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Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

4.8 (114 reviews)
Closed 6:00 am - 8:00 pm

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Ty D.

I love coming up to Cambria with my pup Suki. Came up here over the 4th of July weekend to escape all the fireworks in my area. Fiscalini is a short drive or walk from Moonstone Beach, where we stayed. Fiscalini Ranch Preserve offers fantastic picturesque views of the Cambria coast. The trails are a great place for a nice hike with your fur babies. When we were there we saw a few seals resting on the rocks in the ocean, and we also saw a lone dear along the trail. We were warned by the Inn staff to stay on the trail since there's ticks along the shrubs. If you drive to Fiscalini, there's street parking along the neighborhood leading up to the trail.

Lisa P.

The. Best. I'm obsessed with this ranch preserve and so grateful to the Cambria Community Services District (the property owner) and the Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve (who maintain the grounds) for saving this ranch from corporate development and gifting it to nature lovers like me!!! The long, winding path along the cliffs and through big swaths of native bushes and flowers are simply stunning! And every year I go they continue to make improvements by adding new boardwalk trails. If you see volunteers pulling out invasive weeds or maintaining the sprawling grounds, be sure to say hello and thank them for all their hard work! You can also visit the store in town and support them by buying some Fiscalini merch!

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
John D.

Get What You Preserve 430-Acre open space preserve located in Cambria, that features walking trails and amazing coastal views. The Good: *Free to visit *Spectacular views *Eight miles of trails that are well maintained and fairly flat. The Meh: *No restrooms *One of the smaller OSPs we've visited, so don't expect an all-day affair here. But you can definitely kill a few hours easy. The Ugly: *Two tiny parking lots (one on either end of the park). Put in either 2799 Bluff Trail, Cambria, CA, or 2799 Windsor Blvd, Cambria, CA to access the two lots. Conclusion: Fantastic little OSP that's great for a day hike and soaking in some Vitamin Sea.

Monterey Pines doing well at 3 yrs old!

We returned to the scene of the planter yesterday. Christmas market the night before followed by a great walk/hike in the preserve. We sought out the planting site to check on the trees. Three years from planting on 11/26/22 and look at them. How great isA fair amount of mortality in swaths of the effort and successful areas as well. Our dog had a fun day too. And I'll admit when people weren't within view he followed his nose as he sprung over and through the chaparral. Leashed when people and/or dogs were nearing us. Just a beautiful day with friendly like minded visitors. Pleasant walkers all of them. One note for anyone visiting, it was 12/23/25 and mid fifties with rain threatening so I didn't expect the number of ticks. Baci had his rain jacket on and as I removed it I found ticks galore. I removed more than fifty as he sat patiently. Another twenty or more on the two of us. Some on him had already found a vessel and latched on after our four hour outing so very fortunate I checked before the two hour ride home. A few were heading into his ears. Ours were on our clothes fortunately. We did our best to remove all of his but at home we shampooed with flea and tick shampoo to kill any escapees. Another 25-30! He doesn't get oral or topical flea and tick meds, I don't trust them, so vigilance was needed. Won't stop ranch visits but visitors beware. Hats and inspections for hoomans and doggos as well. Early outbreak I'd think but it happened in Fiscalini!

Trail is mix of planks and gravel/dirt
Laura C.

Great local spot to take a walk and check out some pretty coastal views. Google maps took us to the end of a cul-de-sac in a residential neighborhood. There are a few parking spots on the street or you can go further in for a more formal parking lot (we didn't park in there to see how big it was). It looks like there are entrances at both the northern and southern side of the preserve that lead you to the popular Bluff Trail. Didn't see any restrooms, but there were restrooms at the nearby Shamel Park (just under a mile away from the northern entrance). The walk is a mix of wood planks and unpaved ground. On one side you have the coast and the other side features more of an open field. Interesting looking benches made of driftwood are sprinkled throughout the walk for folks who want to rest or enjoy the scenery. Pleasant place to walk as it was uncrowded (on a weekday) and we passed by a few folks who seemed to be locals in the neighborhood. Would come back again if we're in the area. It's a nice place to take a brief walk (or longer if you like, but the Bluff Trail isn't super extensive).

Loren K.

This place is a treasure and a must visit for sure. What's great is that there are many starting points around the preserve to the trails depending on which side you enter on. As you know, the time of day/time of year you go will also provide different experiences as far as weather, animals, foliage, and the views. My doggie did end up getting a tick during one of the visits, but that's to be expected while out in nature. The trails vary in length and I'd say they are all classified as 'easy'. You won't break a sweat, but do make sure to stop at one of the many handmade benches to take it all in. The Bluff Trail/Marine Terrace is ADA accessible.

Wooly Sunflower
Daniel Armie M.

Love this trail. My boys love to walk/hike and this is an easy one. Views are spectacular and seeing the wildlife and nature along with the amazing smell of salty sea air and plants, it's the best combination to my senses as I feel my stress and worries melt away.

Entrance sign on Main Street
Sanaz S.

This beautiful & dense mini forest separates the East and West Village areas of gorgeous little Cambria. You can walk some trails though the preserve, it's a very easy walk. It's so pretty and the air is so wonderfully fresh. I didn't check only the entire area as I was alone and it was getting dark, but I'll definitely go back and do it earlier in the day so I can walk around and see more. I especially love the canopy the trees create...when the fog rolls in ...it's truly breathtaking!

Candace L.

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is really magical, and all encompassing. I will say right off the bat, if you are looking for a very vigorous hike with a ton of elevation - it's quite obvi this isn't it, you're coastal not in a mountain range if you failed to notice. If you're looking for a gorgeous area, varied terrain, seaside views, wildlife, boardwalks, pines, and more this is it! We walked a couple of miles to enter through a neighborhood entrance near Windsor (and exited on a different neighborhood street near the Trenton and Forest trails) and took a few different paths and trails. If I lived in the area, I'd be here every single day. If you're a runner in the area, you already know the neighborhood provides exceptional opportunities to run/train with all of the rolling hills and some very steep climbs. The preserve is perfect for a mix of short mileage trail running on a few different surfaces. This place really is dreamy! I'm an avid hiker and where maybe bagging a 14er is my ultimate enjoyment, this very relaxing, very beautiful area provides something nourishing for the soul. A real sense of calm and beauty as you walk through open spacious fields/meadows, along the sea, beneath the pines, and moss draped trees. It's nearly fairy tale like. Perfect for solo time, families, couples, and more. The trails are one way only right now, due to social distancing etc. Most are following this recommendation, which is nice. I didn't notice and restroom options, which would be a nice addition - maybe they are somewhere and I just missed them. If you're staying in the area and looking for a little more mileage, I'd recommend walking from wherever you are to get to/from here. This area is a definite must in my opinion.

History of Fiscalini Ranch.

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The walk is paved and beautiful. Great trail for all ages. We saw sea lions, lizards and beautiful flowers.

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8 months ago

This is a must do walk for anyone staying in Cambria. Boardwalk does get busy, but the parallel fire road trail offers a much wider path.

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This is a beautiful and not-to-be-missed walk. You have your pick of the forest or the beach with these trails. Go to clear your mind!

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2 years ago

The Perfect Way To Spend a Sunset or Morning Walk, A Beautiful Piece of Nature Very Well Preserved By Local Community.

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Ask the Community - Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

What are the dominant yellow flowers blooming in abundance on March 24, 2019?

Seaside woolly sunflower

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Review Highlights - Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

moonstone beach is nice but the views on the bluff trail are breathtaking and it is much less crowded.

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Moonstone Beach

Moonstone Beach

4.6
(250 reviews)
1.1 mi

Moonstone Beach is gorgeous, calming, clean, and unique, with the perfect Central California vibes…read moreand views. The beach has several really cool driftwood structures that visitors have built and continued adding to over time. My 6 year old son had a blast running through them and adding a few pieces of his own. There are also actual moonstones along the beach. I spent some time collecting a few since they come in so many unique colors and shapes and make great little souvenirs. Make sure to bring your phone or camera because you will definitely take lots of photos! The restrooms and parking are also close by, which is a huge plus. Will definitely be back on future Central California trips!

My family loves this beach. The parking lot is small, but we usually are able to find a spot…read more There's a public restroom connected to the parking lot. I've never needed it, but I'm glad it is there. Beach access is down some stairs that can be hard if you have mobility or balance issues. They are sturdy, and if you are able to navigate them slowly, it is worth it. The beach itself has driftwood that has washed up, and other beach-goers have fashioned into makeshift structures that are fun to explore. The sand is soft, and has tons of rocks and pebbles to investigate. As the name suggests, there are moonstones to find, if you have a bit of luck. Several times when I've visited, I've found these transparent clear and purplish/blue velella velella all over the shore. Other wildlife seen at this beach include moon jellyfish, sea lions (off shore), pelicans, seagulls, cormorants, and cottontail bunnies along the cliffs. There is a creek outlet that washes into the sea that can be a bit stinky, and tends to make traversing the beach hard past that point. Also along the water's edge, there can be some unstable sand areas, so tread carefully. This beach tends to have a nice breeze, and is refreshing even on hot days. If you are in the area and you can find parking, check it out!

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Moonstone Beach
Moonstone Beach
Moonstone Beach

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Shamel Park

Shamel Park

4.5
(33 reviews)
0.8 mi

Shamel Park is a community park in the coastal California town of Cambria nestled in the burbs…read morealong Moonstone Beach. It's a six acre park that has a large grassy field, kids play area, swimming pool, reserved picnic table area with a Santa Ana grill, individual picnic tables with smaller grills, gazebo, restrooms, and direct access to Moonstone Beach. There is no fee to use the park including the parking. When I dropped by recently in the summer, the grassy lawn was crunchy brown. I don't know the reasoning for the lack of irrigation. But it was open for folks to use still, some folks were playing soccer. The swimming pool was surprisingly smallish size for a community pool; it was covered up and not in use. Possibly closed just for the day. I'm sure the schedule is posted on the San Luis Obispo parks district website. The pool is next to the children's play area, gazebo, and restroom. The play area and picnic areas are shaded by beautiful old growth trees. This is one of my favorite beaches, in Cambria, due to the restroom situation and combo park and beach access. There are several walking beach access points from the park. But most I recall involve stairs. The stairs are not numerous but they're there. The beach has sleeper currents and strong riptides. So if you go into the water be careful especially since there are no lifeguards here. To the far right behind the restrooms is a ragged tag self made old dirt trail leading to the Santa Rosa creek where it connects to the beach.Beautiful views. Movie worthy cinematography scenes. Regarding the dog policy, dogs are not allowed on the beach. But they are allowed in the park, leashed that is.

This park is a fine place to stop if you want to let the kids or the dog out for a bit…read more Most of the grassy area was taken up by a large group of gentleman playing soccer while we were there but there is a small, unfenced area where you can let your dog off leash for a bit and let them relieve themselves. Most people kept their dogs on leash though Be careful though as it's close to the street and people go around the corner there much faster than I would like, especially for a residential neighborhood. The bathrooms were clean and there is a playground area for kids. You can also access the beach from this park. There is a pool are that was closed, so as busy as it was when we visited, I imagine it gets even busier.

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Let's check this place out!
Let's check this place out!
Shamel Park
Shamel Park

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San Simeon Creek Trail

San Simeon Creek Trail

4.5
(6 reviews)
2.9 mi

The first .5 mile has a wooden path but don't try to do the full loop! The trial is quite overgrown…read moreand poison ivy is all along it. There was a small sign that indicated a part of the trail was under maintenance but once on the trail there's little direction other than small signs that tell about the trail. With no warning, suddenly you're in a very overgrown part that continues onto a broken bridge. By the point we got here we assumed we were more than halfway and didn't wanna risk more poison ivy which he had hardly gotten past. I'm glad we chose to continue because after getting past the broken bridge which was blocked off at the end (not the end we had come on) it was open, far less poison ivy and we made it to a road intended for vehicles to grt to the campground I think? It had some beautiful parts but not the sort of thing to bring kids out ages. Very narrow path for most of it!

A nice trail that's part nature walk, part moderate hike. The distance ranges from 3.5 - 3.8 miles…read moreit's a loop trail that goes around Sam Simeon State park/Campground. If you're staying at the camp ground you can easily get to the trail by following the park map. If you're not visiting the campsite there is a pullout area across the campground entrance on the other side near the beach where you can walk the trail under PCH. Coming from the beach trail around the loop you'll get around 450 feet of elevation gain, the trail is pretty simple to follow but if you're looking for direction to follow online there is a map on All Trails under "San Simeon trail to Washburn Campground Loop"

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Walk way from the campground goes under PCH right to the beach.
Walk way from the campground goes under PCH right to the beach.
The trail head right next to the path that leads to the beach. This trail goes around Washburn campground.
The trail head right next to the path that leads to the beach. This trail goes around Washburn campground.
Watch out for the bugs.

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Watch out for the bugs.

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve - beaches - Updated July 2026

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