Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

The "Ranch", the nickname we have grown accustomed to calling our wonderful parkland, provides us yet another reason to take a daily stroll through the pines. One of eight trailhead entrances to the West Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is right around the corner from our home. Encompassing hundreds of acres, the western part of the ranch offers 11 accessible trails for hikers, bicyclists, birders, flower children and alpha dogs to walk their "pack".

The Bluff Trail, part of the 1,100 mile California Coastal System, is situated right on the oceans bluff. You have no choice but to gaze on beautiful blue water seascapes. And catching glimpses of sea otters, harbor seals, pods of dolphins or a migrating gray whale is the norm. The Marine Terrace Trail, also with panoramic ocean views, is perfect for those well trained canines to be off leash...to run, explore and be puppies all over again.

To get a true sense of the expanse of this wonderful preserve, walk the Ridge Trail. The trail meanders atop the gentle slopping hills and features the best fast food eateries for our White Tailed Kites and Coopers Hawks. The grasslands are perfect breeding grounds for rabbits, voles and mice.

You can explore another habitat by accessing the Forest Loop Trail. The Monterey Pine forest is rich with birdlife and an eclectic collection of mammals living and hiding within the overgrowth of ground cover and logs.

With an abundance of wildlife that is regularly seen in our forests, it is almost impossible to walk the trails without a sighting. Deer, bobcats, coyotes, skunks, rabbits, squirrels, and if you are "lucky" and alert...a lone mountain lion may be chanced upon. Birders will also love the forest and foothills as they offer many opportunities to see our wild bird population...including raptors, herons, egrets and a multitude of sea birds. And during the season, bright wildflower dot the hills with spectacular colorspots...

All of the trails are easy and casual. You can ride or walk up some small hills if you require a more difficult workout. But whether it is your desire to hit the trail for a few miles of cardio work, spend a quiet morning in the stillness, meditate at one of the unique hand made benches or just gaze at a brilliant sunset, the ranch will draw you...draw you back to our Central Coast.