Location: San Luis Obispo (North Segment) and Avila Beach (South Segment), CA
Parking: Pardo Road area (SLO segment) and parking area off of Ontario Road for Avila Beach segment. The Ontario Road parking lot is large and well used…a lot of cars parked on Friday afternoon.
Trail Condition: Surface is good throughout the trail. SLO segment had a couple areas of repair work and crack sealing. SLO is wide enough for riding two abreast. The Avila Beach segment trail width varies with two abreast wide and two lane road wide. Trail surface is smooth.
Signage: Usual regulatory signage on both sections. Along the SLO segment there were a number of signs explaining the sewage plant process and variety of equipment used. The Avila Beach segment had interpretative signage explaining geology, plants, and history. The Avila Beach segment had sufficient directional signs.
Comments:
SLO segment – Don’t be surprised…starting from Prado Road within a very short distance will encounter an encampment right on the edge of the trail. The encampment is up close and in the face. Once passed that the trail follows along the sewer plant fence line (a number of signs on the fence explain the process and equipment used) on one side and the creek on the other. Plenty of trees and greenery away from traffic. Further on the trail twists through grassy area, trees, marsh land and ends at Los Osos Valley Road. We completed this segment and no need to return.
Avila Beach Segment – Many trail users, mostly walkers with a few bikes. Trail is away from traffic, through the trees, along the creek, past some quiet housing developments, and crosses a golf course before arriving about a block from the beach. A lengthy section of the trail is a two-lane road leading to a gated residential area, no cars were encountered on this part of the trail. This was a nice trail and worthy of a visit if in the area.

Location: Visalia, CA
Parking: Gravel lot in industrial area, west end of trail.
Trail Condition: Surface is fine and wide enough but not very appealing. Old and gray asphalt with a few old railroad track crossings at an angle…be careful crossing!
Signage: None.
Comments: The first 3 miles or so of the trail are in the industrial area of Visalia. The trail is between active track and busy Goshen Ave. Guessing the track is only occasional used, although a yard engine and a few cars did move along the track (in the industrial area) while we were on the trail. There are several intersection to cross, push button for crossing signal, at least these are spaced a good distance apart and didn’t feel like we were stopping every couple minutes for a cross road. The trail is mostly unappealing, straight and level. It is a rail-trail for sure. We encountered a single walker on the eastern end. This trail ok based trail condition, not pretty but not a bunch of cracks or roots, etc. Wouldn’t do this one again.

Location: Visalia, CA
Parking: Riverway Sports Park…lots of parking available, nice park.
Trail Condition: Wonderful asphalt trail condition, new. This is a very wide trail, wide enough for a vehicle to easily drive it and some were but not a problem.
Signage: Informational and regulatory signs but no directional signs, which aren’t really needed.
Comments: Started from the western end Riverway Sports Park. This trail is wide and nice new surface, very easy to ride two abreast with plenty of room. A couple of underpasses avoid having to cross any roads, these parts of the trail are concrete and also very wide and nicely done. After the first section of trail of being in the open and construction of a large housing development to the side it then gets into the trees and more shade. All along following beside the dry river bed. While a previous reviewer mentioned a “no-go zone”, there certainly is a part of the trail with many encampments along the river bed, we passed through during the afternoon and certainly felt safe enough. It is an unfortunate condition. If wanting to avoid this part of the trail, start at St. Johns Park off of Ben Maddox Way and travel east. From this park the trail is more scenic with a lot of trees and a few small parks along it. At the eastern end of the trail, the trail makes a small circle and implies start of this trail. We continued east into Cutler Park to the actual end, as mapped on Trail Link. On the trail we encountered walkers and only a couple bikers, this was during the middle of a weekday. Of the two trails we did in Visalia, this is the preferred trail.

Location: Morro Bay, CA
Parking: Azure St. Ocean Access parking area north end of Cloister Walk trail.
Trail Condition: This is a “double” trail. Ocean side is walking path and then a separate asphalt surface for bikes. Both are plenty wide enough for lots of traffic and in great condition.
Signage: Informational signs but no directional signs, which aren’t needed.
Comments: Began from town out towards the rock. Short but nice. Stopped to watch sea otters near the shore line. Coming back from the rock took left hand turn on to bike path along Embarcadero to loop back to the Cloister Walk, our starting point. This trail and Cloister Walk trail gave us a short 6 mile ride. Great scenery and fun seeing sea otters.

Parking: Azure St. Ocean Access parking area north end of trail.
Trail Condition: Good asphalt surface, not real wide but wide enough for passing oncoming traffic. Signage: As noted in trail description there is not any directional signage. At first we followed the spur that took us out to the beach, followed another spur into a housing development, and then figured out where the trail would take us into town (through the nice little park).
Comments: Began trail from the north, first sign along trail asks for an unrealistic speed limit of 5 mph for bikes. We got the point, not to race through the trail, which isn’t really our style. This park of the trail winds along the dunes restoration area and some beach homes. Is scenic and quiet. The main portion from the park towards town parallels highway 1 but below highway grade. Lots of trees. South end of trail stops at a major street into Morro Bay. We made a right into the bike lane along the street and followed down to the harbor. Then north again to connect to Morro Bay Harborwalk. Then followed Embarcadero to loop back to the Cloister Walk. Short ride 6 miles overall but did enjoy the scenery.

Location: Fresno, CA
Parking: Shopping Center (Yosemite Freeway & Friant Rd). Drove into Woodward Park but decided not to pay the $5 ($3 senior) parking fee. Should have read Parking & Trail Access description closer. Noted some folks park in shopping mall across Friant Rd from the park entrance.
Trail Condition: Excellent wide asphalt pathway. Well maintained.
Signage: Trail is easy to follow without signage, follow white stripe down middle of trail.
Comments: Started at South end, rode to North end and returned. Lots and lots of walkers and few bikers on the trail, nice three day weekend afternoon to get outside. Wonderful views of the San Joaquin River valley and mountains in distance. Of the trails in the Fresno (Clovis) area we rode this one was the best. No busy intersections to navigate, enough curves and small up and down hills to keep this one interesting. Highly recommend this trail.

Location: Fresno, CA
Parking: Shopping Center (Yosemite Freeway & Friant Rd)
Trail Condition: Excellent wide asphalt pathway. Well maintained.
Signage: Trail is easy to follow without signage, follow white stripe down middle of trail.
Comments: Going West to East the first portion of trail is a nice ride with a couple of underpasses and only one intersection to navigate. There is a gated section in this first portion that is closed at night. This section is a wide old railroad bed with housing on each side and now a bunch of trees along the trail. Nice and quiet section. Once passed this gated area the trail parallels a main street with a number of major intersections, which is a significant detractor. In fact, we didn’t finish the trail after growing tired of navigating the intersections. A few walkers and bikers were encountered on trail. It is evident this trail is a rail-to-trail project. The greenway is very wide, flat and mostly straight. Without the many busy intersections to cross this would be a fine rails-to-trails trail.

Location: Clovis (Fresno), CA
Parking: Costco (Shaw & N. Clovis Ave)
Trail Condition: Satisfactory for most of the trail. Is a wide asphalt pathway. There are portions of the trail that are older with tree roots raising up and causing a bumpy ride. Roots haven’t broken through surface yet. Trail needs work.
Signage: Fairly easy to follow with exception of one park with a fork in the trail. Of course, we chose the straight path which turned out to be the wrong choice. Stopped for quick check of our map and look around to see a busy intersection that needed to be crossed. A portion of the trail has a white stripe down the middle but not all. There is a count station along the trail showing trail usage (bikers and walkers, daily and this year). Nice feature.
Comments: This trail was in combination with the Clovis Old Town Trail (thus reason for parking at Costco). We started from the junction of the Clovis Old Town Trail to the terminus which is a nice park with large parking lot on the north end. Then returned back to the Clovis Old Town Trail. The trail passes through a nice park on the way to the terminus. The park at the terminus has an interesting horse statue made from old rusted mechanical parts. A number of walkers, runners and a few cyclists were encountered on the trail, not overwhelming. According to the trail counter, walkers way out number the bikers. A major intersection must be crossed. A lower rating for this trail was given because of the poor trail condition.

Location: Clovis (Fresno), CA
Parking: Costco (Shaw & N. Clovis Ave)
Trail Condition: Excellent wide asphalt pathway. Well maintained.
Signage: Mostly the trail is easy to follow with except through the Old Clovis Town section. Up to that point the trail is wide asphalt with a solid white line down the middle. For about a block the trail becomes sidewalk near a school and Veterans Memorial Building. After that section it returns to the asphalt trail with white stripe. There are a number of great informational signs, little “train station” gazebos, and statues along the trail. There is even a count station showing trail usage (bikers and walkers, daily and this year) in the Old Town Clovis section. (See photo of count station in the Dry Creek Trail photos.)
Comments: We rode this to the point where we thought the north end is and the Sugar Pine Trail begins. Didn’t see any signage that defined the end of one and start of the other. Then on the return south we took the Dry Creek Trail out and back. To finish up rode to the southern end of the trail and back to parking. This trail surface was great and think must be fairly new. A number of walkers, runners and a few cyclists were encountered on the trail, not overwhelming. According to the trail counter, walkers way out number the bikers. A detractor to this trail is the number of major busy intersections that require stopping to wait for a walk signal to cross. The north end of the trail has fewer of these but does have a couple crossing with signaled cross walks requiring the press of a button to activate the warning signals, at least they aren’t at busy intersections. It is evident this trail is a rail-to-trail project. The greenway is very wide and flat. Without the many busy intersections to cross this would be a great rails-to-trails trail.