The P Hike, Cal Poly | San Luis Obispo

Located behind the South Mountain dorms of the beautiful Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus on Poly Mountain, lies the infamous Cal Poly P hike , a short but sweet 15-20 minute hike.

Originally the “P” was an “H” for San Luis Obispo High School, however, nearly 100 years ago Cal Poly students changed the stone letter to a 50-by-30 foot “P” to showcase their school pride. And lucky for all of us hikers, this is now a unique and easily accessible hike.

To get to the P, follow the trail uphill behind the South Mountain Dorms (or red bricks). The “P” is very large and easy to see, with a two clearly marked paths that have been walked over for decades. There are two routes to get to the “P”, one steeper than the other which allows you to pick your poison. Regardless of the route you choose, the hike up to the “P”, while short, is steep and a good quick cardio burst.

Once you reach the “P”, continue up the steps to the left to take in an even more glorious view of the rolling hills that surround this artsy hike and showcase the city of San Luis Obispo below. There are several trails that will take you up to the top of Poly Mountain, while some people opt to run straight up the hillside as an easier/quicker route. Once you reach the top, you will look down on the entire campus, Bishops’s Peak and downtown SLO and on clear days can see for miles in both directions. Take time to sit down and rest at the top and take in the breathtaking views. Like nearby Bishop’s Peak, the spectacular panoramic views outweigh the difficulty of the climb.

An added incentive for completing the P hike? The San Luis Obispo Tri-Tip Tri-Top Challenge has been put in place for those living or visiting San Luis Obispo. The challenge consists of hiking three main peaks in the San Luis Obispo area including: the Cal Poly “P”, Cerro San Luis Obispo (Madonna) and Bishop’s Peak. Participants that complete the challenge receive a classic tri-tip sandwich from SLO’s Firestone Grill . This challenge can take up an entire day, requiring adequate planning to set aside at least four hours , depending on one’s hiking ability and speed. The Cal Poly P hike is considered the easiest of all three hikes.

History of The “P”

The first “P” to adorn Poly Mountain in 1919 was constructed of simply whitewashed stones. The wind and rain would wash the stones away which proved to be problematic. The stones also made it easy for high school students to transform the “P” back into an “H”.

The second “P” was constructed out of old, whitewashed barn doors by the Block “P” club, according to Wikipedia. This version of the “P” was also short-lived when a group of high school students lit the letter on fire. A new concrete “P”, also constructed by the Block “P” club replaced the wooden “P” and was overseen by the student body president. The new “P” was 40 feet tall and 30 feet wide, much smaller in size than the newest P.

On May 3, 1957 after the “P” was in shambles and in desperate need of repair, social fraternity Delta Sigma Phi and a group of agricultural engineering students stepped in to help build a long-lasting “P”. This “P” still can be seen on the campus hillside today.

Moden-day P

Students can often be found relaxing along the lush green hillside or even pain the “P” according to holidays (though this requires approval from the San Luis Obispo Mustang Booster Club and the keepers of the “P” before grabbing your paintbrushes.) Whether you are a student at Cal Poly or an avid hiker eager to see this fascinating landmark, head up one of the two trails to get a panoramic view of the astounding Cal Poly campus and the town of San Luis Obispo.

Horses are sometimes found along the hike to the “P”

P Hike Tips

Tip 1: Set out for the P hike just before sunset. Hike past the “P” to the top of Poly Mountain to take in a breathtaking sunset and capture some stellar photographs.

Tip 2: Chairs have been set up on the edge of Poly Mountain at the top. Reward yourself by taking a few minutes to take in the surrounding sights.

Tip 3: Hike the nearby Madonna and Bishop’s Peak in the same day to receive a free tri-tip sandwich from Firestone Grill (offer valid as of June 1, 2015).

Tip 4: The P hike trail starts behind the redbrick Cal Poly Dorms near the upper most parking lot. The trailhead begins behind at the locked gate. For parking there are metered spots available in the parking lots closest to the trailhead. The closest parking lot is called R-1. There is also a general parking lot off of Grand that you can park your car with a day permit. Parking on Slack St. is free but you will need to walk to the trailhead.

Tip 5: If you live in the area, visit the “P” often to take in the different ways the massive letter is decorated year-round.

Tip 6: Mind the horses. Horses are often spotted along the “P” trails.