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    Harmony Headlands State Park

    4.5 (25 reviews)

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    Julie Y.

    If you're looking for an easy 2-4 mile coastal hike, I highly recommend this one! Hubby & I hiked on a windy morning couple of days ago but luckily the sun was out & boy, the views were AMAZING!!! Literally, couldn't take my eyes off the sweeping views of the beautiful ocean during the entire hike. What's even a plus is that it's not crowded at all.

    Ocean
    Jennifer S.

    My cousin and I recently came here for a short hike on a somewhat rainy day. The parking lot was very small, and could only accommodate about ten cars. Luckily, there was only one other car there besides ours. Parking was free, and there were state park brochures available at the trail head. About half a mile in, there was a relatively well-maintained restroom. The official trail to the ocean was about a mile and a half long, and was very flat and wide. Even though there were no dogs allowed on this trail, it was completely covered in dog poop, and it's main function seemed to be as a dog walking park. We saw lots of pretty snails and wildflowers, a cool pond, and a funky tree, but other than that, the main trail was not very exciting. Once we got down to the ocean, there was a much narrower trail that only went about half a mile down the shore before we hit private property. It was kind of hard to tell where the state park ended, and where the private property began. The views of the ocean were pretty spectacular, although they didn't go very far. We did see a lot of scorched succulents in bloom, some interesting shells, and birds whose names we did not know. Overall a good spot to get out and stretch your legs if you happen to be driving by, but not really worth going out of your way to see, considering how many other great hiking spots there are in the area. It's mostly just a dog-walking spot for locals with an ocean view at the end.

    Falcon or Merlin???
    Roger M.

    Invasive weeds, thistle and grasses follow the old ranch road from days of early European settlements and cattle grazing out to the headlands. Cattle mowed down the native plants. Coyote bush, a beautiful native California plant, outlasted the cattle hoofs. On the walk, I can't decide if it is more windy, foggy or sunny walking out to the headlands. So, the hike out for 1.5 miles is boring, then you see the ocean. Then, it really gets interesting at the bluff and your first view of the ocean. Wind in your face. Fog all around. Low visibility. Waves crashing! Standing on the bluff. Sheer drops into the cold Pacific. Maybe why this is only a 3-star review. Can not see up and down the coast. On a clear day this review may jump to 5-stars. It's a high surf day. The waves are really big and crashing the shoreline. Comorants are hanging out together on a rock ledge on the cliff. I see a Perigrine Falcon or perhaps a Merlin. It was chilly, a little windy and very foggy day so the pictures are hopefully OK to see at least some big waves. Look closely! Crash!

    Look for the Linn's billboard..
    Marcus F.

    Across the street from the "Linn's Olallieberry Berry Pie" billboard is the Harmony Headlands Hiking trail. Harmony Headlands is a mostly flat 3 mile there-and-back hike through coastal marine terrace grasslands before you reach the ocean. If you time things right, there are a few tide pools you can explore when the tide is low. Getting down to the water can be a bit challenging. Tip - Right past the parking lot you'll cross over a small bridge and below the bridge are turtles.. - Family-Friendly - Snakes! - After the rain the trail gets very muddy... - No dogs or bikes allowed. - Yelp marker is way off.. Heading north it's across the street from the Linn's billboard. Heading south its 2.8 miles south of the city of Harmony. - Google Address = 3449 Cabrillo Hwy, Cayucos, CA 93430

    The trailhead.
    Marc W.

    A nice little hike. It took us about couple hours to go there and back. It's a pretty easy 2 Mile One Way hike. Nice place to go see the coastline.

    Beautiful coastline
    Jennifer N.

    I've been to the Cambria/Morro Bay area 3 times and have probably passed this State Park numerous times on my drive between these two towns. I've seen the parking lot and wondered "what's over those hills-can you hike it?" Well the answer is YES! Thanks to other Yelpers (and a great review by a fellow East Bay elite, Laura B.) I was able to learn more about this trail and plan my visit. Full disclosure-this is an easy hike/walk and you are going for the scenery more-so than a serious work out. It's great for a short early morning hike and allows you to get some steps in. In total the hike was less than 4 miles, all pretty flat. You will see a small parking lot on the left hand side of Highway 1 if you are driving North to it from Morro Bay. You will notice the Linn's Pies billboard almost directly across the street from the lot. We arrived around 9:30 and there were only 2 other cars here, although when get got back later on, the lot was full-the word is spreading! In total we spent about 90 minutes walking through the hillsides out to the coastal bluffs, including plenty of photo stops. It's a lovely walk on the flat path that cuts through the hills where eventually you will start to get a glimpse of the ocean ahead. The trail then winds around to the right and hugs the coast for dramatic views of cliffs, surf and the headlands to the north and south. Going on a crisp and sunny fall day was perfect-we had endless views and enough breeze to keep us cool on the walk back as the warmer part of the day kicked in. Currently, Harmony Headlands is free to enter, but there was a sign at the start of the trail that indicated it will be $3 to enter starting in the spring of 2017. I'd pay that-it's well worth it to support California State Parks and this lovely little hike. No dogs allowed and lots of sensitive habitat areas-be sure to stay on marked trails. I was on the fence, at first, if I wanted to spend time on our Central Coast vacation checking out Harmony Headlands, but so happy with my decision to hike here.

    Jacob B.

    Easy, mellow hike that leads to the beach. If you enjoy spotting birds and local plant life, there is much to see along the way. Once at the beach, the rocky shoreline provides opportunity to explore the tide pools and find fun sea life. The views at the ocean are stunning, and one could easily sit and take it all as a refreshing way to recharge. Along the path there were two benches, which provided a great place to sit and have some snacks. There is also a bench at the ocean. And just a few hundred yards or so up the trail is a bathroom facility.

    Toward the end of the trail... Almost to the ocean!
    Mikaela C.

    I finally had the chance to hike this trail this past weekend and I absolutely loved it. It was a little over 3 miles round-trip from the trailhead to the ocean and back. There was a little bit of a hill toward the end of the trail, but for the most part it was a fairly flat hike and super easy, which is great for families, beginning hikers, elder folks, etc. There is a restroom about 1/4 of the way into the trail which is convenient. The scenery was absolutely beautiful. Rolling green hills, interesting trees, lots of birds, deer frolicking around, and of course gorgeous ocean views at the end of the trail. There are even benches along the way to sit and relax in nature. I'll definitely be back to this trail and I look forward to it!

    Laura B.

    Probably the most inconspicuous State Park in California! Located about 3 miles south of Harmony (pop. 18) and about 4 miles north of Cayucos, the trailhead for this park is located right on Hwy 1. The parking lot can only fit about 10 cars, but it wasn't crowded when we visited. A quiet out-and-back trail takes you from the highway to the ocean in less than 2 miles, and gives you sweeping vistas up and down the coast. Wild birds and plant life dominate the area, along with some lizards, beetles, and other bugs. The weather is sunny, windy, and foggy throughout the day, so it's best to dress in layers. This spot is ideal for trail runners looking for a scenic and mostly flat trail. Hitting the ocean view is incredibly gratifying. I highly recommend completing this 4.5-mile round trip hike/walk and heading into Cayucos for some coffee, chowder, or smoked seafood. Regardless of the weather, this is an approachable park that should be relaxing for anyone.

    Christine W.

    This was a great beginners hike! The trail is wide and very scenic. We did see three different baby snakes which was less than ideal but was to be expected on a warm October day.

    Nathan D.

    Nice little out and back to the coast. Probably one of the slowest State Parks in California, you'll maybe see 2-3 other people if you're here on a weekday. For now it is still free parking and admission which is great. The path is wide enough for a truck and relatively flat. Its a nice and easy walk that is about 3 miles round-trip. Beautiful out here after the rains, but there has been some pretty serious erosion on parts of the trail. Its a nice place to visit, but very limited in what there is to do and see.

    Hiking through the hills
    Jacy V.

    This was a great hike! Went around 4 pm in June. The weather was perfect! We only saw two other people on the trail. The best part was ending up at the ocean, so beautiful! You should definitely check this spot out if you're traveling up or down CA-1. Easy hike, 4 miles round trip, really flat trail.

    Park entrance and trail head
    Sherry C.

    This state park is a real gem! Just a bit over two miles hike to a breathtaking beach with wonderful views of the hills and landscape. An easy and leisurely hike/walk of only about 4 miles round-trip. Great for everyone! The grounds are well-kept with a port-a-potty having full amenities (urinal, toilet and washing station) at around 1 mile walk in. The park entrance is very easy to find; just off of highway 1 across from a place called Harmony. Harmony is a tiny town with population of less than 20 nestled between the Cambria and Cayucos. It's especially nice during this time of the year since the wildflowers are blooming and the place is teeming with wildlife. There were wild hares, birds of all kinds, quails and lizards doing their little push-ups while bathing under the sun. On a clear day the view by the seaside is simply magnificent and mesmerizing. I saw people walking along the bluffs enjoying the view, a person resting by the beach to read and a couple sitting on the bench to have a picnic. There are some benches along the path and everyone seemed very happy and relaxed. It's a storybook kind of place.

    Long one

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    8 years ago

    Nice short hike. I was alone and had an encounter with 4 wild turkeys, one of which was unfriendly. Be careful out there.

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    Ask the Community - Harmony Headlands State Park

    Review Highlights - Harmony Headlands State Park

    What was enjoyable about this mid-February hike was the varied scenery and sounds as you journey towards the coast.

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    Hardie Park- County of San Luis Opispo

    Hardie Park- County of San Luis Opispo

    4.5(2 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    Local Eval: Cute little neighborhood SLO County Park right in the middle of "nowhere". I visited a…read morefew weeks ago, added this "new" entry to Yelp without any "credit" [was prompted for an immediate review & pics], and was Tardy with my Hardie review. Hardie Park is rather cute and has both a summer use adult pool, along with a tot pool. The fees are reasonable [one day= $2 a kid/ $5 an adult & season passes are a bargain] and the schedule is on the SLO County Park website...where you can also find the plethora of other SLO County Parks, Pools, Golf Courses, Lakes, Hikes, etc... The two Tennis courts are free, at least according to the people who were playing there. In front of the pool is a interesting sculpture dedicated to two local Indian tribes [see pics]. On the other side of the street, is a large well groomed grassy area, where there are ample playgrounds for tots. The county wisely used what appears to be ground-up tires/rubber for safety. There is a large covered picnic table area with a huge BBQ for groups. In the overhead structure, there are controls for lights & even an AC outlet. One likely needs to reserve and pay for use on the SLO County website. Just behind this is a lazy serene creek, which is pleasant. The banks are deceptively muddy and slippery, which I found out the hard way! I wanted a water/mud sample to test under my home microscope system. As my wife yelled at me not to go down that way, that was the way I went...only to regret it, as one sneaker got wet, as I slipped. It took me a bit to extract myself, as I ran nowhere fast. My wife joked that I looked like a mouse running on one of those wheels in their cage! Somehow, I did not fall. Later I had my wife grab me a water sample. Since the creek looked to be only about 6 inches deep, it would typically only be messy for an adult...unless you twisted an ankle or worse! Apparently, since I did not learn my lesson about creek banks, I repeated this stupidity, the very next day with AG Creek, where I also slipped & grabbed a huge Stinging Nettle branch with both hands. MUCHO-Ouch! In any case, if an old fool like me can mess up with creeks, you can imagine what a mess kids can get into. My New Balance sneakers were soaked with tons of mud, while I had a pair of waterproof boots in the trunk. I can be quite a moron! In any case, this is a rather pleasant "unknown" county park in SLO County, that also happens to be right next to a public library. You then can grab some eats from town, a book to read, and then watch your kid[s] use up some of their boundless energy, swimming. The surrounding town is quiet, has humble accommodations, and marginal eats...but it is a good base of operations for points north, south, or east. Both charming Cambria and Morro Bay/Baywood/Los Osos are just a few miles away, and are filled with lots to explore. Since a number of the SLO County Parks do have summer daily use pools, it is a great feature for kids. In our area, only a few health clubs have decent pools, and only an expensive one has a nice outdoor Olympic sized pool [e.g. Avila Club]. So if you have visiting relatives with kids, who are pestering you to swim, and you know that they can get hypothermia from the Ocean, then these parks may be a god send for some. While the SLO County Pools are spread out, it may give you a great excuse to sight see, as you check out the area. If you need a relatively safe sheltered beach, there are parts of Avila Beach that have little wave action, lots of sand for a stroll, but the water is still icy cold. Avila is the most kid friendly beach. Ironically, even though I made the first "business" addition to Yelp, someone else apparently beat me to the first review [a non-local brief review seemingly targeted to "beat me" to the obviously "coveted" "First-to-review" title]. It was rather annoying, after I took considerably more time to research, explore, & take many pictures of this cute park...but no matter... as a local with tons of time on my hands, one of my new hobbies is to check out the plethora of the many County or local Parks, Attractions, Farmers Markets, in SLO county & beyond. My additional beef with the multitudes of non-local "tourist" brief reviews, is that many either over-glorify, or overly-trash places, that they may visit once, and typically lack a comparative/historical local context. You cannot expect this rural area to compete with urban areas. While it is a relatively "wealthy" area, with pricey housing, most things have to be trucked in, from the ports of Long Beach, or from the SF Bay area. There are no major ports in this area, since the demise of this area's big oil rigs & refineries eons ago. Avila Pier had a railroad that once brought oil out to the port from SLO [Tank Farm] & was a polluting eyesore. The entire town of Avila was dug up to remove many feet of oil soaked sand decades ago!

    Sweet little park. Play structure, covered picnic area, restrooms, large grass area, and access to…read morea creek. Within walking distance of downtown Cayucos and the beach. Clean and quiet.

    Photos
    Hardie Park- County of San Luis Opispo - Serene Creek in back of park.

    Serene Creek in back of park.

    Hardie Park- County of San Luis Opispo - Art dedicated to the Chumash & Salinan nations, with plaques donated by local members.

    Art dedicated to the Chumash & Salinan nations, with plaques donated by local members.

    Hardie Park- County of San Luis Opispo

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    Del Mar Park

    Del Mar Park

    4.7(12 reviews)
    9.9 mi

    Its been a great park to go to with my daughter. The tall structure is great to climb and the…read moreslides are fun. The grassy hills are great for running around and being adjacent to the ranch property makes it fun to see cows. However, like every other park in Morro Bay it is falling apart and a slide is now closed. The spiral slide always scared me since the stairs don't seem safe since a kid could easily fall off. But still a fun park, I just with the parks department would do a fundraiser or something so our parks could be properly maintained and repaired.

    I was visiting my friends, who live in Morro Bay. We decided to hit up Del Mar Park for their first…read morepickleball experience. Despite a busy morning and a wait to get on the court, everyone we met was incredibly friendly. We began in the beginners' court, but it turned out my friends were former tennis players who quickly adapted to the pickleball rules and techniques. So, we moved up to the intermediate middle court and had a fantastic time. The crowd, although a bit older, was warm and welcoming. We shared plenty of laughs, and my friends loved their first pickleball experience, planning to return the next time I visit Morro Bay. Although there were only three courts at the park, they were well-maintained. $1 per player. I can't wait to play pickleball with my buddies and these wonderful people in the community again.

    Photos
    Del Mar Park - Backside of the courts.

    Backside of the courts.

    Del Mar Park
    Del Mar Park

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    Cloisters Park - From the parking lot- you can see the playground with infant/toddler swings!

    Cloisters Park

    4.7(17 reviews)
    10.3 mi

    What a great little park! Clean facilities and wonderful walking trails that will take you all the…read moreway down to the beach if you'd like. Our daughter loved the swings and seeing all the wildlife (ducks, squirrels, seagulls). The playground looked clean and well maintained and safe for little ones to play around on. Although we did witness a seagull completely dig into someone's bag for an open bag of chips! So watch your food-these birds are aggressive! Haha! Restrooms were cleaned and stocked too. Plenty of parking and good midway between Cayucos and Morro- but closer to Morro. Short drive in either direction.

    This community park truly has it all! There are wonderful paved trails that lead you out to the…read morebeach. If you prefer to stay on the trail you can easily walk miles walking the expanse off paths and spots where you can birdwatch or take a break on a bench and enjoy the view. There are BBQ pits around the large grass area where you can also bring the kiddos to play on the climbing structure. The park is always busy and active with people on bikes, rollerblades or simply out walking their pets on leash. Dogs are welcome to come enjoy the several grassy areas where they are encouraged to explore, always on leash! (Please clean up after your pet. Bags are located by bathrooms) Last, but not least, make sure you bring layers because it tends to get windy out along the coast. Cloisters park A++

    Photos
    Cloisters Park - Beautiful trails for walking, running, etc. leads to beach

    Beautiful trails for walking, running, etc. leads to beach

    Cloisters Park
    Cloisters Park - Cloisters neighborhood

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    Cloisters neighborhood

    Harmony Headlands State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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