Southern San Luis Obispo

Walk on the trails, bluffs and coast from Diablo Canyon to Point Sal. Hike Rattlesnake Canyon Trail through beautiful and fascinating Diablo Canyon PG&E power plant land. Discover the newly opened Pismo Nature Reserve. Follow Oso Flaco Lake to a small creek through the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes to the sea. Climb the dunes, dropping down to the hidden 4 mile long Paradise Beach. Hike along the wet sand of the Nipomo Dunes through California’s only beach accessible to vehicles Enjoy gourmet dinners and home-made treats by our fabulous volunteer chefs at the end of each day. Welcome to an extraordinary adventure as we hike beaches, hills and trails along the beautiful Central Coast. You can expect a daily 5 to 7 hour walk of 5 to 11 miles, including stops for lunch and to enjoy the sites and views. Hikes will usually start at 9:00 am. The trails can be moderately difficult with some elevation climbs, but most are fairly level. Some trails are well defined and maintained; however the many beach walks can be sandy. The Paradise Beach hike includes some slogging through high sand dunes, but the miles of secluded beached will make the walk worthwhile!. All of the trails will provide the excitement of an infrequently traveled area. Evening programs will highlight some aspects of the local ecology or history.

Food: Coffee (and decaf), juice, and milk will be available each morning, as well as a variety of breakfast and lunch foods. Soft drinks will be available each day to refresh you contingent on donations to the food kitty.

Dinners are provided each evening.

You will only need to carry lunch items, water and layers while hiking.

Monday August 10: Set up our permanent camp at North Pismo State Beach, then hike the trails of the Pismo Preserve.

Tuesday August 11th: Rattlesnake Canyon Trail and the San Luis Lighthouse, Port San Luis and Avila Beach.

Wednesday August 12th: Head south along the beach to the Santa Maria River Trail to Oso Flaco Lake and Nature Center

Thursday August 13th: A strenuous hike from Browns Road on the trail to Point Sal where we’ll cut down the high dunes into the rarely seen Paradise Beach, then up and back down to Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Center.

Friday August 14th: Pismo Beach, Dinosaur Park, Sunset Beach, then say our goodbyes and hit the road.

• Hiking shoes, boots or sturdy walking shoes
• Waterproof sandals
• Spare walking shoes & laces
• Comfy camp shoes
• Hiking poles
• Water-proof windbreaker/ or parka for cold nights
• Long pants and long sleeve shirt (protection against sunburn, poison oak, and bugs)
• Layers for upper body
• Hat for sun protection that ties under chin
• Beanie for cold, windy conditions
• Other clothing – underwear, T-shirts, lots of socks, etc.
• Bandana
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Sunscreen (minimum 30 spf)
• Natural bug repellant
• Personal first aid kit (band aids, blister pads)
• Personal medicines
• Day pack
• Plate, cup, bowl, and eating utensils
• Sturdy Tupperware for leftovers
• Flashlight & headlamp with new batteries
• Spare batteries
• Folding camp chair
• Tent & Ground Cloth
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• REUSABLE Water Bottle
• Trail snacks (power bars or jerky)
• Credit Card & cash for camp showers and treats
• Solar shower if there is no shower at campsite
• Shower towel

What’s Included: 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided.

Breakfast:   

• Coffee: (Regular in percolator with caffeine free available upon request), Teas, Cocoa, Juice, Milk (1/2 & 1/2, 2% Milk, Soy & Almond Milks)
• Sweeteners- (sugar, honey)
• Yogurt
• Biscotti
• Hot Cereals (Instant Oatmeal, and prepare it yourself steel cut oats available)
• Granola
• Walnuts or assorted nuts
• Fruit (fresh)- (Blueberries, Bananas, Apples, Oranges / Cuties)
• Fruit (dried)- Raisins & Craisins

  Lunch:   

• Breads- (Multi Grail & Gluten Free)
• Almond Butter
• Fruit spreads
• Cold Cuts
• Cheeses (sliced)
• Condiments, (Mustard, Mayonnaise)
• Butter, (Regular and dairy free)

Dinner:

Dinners are included unless otherwise noted and will be provided by Coastwalk’s Volunteer Food Angels. 

Our Chuckwagon Wrangler will do their best to accommodate you but if you have special dietary needs please bring your food in a small cooler and we will be sure to provide you with ice throughout the trip.

2020 will be the 10th year that Mike Minky leads SLO Walk, the first in South County. A retired CPA, Mike owns several record companies specializing in a wide range of classics from Cambodian psychedelic surf bands to Calypso to ‘60’s East L.A. garage bands. Mike’s first Coastwalk was joining the 2003 Border to Border walkers for 3 weeks on the San Simeon to Carpentaria leg. As land acquisitions have opened up new trails on the Central Coast, Mike has been bushwhacking and marking for the future route of the California Coastal Trail

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/about.html

https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/oso-flaco-lake-trail-oceano-dunes/

https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/in-your-community/local-environment/diablo-canyon-trails/pecho-coast-trail.page

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=595

Pismo Preserve