South Hills Open Space

I sort of don’t want to review south hills because I want to keep it all for myself!
There is currently construction going on in the nearby neighborhood so the entrance has changed, but the signage is clear so you’ll find it.
I’m a runner and take short lunch breaks so this is the perfect location to gain momentum running in the nearby flat areas then keep the energy going to run right up the hill. It’s good for hiking as well, but since I’m on a time crunch it keeps me motivated not to slow down even at the biggest incline.
Not a long hike, and occasionally there are hobos coming over the hill, or the roaming cows scare the crap out of me by being right on the trail, but for the most part it’s a solid place to get some mileage in.

This hiking trail is beautiful. It is a shorter hike, but still allows you views of the city without spending an hour to get to the top of Madonna or Bishops. No poison oak is a huge plus. You can let dogs run around without worrying about getting the oil on their fur. It is very rocky so you always have to look where you are going and stop walking if you want to admire the view.

Hard to believe this open space hasn’t been reviewed yet, unless everyone else is trying to keep it a secret. ;-)
I’ve been hiking and trail running through South Hills countless times since moving to SLO — if offers a peaceful serenity that borders on spiritual. It’s also much farther from campus than any of the college kids are willing to go (LOL, but seriously). A great place to go if you want to get up high and get a gorgeous 360 view of SLO: Downtown, Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis, Islay Hill, Laguna Lake, the airport, and south toward Pismo are all visible during from the footpaths in South Hills. Dogs are welcome, but it’s worth nothing that the paths are considerably rockier in some places than the more traveled trails around SLO. You probably don’t want to drag a 5-​year-​old on a «nature hike» up the more risky ones, but pick-​up trucks have driven some flat frontage roads into the hillside that make for great running.
Wildflowers, lizards, and red tail hawks run amok in the open space, and sunsets are truly gorgeous as the fog rolls in for the night. If you’re looking for a relaxing walk or a place to clear your mind, check it out.