I decided to explore Harmony Headlands after several days of storms that were replaced with periodic showers, su shine, and gusting winds. I have to say, with the right gear (boots, waterproof clothing, hat), it was still worth it. What was enjoyable about this mid-February hike was the varied scenery and sounds as you journey towards the coast. There were rolling green hills, cows, falcons, frogs, ducks, grasses blowing in the wind....the sceneries changed over the 1.5 mile trek and it was serene. With the storms, the trail did turn muddy early. Even with rain, I highly recommend this hike for the scenery during the walk and the calming effect that comes from the journey. read more

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Finally getting around to doing this hike (more like walk) and it did not disappoint! Just a little over 4 miles, I would consider this a nice easy out and back hike with just under 300 feet of elevation gain. Once you get to the ocean, the views are magnificent! You get a chance to walk along the coast for about a mile each way. Once you reach the end you can either sit on a bench or get up close with the waves on the rocks. Will definitely be making this a regular spot we go to, as we loved it! read more

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Terrific Winter Hike. This was a lovely hike- fairly flat and without shade for the first and major part and ending at the ocean. In February, it was green, full of interesting birds and perfectly pleasant. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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 read more

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Amazing hike. We did this on a very windy beach day and the hike was sheltered from the wind. Breathtaking ocean views at the end of the trail. The parking lot is tiny. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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We had a great hike here at Harmony Headlands. The trail was flat and even, and not hard to walk. It was foggy so it wasn't that bad in the beginning, but once all the fogs got burned out, it was really hot since there were no trees near the trail. One good thing was that their bathroom was pretty clean (even though it's a portable bathroom). The view at the beach was stunning and we really enjoyed hiking here. If you love hiking, it's worth stopping by here! read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Harmony Headlands State Park - Parks Near Me - Cayucos, California

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. read more

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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. read more

Harmony Headlands State Park - Hiking through the hills - Parks Near Me - Cayucos, California

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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. read more

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Great hike. Nice wide walking trails fairly flat to boot. Great for all fitness levels and kids too. Watch out for bears. Saw two long gopher snakes crossing the path. Had to hide in the port a potty for a few minutes. read more

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Beautiful trail that ends at an ocean view that can't be beat. It is a pretty easy trail that is good for most people. We've done this trail a few times, last time in the rain, even saw a few deer enjoying it with us! read more

Harmony Headlands State Park - The view from the end. - Parks Near Me - Cayucos, California

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

What a wonderful place to take a short walk, well for some it would be a short walk, for others it would be a hike, and for others it might be a trek. For me it was a nice walk to the coast and back about 9,500 steps on my Fitbit. As I got out of the parking lot I'm sure I was the first one of the day it was about 7:30 a.m. it was wonderful I hadn't gone 100 feet up The Path and there was the first rabbit then look another then another then another I saw over three dozen rabbits this day probably about more than that in little mice that would cross the road and lived along the pathway their additionally they were quail on the pathway and right near the pathway the farther I got in the more Wildlife I could see there were Birds I could hear them all around me and that was wonderful. I continued on word there's a lake to draw many water birds and keep those little animals hydrated. For me it was a perfect walk the trees in the canyon that lead down to the beach are spectacular. I can hardly wait to take a few more people on this walk. Now as I left and was going back after having been to the beach I started running into people these were the eight old oclock or 9:00 walkers. They were all happy as I said good morning as I went along my return trip. I ran into what had to be a birder who had the phenomenal binoculars as he said oh my gosh the birds are spectacular today wonderful something for everybody to enjoy. I ran into another group that were carrying fishing rods I wish them good luck as they went down to Surf fish. All in all One Fine path and one fine California State Park read more

Such a lovely and easy hike (more like a nature walk,really) with spectacular views of the ocean and cliffs. I was super bummed not to be able to bring our dogs, who would have loved it, but understood the environmental effects of repeated dogs on/near the trails. It's clearly posted everywhere that dogs aren't allowed, so it was a shame that we saw dogs on the trails with their owners who had clearly disregarded the postings. Boo on them, ruining it for the rest of us. read more

Great walk, easy for all levels. The payoff is an unparalleled view of the coast, with not a person in sight! We took this trail twice around 7 am and did not encounter another soul. Fantastic!!! read more

Perfect for a quick walk (it took us 75 minutes back and forth), but don't expect a "hike", it's quite flat and easy. I found the first part a bit boring to say the truth, just the dusty road and hills. Arriving at the ocean was nice, views are great, and you can walk along the coast for a little while. we could not find any passage to the beaches below but we did not stay much. Parking was easy but at 11AM there was only one spot left (and we got it). After that I saw that people parked up the US1. read more