Bishop Peak

Hiking is one of the most popular outdoor activities in SLO, and there are a number of trails around town ranging in difficulty. For my first hike, I chose Bishop Peak, as it is one of the most common hikes that it seems every local has completed at one time or another. It's also rated as moderate, which I figured was a good starting point.

Bishop Peak is located in the northwest part of town and the easiest way to access it is to take Highland Dr west from Hwy 1. You'll drive through a residential neighborhood and there are two options for parking: turn right on Patricia Dr and continue past Clover until you see the trailhead, or alternatively, follow Highland Dr until it dead ends in a cul-de-sac. Parking at the end of Highland gives you a bit of a headstart on the trail because it's higher up the mountain, but parking is more limited.

I began at the Highland Dr trailhead. The initial stretch of the trail follows the fencelines of the adjacent homes before opening up to a mini Oak forest. The size of the trees is remarkable and this portion of the trail is very pleasant because it's almost completely shaded.

  

The trees begin to clear as the trail wraps around the south side of the mountain and this is where you begin to feel the ascent. The trees all but disappear as the trail continues to the west side of the mountain, having been replaced by scrub brush. This is the portion of the trail where you really begin to feel the intensity of the sun, and the trail becomes a series of switchbacks. The photo below isn't mine (as evidenced by the much greener vegetation), but provides a good visual of this portion of the trail:

Source: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6776087234_07be615705_o.jpg

When you reach the bench at the end of the switchbacks, you'll know you've made it to the end of the trail. Everything after this point is boulders.

The view from here is toward the southwest. You can see Laguna Lake in the distance, and (on a clearer day) Los Osos Valley Rd.

The summit itself is a multitude of boulders and navigating them to get to the highest point can be tricky. However, there is plenty to explore and the views are especially rewarding.

Looking southeast

Looking south

Looking north

Looking southeast from the north side of the summit

The trail is about four miles round-trip, which conservatively is about 45 minutes to an hour each way. I spent another hour or so at the summit admiring the views and resting before heading back down. I plan on repeating this hike in the spring when the landscape has reverted back to green.

Additional review and recommendations can be found here.