Bob Jones Trail and Secret Garden, Avila Beach
The Bob Jones Trail is a wide paved bike path that leads through partially shady forest to Avila Beach. The first half is the best since it's partially shady and car-free, though on weekends there are many ebikes that come within inches of you. The second half, which ends at the beach, is on a wide road, Blue Heron Dr, exposed and in the sun. Halfway along there is the Woodstone Marketplace where you can buy a coffee or snack from their deli. There is a lovely lawn under redwood trees behind Woodstone Marketplace in Avila Village, a quiet plaza.
It is one mile from the trailhead at 7019 Ontario Rd to the market. It is 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the end of the shady section (at Cormorant Way), and to where the road begins that leads to the beach. If you have kids you can keep the walk to two miles by walking to the market for a cookie, and then back. Perfect!
This area is dense with oak forest because it follows San Luis Obispo Creek. You can see the creek at spots along the way, and it's a pretty view. You walk past apple orchards and some cute French countryside architecture. The mountains in the background are scenic, as are the Monterey shale cliffs.
There is a high, wide, green metal pedestrian bridge that is a lovely detour. It takes you over the creek to the Secret Garden at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort. There is a food truck with snacks, beer, and wine, and plenty of nice tables and chairs. On Sundays and Thursdays 3-6pm in summer (see schedule here), there is live music and wood-fired pizza! Check their facebook page. Find out about other summertime live music here.
In early August, on a Saturday at noon, is the Obon Festival, at the SLO Buddhist Temple, just to your right as you enter the Bob Jones Trail from Ontario Rd (park in the trail parking lot). The land is gorgeous to walk around, especially the wooden boardwalk and covered lookout behind the temple with oak trees strung with abundant Spanish moss. The views from high up over the canyon are so gorgeous! Joy! The rock garden is also pleasing. You can buy musubis, teriyaki chicken (cooked by someone from Hawaii), and teriyaki beef sticks. There are bookmark crafts. When you enter they give you the loveliest origami crane on a stick with a little bead. This is so fun to twirl around in your fingers! Bring cash to give a donation. There is a kendo demonstration (sword fighting), taiko drums, and folk dancing. You can also walk inside the temple and admire the golden altar.
WARNING: Don't confuse the Bob Jones Trail in Avila Beach with the Bob Jones Bike Trail that runs along the 101 Freeway, from Prado Rd to Los Osos Valley Rd in San Luis Obispo. It is next to the giant sewer district and in an unsafe area of transient people, some with pedophile or criminal charges.
The beginning of the trail, at Ontario Rd.
The trail leads through shady forest.
You can see apple orchards and mountains from the trail.
The trail is nicely paved.
Stop after one mile for a cup of coffee at Woodstone Marketplace.
The car-free trail ends and you must continue on this wide road, Blue Heron Dr, to get to the ocean.
There is plenty of shade!
The French countryside architecture you see from the trail.
The end of Bob Jones Bike Path, where it reaches Avila Beach and the pirate playground. Eucalyptus galore!
You can walk around the garden at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.
Flowers and Spanish architecture at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.
The green pedestrian bridge goes over the garden at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.
Beautiful colors in the garden at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.
The dark oak trees along the Bob Jones Trail.
Sign beckoning you to check out the Secret Garden at the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, accessed from the trail.
The Secret Garden at the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.
Live music flyer at the Secret Garden. Some Sundays and Thursdays 3-6pm!
Cosmos flowers at the Secret Garden.
Pumpkins and strange pillars at the Secret Garden.
The creek, as seen from the green bridge.
The green bridge! It takes you up high!
The garden at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, as seen from the green bridge.
Exploring the grounds of the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.
Bike riders relaxing at the Secret Garden.
Awesome duo with harmonies, Spike and the Box, playing at a free Sunday afternoon concert at Secret Garden.
Flowers and golf course views, where the trail ends in Avila Beach.
The wide road goes through a hilly landscape as it reaches Avila.
Walking the wide trail near Avila.
Green, hilly landscape at the end of the trail, near Avila.
The ebikes on the trail are hazardous.
I love the scenery at the end of the trail near Avila.
Spring blossoms on a tree in March.
The lovely green scenery all around you.
Open landscape with flowers lit by the sun.
The trail ends here, beside and below Avila Beach Drive.
Walkway over the creek, at the end of the trail in Avila.
The walkway over the creek. You can smell the nearby Avila sewer plant unfortunately.
You can see the creek from the pedestrian bridge.
Crossing, and green hill.
Swings and slide along the trail.
The creek which runs along the trail.
Townhouses and lawn, beside Woodstone Marketplace.
Bench and shade on the path.
A pretty tree.
The cliffs above you as you walk the trail.
A bench and oak trees.
The shady parts of the trail are the nicest.
Leftover metal posts, near Secret Garden.
View of the hills dotted with bushes.
Woodstone Marketplace has cute architecture.
Sunflowers at Secret Garden in July.
A couple walking playfully on the green bridge.
The green bridge and beautiful vegetation.
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.
I like the architecture and redwoods at Avila Village, the shopping center where Woodstone Marketplace is located.
Lone tree on slanted shale.
Weekend concertgoers at Secret Garden.
A girl checks out the sunflowers at Secret Garden.
California palms and eucalyptus at Avila Village, a quiet shopping plaza along the trail.
I like the yellow and maroon buildings at Avila Village.
It's like you're in Northern California when you see the redwoods at Avila Village!
Redwood trees beside the White Heron Sangha hall at Avila Village.
Shady lawn under redwood trees at Avila Village, a quiet shopping plaza along the trail.
White Heron Sangha Hall, where Buddhist meditation meetings happen at Avila Village.
Shady lawn at Avila Village, along the trail.
Lawn along the trail, at Avila Village.
A lady walks her dog along the trail, past Avila Village.
Woodstone Marketplace outdoor seating, at Avila Village, along the trail.
Yellow office and picnic table under trees at Avila Village.
Yellow building, khaki White Heron Sangha Hall, and redwood trees, at Avila Village, along the trail.
Gray building with white trim, at Avila Village, along the trail.
Lawn beside the trail, with sycamore trees.
Views of the hills.
Oak-covered hills, as seen from Avila Village.
California palms stretching to the blue sky, and queen palms, in the parking lot of Avila Village.
Palms galore outside Avila Bay Athletic Club, at Avila Village.
Turquoise seating on a deck above the main pool and tennis courts, at Avila Bay Athletic Club.
The quiet side pool at Avila Bay Athletic Club. You can buy food and eat it here, even if you're not a member.
Quiet and shady side pool at Avila Bay Athletic Club. You can buy food and eat it here even if you're not a member.
Tennis courts at Avila Bay Athletic Club.
Tennis courts and oak-covered hillside, at Avila Bay Athletic Club, which is along the trail at Avila Village.
Laps pool and gorgeous greenery at Avila Bay Athletic Club.
Woodstone Marketplace in October.
Pear tree near the entrance to the trail.
Redwood trees along the driveway to SLO Buddhist Temple, which is near the entrance to the Bob Jones Trail.
SLO Buddhist Temple, with views of the valley. Its driveway is at the beginning of the Bob Jones Trail.
Trees with Spanish moss over a wooden boardwalk and lookout, at SLO Buddhist Temple, above the Bob Jones Trail.
Trees with Spanish moss at SLO Buddhist Temple above the Bob Jones Trail.
Wooden walkway and lookout at SLO Buddhist Temple, above the Bob Jones Trail.
Views of the valley from SLO Buddhist Temple.
Views of the wooded hills from SLO Buddhist Temple's lookout.
Rock garden at SLO Buddhist Temple.
Sword fighting demonstration (Kendo) at the Obon Festival at SLO Buddhist Temple in August. You can walk there from the Bob Jones Trail.
View of Avila Valley from an open house in the Bassi Drive gated community.
Infinity pool at a home on Bassi Drive, during an open house.
Light playing in the valley, seen from a mansion on Bassi Drive.
Fog rolling in at the bridge where the hike begins.
Flowers at Secret Garden.
Hay and pumpkins at Secret Garden in October.
Walking along the Bob Jones Trail.
Picnic tables at Secret Garden.
Corn hole and Halloween decorations.
The beginning of the bike path is at 7019 Ontario Rd, Avila Beach CA 93405. There is a large, free parking lot.
Woodstone Marketplace, Avila Village, 6675 Bay Laurel Place, Avila Beach, CA 93424.
Moxie B.
Sun, 05 Jan 2025
I had no idea about this trail! How cool! Thanks for sharing
Last Updated: Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:56:12 GMT
Text and Image copyright: © 2006-2025 LotsaFunMaps.com.
Copying prohibited. Contact the editor |
Facebook |
Pinterest |
Instagram
Blog |
The Official Mug |
Privacy Settings |
About Us
