Irish Hills
By PhotoByVivian.com

The Irish Hills in San Luis Obispo were named by Irish immigrants because they reminded them of home. Today the Irish Hills and the Johnson Ranch Open Space are frequented by hikers and mountain bikers. Once a location for mining manganese, mercury and chromium, mineshafts and process ponds can still be seen from the trails. An old house at the Madonna trailhead was once a school that sat in the Irish Hills School District until 1943 when it merged with the Laguna District. Today trails connect the Johnson Ranch Open Space and the Irish Hills Natural Reserve. There is a three-mile loop that takes folks to an elevation of about 500 feet starting at the Johnson Ranch trailhead, or can be entered from the Madonna trailhead in the Irish Hills, use the Connector Trail and make a 10-mile or longer hike or ride and climb to about 675 feet. Along the way you’ll find groves of Oak trees, the hills and fields, currently bright green, are speckled with wildflowers and cows graze on the slopes. There are fantastic views overlooking San Luis Obispo from many spots along the way.