Cerro San Luis Obispo, Summit and hiking trail in San Luis Obispo, California
Cerro San Luis Obispo is a 1,292-foot mountain featuring multiple trails that weave through prickly pear cactus and sage brush, linking downtown San Luis Obispo to its western peak. The slopes support various plant species that shape the terrain and offer views down toward the city.
Around 1900, Civil War veteran G.W. Chandler established citrus groves on the slopes, and some of those lemon and orange trees remain visible today. This early agricultural history shaped the land and is still apparent in the older tree growth.
The mountain displays a prominent white letter M on its eastern face, representing Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School below. This marker has become a recognizable symbol for the school and shapes how locals view the peak.
The main trailhead is located at Marsh Street and offers a four-mile round trip with around 1,100 feet of elevation gain to the summit. The path is popular with hikers of varying fitness levels and provides multiple route options.
The peak forms part of the Nine Sisters volcanic chain, containing an igneous rock core that pushed through Franciscan sedimentary formations. This geological makeup distinguishes it from surrounding hills and makes it significant to earth science.
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