Cerro San Luis Obispo

Cerro San Luis Obispo (Obispeño: łpɨłhɨtšnuka [3]) is a 1,292 feet (394 m) mountain in San Luis Obispo, California.[2] It is part of the chain of peaks called the Nine Sisters. It is a common spot for hiking, jogging and mountain biking, and has steep terrain.[4] Below the west side of the visible peak, there is a large plateau with a large wooden stage on the east end. The large white "M" present on the east face derives from Mission Central Catholic High School.

Cerro San Luis Obispo
Cerro San Luis Obispo (left)
Highest point
Elevation1,292 ft (394 m)  NGVD 29[1]ef>
Coordinates35°16′58″N 120°40′50″W [2]ef>
Naming
English translationBishop Saint Louis Hill
Language of nameSpanish
Geography
LocationSan Luis Obispo County, California, U.S.
Parent rangeSanta Lucia Range
Topo mapSan Luis Obispo
Geology
Age of rock20 million years
Mountain typeVolcanic plug

History

Some time around 1900, an American Civil War veteran, G. W. Chandler, lived on the mountain and planted lemons and oranges. The trees still overlook the city and are watered by two springs. The Lemon Grove Trail at the base of the mountain takes its name from these groves.[5]

Around 1958, a local business owner, Alex Madonna, purchased a ranch on a portion of the slopes of Cerro San Luis Obispo, and constructed the Madonna Inn at its base.[6]

Activities

There are several trails on the mountain that are used for hiking, jogging and mountain biking. The primary trail head is at the end of Marsh Street which provides access to the Open Space and Lemon Grove Loop. A dirt road accessible from Lemon Grove Loop leads to the summit. There is a second road cut to the summit which has been abandoned and eroded to a narrow rocky path giving it the name "Rock Garden" and making it a popular descent for mountain bikers. There is also a trail that encircles the mountain about one third the way up.

360° panorama from the summit of Cerro San Luis Obispo. Bishop Peak is to the left. In the left-center lies the Cal Poly campus. Laguna Lake appears on the right. Photographed on an early November morning.

Alternate Names

The correct name for this peak is "Cerro San Luis Obispo"/"Cerro San Luis". Historically this peak has long been known as "San Luis Mountain" and it still often referred to by that name. The peak is also referred to as "Madonna Mountain", "Mission Mountain" or rarely "Mount San Luis." Some confusion may derive from the "M" placed on the side of the mountain [by students from Mission Central Catholic High School in 1966, now Mission College Preparatory Catholic School] and its proximity to Old Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Others refer to San Luis Mountain as "Madonna Mountain" because much of the surrounding land as well as land at the summit is owned by the Madonna Family of San Luis Obispo.

Geology

Cerro San Luis, composed of igneous rock, is the core of an ancient volcano which came up through Franciscan sedimentary rocks.

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References
  1. "Cerro San Luis, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  2. "Cerro San Luis Obispo". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  3. Reel 1, Frame 1024. Southern California/Basin: Chumash, John Peabody Harrington papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
  4. Billings, Victoria; Sepulveda, Tom (August 29, 2016). "Hike of the Week: Cerro San Luis". The Tribune (San Luis Obispo). Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  5. "Cerro San Luis". Eco SLO. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  6. "The Nine Sisters of San Luis Obispo County". Santa Lucia Chapter, Sierra Club. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
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