High School Hill Cactus Forest and Hike, SLO

High School Hill Hike, also called Bowden Ranch Hike, offers something for everyone. You can either do a short 700m loop with an adorable cactus forest and eucalyptus forest, and a viewpoint payoff. Or you can do a long uphill climb with many rocks on the trail. 

If you'd like the easy, nature-filled hike, make a short loop, starting on the Backburn Trail. From the very beginning, you can smell the amazing eucalyptus trees. The trailhead is at the end of Lizzie Street, on your right as you drive uphill. It starts by a thick, peeling eucalyptus tree, to the right of a long driveway. There is a short, narrow trail marker with arrows on it. Don't be confused by the huge hiking map sign on the left side of the road. It's weird they put it there! After you start the narrow dirt trail, you cross a stream on two rocks. At this point there is a trail marker. You can go left for the Firefighter Trail or right for the Backburn Trail. Turn right for the Backburn Trail. You walk through a Dr. Suess-like cactus forest with views of the sunny hills behind! This is lovely and unusual! See if you can spot any fruit on the cactus! You cross a pedestrian bridge and then reach a sweeping view of SLO High School across to Bishop Peak and Madonna Mountain! This is a beautiful spot to stop a while and be thankful for your life! Now turn back, this time taking the Firefighter Trail through eucalyptus forest. This loop walk is only about 700m. This short loop isn't more than 16% grade.
For the more adventurous, don't turn back but continue on after the view spot. This is where the trail becomes steep. It is a difficult, sometimes 33% incline, rocky climb that is 3.5 miles total (out and back). There are rocks everywhere in the path, so it's a real ankle risker type of hike.You follow a gully straight up. Along the way are gorgeous views, including Islay Hill, Righetti Hill, Cerro San Luis (Madonna Mountain), and Bishop Peak. At the top you can see the ocean at Pismo Beach on one side and the 101 Freeway to Atascadero and its surrounding hills on the other side.
The first mile of the High School Hill Hike is very steep, and there are loose rocks (bring trekking poles for the downhill portion), plus vegetation that isn't always cleared. Wear hiking shoes so that the ground doesn't feel as sharp, and so that you have traction. The vegetation is grasslands, with flowers such as poppies in spring.
At the top of high school hike, turn right to continue along a ridge. The trail undulates up and down. There is a C-shaped stone bench at the end point of the hike, not directly visible. To find it, don't turn left at the rusty trail marker- that leads to Reservoir Canyon Hike. Instead, go straight and find a narrow trail uphill to the bench. 
For a four mile, one way hike, you can connect up with the Reservoir Canyon Trail, but you'll need someone to pick you up on the other side of the hill. 
In winter, some hikes in SLO are closed due to mud. Check the trail status on the city of SLO website before you go.
If you want an easier hike that also has views of the morros, try the Islay Hill Hike.

Directions

The trailhead is at the end of Lizzie Street, on your right as you drive uphill. It starts by a thick, peeling eucalyptus tree, to the right of a long driveway. There is a short, narrow trail marker with arrows on it.
Don't be confused by the huge hiking map sign on the left side of the road. It's weird they put it there!
You can park your car along the road at 1608 Lizzie Street.
Google maps only shows the Firefighter Trail, but the Backburn Trail loops off from it to the right for a little while.

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