Cambria Discovery Loop ~ Hiking Trails

Known as Pines by the Sea, Cambria offers unqiue hiking trails that include both secluded preserves and seaside boardwalks.

  • Begin at Washburn Campground, which is located north of Cambria along Highway 1, just before San Simeon State Beach Campground. Here you’ll find a moderate 3.3 mile trail with various side trail options. A portion of the trail along the seasonal wetland is wheelchair accessible. This starting point allows visitors to experience Santa Rosa Creek Preserve, San Simeon Natural Preserve, and Pa-nu Cultural Preserve.
  • The next stop is the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk with the option to start at either the north or south end. For either option, return to Highway 1 south and turn left onto Moonstone Beach Drive. For those looking to start at the north end of the boardwalk, the entrance is just past Leffingwell Landing. For those looking for the south end, continue on Moonstone Beach Drive until the Moonstone Beach State Parklands where you’ll find parking. This beachfront boardwalk offers an easy stroll, access to the sandy beach and tide pools, and limitless views.
  • Returning to Moonstone Beach Drive, continue south to Windsor Boulevard and turn right onto, then continue on Windsor until it dead ends in Seaclift Estates. This is the north entrance to Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, a 436-acre property with trails of various levels. Bluff, Ridge, and Santa Rosa Creek East Trails are wheelchair accessible and all trails are open to on-leash dogs.
  • To arrive at Santa Rosa Creek Trail, return to Windsor Boulevard and travel 0.9 miles north until you see the water treatment plant. This moderate trail is located just ahead on the right and connects to Fiscalini Ranch near the Ridge trail.
  • Take Windsor Boulevard back to Highway 1 and go south. On the right side, across from the Rabobank, is the east entrance to Fiscalini Ranch Preserve.
  • Returning to Highway 1 south, turn right on Burton Drive, then right on Fern Drive and follow Fern Drive to the bottom of the canyon. Here you’ll see the marker for Fern Canyon-Henry Kluck Memorial Trail, which is a 0.75 mile easy hike.
  • Take Fern Drive back uphill and a slight left onto Amherst, then make a left onto Trenton, right onto Warren, left onto Orlando and right onto Orlando which will dead-end at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve‘s south entrance.
  • Heading back on Windsor, turn left onto Drake, left onto Ardath, right onto Burton and continue to Kay Street. Find parking on Kay and you’ll find Strawberry Canyon, a large loop hike, on the right (south) side.
  • Return to Burton Drive and drive toward and across Highway 1, continue on Burton to Patterson Place, turn left onto Patterson Place and stay on it as it continues left and becomes Rogers Drive, then turn right onto Pine Court. At the end of Pine Court is Berry Trail, a steep, unimproved moderate trail that’s popular with mountain bikers.
  • From Pine Court, turn left onto Rogers Drive and continue back to Patterson Place, then turn left onto Burton Drive, right onto Eton Road and left onto Schoolhouse Lane. The Schoolhouse Lane Trail is a gateway trail that weaves down to the industrial “Tin City” area of Cambria.
  • Continue to the final trail by taking Schoolhouse Lane back to Eton Road and turning right onto Eton Road. At the intersection of Eton Road and Burton Drive you’ll find Cambria Nursery and the Burton Drive Trail, which is an easy creekside trail.

Cambria also offers a Beaches & Trails Loop and an Historical Architecture & Garden Loop. Or check out the downloadable Cambria Discovery Route with a variety of things to do and see in Cambria and the surrounding area.