entrance of Ontario Road and walk the trail all the way to Avila Beach. Sometimes we walk it to the back entrance of the golf course. There is never a shortage for parking. Along the way you will encounter a lot of natures best, succulents, oaks, lizards, different species of birds, wild flower, squirrels, Tarantula now and then, benches situated in perfects spots to take a break, happy people who say hello, and our four legged fury loves. There is a part of the trail that has a small playground for children. It is nice. Walk the Bob Jones trail if you haven't already and you will find a peace of mind, be in natures beauty and relax. It is definitely one of the many gems on the Central Coast

Fantastic Trail for conventional bike riding, walking, or electric bike riding. An alternative to pedaling down the busy streets.

Loved walking and running on this trail. Even tho I didn't get to do the full thing. It was beautiful route. Takes you past the golf course, a little lake/creek you get to see lots of wildlife.

Enjoyed walking this trail. Didn't quite know where to go when the trail ended in Avila beach. I think had I gone further I would've ended up at the ocean. The trail itself I walked was about five miles both ways. Very scenic with gold course, streams, nature, etc.

This is so worth it, you can walk or ride this trail. You are shaded most of the way, pass through the golf course. Then you end up at Avila Beach, nice when riding bikes. Make sure you take a lock for your bike, you will want to walk around or just sit on the beach.

Enjoyed our leisurely walk on the Bob Jones trail. All paved. From the parking lot to Avila Beach is about 2.5 miles of gentle downslope through typical CA terrain and a few nice homes, an inn, creek, and golf course. Walked around the small town, had a good lunch, and didn't really notice the upslope on the return. Perfect weather (low 70s at noon). We then managed to only buy one pie at the Avila Valley Barn on our way out. Fun!

Short ride but every kind of scenery. Shade to sun, river to ocean. Crowded at times. And Avila Beach is not everyones cup of tea but I like the old town feel to it and nice people.

was so pretty and fun! and easy to access. i'll definitely be coming back! see you soon

We took the Bob Jones land to sea trail by bike and it was fantastic. The path was shady and spacious. It was paved which made biking rather easy. Everyone on the path was very nice. It was about a ten or twenty minute ride to the sea. Very fun and cyclist friendly.

AWWSOME BIKE RIDE!!!!! If you are visiting AVILA BEACH- bring your bikes or Rent some in town- take this trail which starts next to the golf course- Beautiful views of golf course, river, and trees- It's a busy trail so you have to be careful - Worth bringing my bikes ! I highly recommend it- bring water with you if you do come -

If you choose to take a hike on the Bob Jones Trail, you can make it a strenuous workout or not as the mood strikes you. Whichever way you decide to go though, you need to be aware that you'll be sharing the trail with quite a number of cyclists. Polite cyclists will alert you when they're coming up on you from behind, but you need to be very sure that there aren't multiple riders before you resume your hike; not doing so will be at your own peril... If you get hungry while you're hiking (or cycling, for that matter) there's a deli about halfway along this trail where you can stop off for a break and a bite to eat.

Great trail to do with the family. It was nice relaxing and beautiful. It was an easy trail, fairly level not too many hills to climb. Ended at the avila beach and it was one of the best bike trails I've been on with the family.

Very nice paved trail. You have a deli market and a wine/beer garden off the trail which is funny but convenient.