Prefumo Canyon
(J.G. makes a U-turn on Prefumo Canyon Road)
This is a paved road ride. There is about a mile of fire road (see picture), but nearly all of this ride is paved.
If you just ride to the top and back you can grind out an 11 mile out and back. If you want to ride one of the best loops in town, you’ll top out at 20 miles. This a great shuttle ride, too. You can leave a car at Avila Beach.
Off Los Osos Valley Road in SLO, turn on Prefumo Canyon Road. You can only turn one way. Not too far up the road is a parking lot. This lot is one of the starting points for the Irish Hills trail. Park here and immediately start climbing UP Prefumo Canyon Road. The climb is mild at first but gets more and more challenging as you reach the top at just about 5 miles. Great views of Morro Bay and the Seven Sisters! Turn around here for a rewarding downhill. You earned it.
If you like longer rides, or are a beach bum, continue onward. The road will soon pitch steeply downhill and the pavement will turn to fire road for a brief time. At the end of the fire road will be one last mini-climb as the road returns to pavement. Continue onward downhill (it can be steep and fast so be careful) through apple orchards and farms. You are now on See Canyon Road. Look out for cars! Eventually you will reach San Luis Bay Drive.
Make a right turn and you’re off to Avila Beach. At the end of San Luis Bay Drive you will see the Bob Jones Bicycle Trail. Definitely ride this instead of San Luis Bay Drive. The bike trail will take you along side the creek and past the Avila Golf Course. Just across the street from the end of the bike trail is downtown Avila Beach.
If you don’t want to hit the beach, and want to stay on the bike, turn left on San Luis Bay Road. Take San Luis Bay Road until you reach Ontario Road. This is a frontage Road that parallels highway 101. Ontario passes under the overpass and turns into Higuera Road. Take Higuera until your reach Los Osos Valley Road. Turn left. Los Osos Valley Road will take you past the shopping malls and back to Prefumo Canyon Road at about 20 miles.
