Visiting Shandon Chapel Hill – Serra Chapel in Shandon, California

Updated May 2025

There is a little-known gem-of-a-chapel in Shandon California, just outside of Paso Robles, high on a hill with a trail of grapevines leading up to it. This chapel is tucked back in a valley just above Highway 46, just barely visible from the road, and you have to be looking north at the right spot to see it quickly!

It’s called Serra Chapel or Chapel Hill, and is located 16 miles east of downtown Paso Robles, and 10 miles west of Shandon’s James Dean Memorial at the old Jack Ranch Cafe (the actual crash site is at the corner of Highways 46 and 41, just 1 mile east of the memorial).

Note: The best time to see Serra Chapel up close is during San Luis Obispo County’s summer music Festival Mozaic.

Serra Chapel on Chapel Hill has an amazing view of the Paso Robles countryside, and is an enjoyable short but steep hike―about a half mile and 300 feet elevation.

Judge William Clark, a local Shandon rancher and Catholic (along with his wife Joan) built Serra Chapel on their property in 1993. It was built in the style of the English architect Christopher Wren who worked on St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It also houses some artifacts from magnate William Randolph Hearst, including a wooden Moorish ceiling from the 13th century.

To get there from Paso Robles, take the 46 east past Shandon, then turn left on McMillan Canyon Road. You can see the chapel far off in the distance. Drive to the base of the chapel to a small parking lot. You may be the only car in the lot and the only folks for miles!

Open Hours: Serra Chapel and Chapel Hill grounds are open daily for folks to hike up, as long as the parking lot is open. The chapel itself is only open to the public on Sunday mornings for Catholic services, as well as a yearly summer concert of classical music from Festival Mozaic.

Note: There are no official hours posted anywhere, so you may encounter a closure at any time.

See more about Shandon, and the East side of Paso Robles!

And the best part: once year in July, Festival Mozaic puts on a show every July at the chapel – see photo above. The orchestra sits inside with the big wooden doors open, and the audience sits outside in the evening air. With a picnic, friends and classical music wafting over the vines, it’s the ultimate, tucked-away event of the summer.

Here we are, starting up the hill on a gorgeous day, and then looking back down at the the only car in the parking lot. There were many grapevines along the way.

We made it to the top! Here we are, looking down from the chapel.

One of the most magical times to experience Serra Chapel on Chapel Hill in Shandon is Baroque in the Vines, an event by Festival Mozaic. Held in the 2nd half of July each summer, this is a week-long summer music festival in gorgeous locations all over San Luis Obispo County. This event sells out quickly, so make sure to get your tickets early!

See more about Shandon, and the East side of Paso Robles!