Hikes in Cambria, California

Cambria is a small village on the coast of California, located about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Its principal economic activity is tourism. Cambria is known for its rocky cliffs and wide beaches, easily accessed by visitors.

  1. Moonstone Beach Trail

    • Moonstone Beach Trail is about 2.5 miles long and takes about an hour and a half to complete. It follows the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean along the rocky cliffs of Cambria. Staircases lead down the 20-foot bluffs to the sandy beach below. Hikers can peruse small coves, rock formations and tide pools. From lookouts like San Simeone Point, visitors can catch a glimpse of migrating gray whales.

    East West Ranch Bluff Trail

    • Like the Moonstone Beach Trail, East West Ranch Bluff Trail follows the eroded bluffs above the ocean shore. It passes a rustic wooden shelter and includes two bridge crossings, a handcrafted wooden shelter and several unique benches. The one-mile trail also crosses a private ranch, and a round-trip hike takes about one hour. Though it does not include beach access, East West Ranch Bluff Trail offers expansive views of the ocean and shore.

    San Simeon Loop

    • San Simeon Loop is located in San Simeon State Park, about a mile north of Cambria. It takes two to three hours to traverse the 3.6-mile loop. Environs that the trail passes through include riparian forest, open grassland and a stand of Monterey pine. The trail's grade is mild, so hikers do not have to struggle much against gravity. San Simeon Loop also is located just south of Hearst Castle, a historic mansion designed by famed newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.