Located in 3550 Pecho Valley Rd, Los Osos, CA 93402 Montaña de Oro…read moreis 15 miles west of San Luis Obispo on Los Osos Valley Rd. until it turns into Pecho Valley Rd. I have been there many times since seven years ago and there used to be a set of wooden stairs that I would use them for getting to the beach but since two years ago they closed that path. It changed a lot during years ago but it still beautiful. People come here for walking, bicycling, surfing, swimming, camping and believe or not they used have free WiFi there. During thanksgiving and Black Friday I decided to go to nature instead of shopping; therefore, I went to a couple places including Montana de Oro and I am glad that I did that. It's was refreshing and very nice.

I felt it was only appropriate to review one of my favorite state parks for my 1000th review…read more This park has an extensive history dating back to the Chumash Native American inhabitation. These people lived here long before European explorers arrived. The park was purchased in 1965 by the State of California and made a state park. Prior to it becoming a state park, the land was used for agricultural use as well as farming and dairy use. It consists of 8000 acres of cliffs, seven miles of shoreline, coastal plains, canyons and hills. There is such a peaceful and calm vibe that you feel as you enter the park. As you enter through this colossal Eucalyptus forrest, you are mesmerized with their size. Clouds flow through the forrest and open up to the mighty Pacific Ocean. I always feel like I am entering a different world when I come here. There are so many fun trails to hike at ocean level, mountain level etc. Abundant wildlife is everywhere. You can also just take leisurely walks and enjoy the beauty of the ocean. Plenty of places to picnic, and a small beach to hang out with family and friends. There is also a small campground but what a great place to camp! Dogs are allowed but need to be on a leash. My first time out here was back in 2021. I mainly walked the Bluff Trail and took in the wind shaped jagged cliffs, caves, and rocky shore. I then completed a long beach walk on the strand that led from the park to the shores of Morro Rock. I saw so many dead jellyfish which was odd. I also saw huge turkey vultures. The next summer I took a recommendation from a worker at a local coffee shop. He told me all about Coon Creek trail. I started on this trail but it was pretty flat and I wanted something a little more challenging. I saw a sign for Oats Peak Summit and I went for it. A steep climb but so worth it at the top. Views were incredible on this ultra sunny day. Last summer I took my hubby with me and we decided to hike Valencia Peak. Hiking from sea level up to 1,347 feet proved to be a challenge but such a fabulous reward at the top. I could have spent the day up there just taking in the 360 degree views of the ocean, Morro Bay, Los Osos, and the SLO valley in the background. We absolutely loved this hike! If you find yourself lucky enough to be visiting the central coast, be sure to check out this phenomenal state park. It's truly one of California's finest offerings. Most of all remember to pack in and pack out - LEAVE NO TRACE.

Trails Never Fails…read more Four-mile out-&-back trail located at Montaña de Oro State Park that hugs the coast giving hikers a stellar view of the Cali coastline. The Good: *Free! *Stunning views *Flat and easy trail for all ages *Trails are/were in pretty good shape when we were there. *Small paved lot, as well as some roadside parking available. *There's a vault toilet in the aforementioned paved lot. *Easy drive up from Morro Bay; it's just a few miles if windy roads and you're there. The Meh: *Park is very popular so get here early to secure parking. The Ugly: *There are some annoying little gnat bug things that hang around in areas where the wind isn't strong, so be sure to bring bug spray. Conclusion: Fantastic, Family-friendly hike that's 100% worth visiting if you're in the SLO area.

Beautiful drive to the parking lot. Great animal spotting - plenty of deer/bucks roaming around,…read moreseagulls nesting in the cliffs, and coyotes and red foxes (although spotted further down the hill). The natural, untamed coast is just gorgeous. If you can, catch sunset there, the views over the cliffs are amazing. Ranger was also very nice as we were leaving.

This trail is managed by PG&E as it abuts the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, so there is a…read morecheck-in/out procedure and the trail is not open all the time. However, my wife and I hike this trail every year when we celebrate our anniversary (in October) or our birthdays (in November) nearby and love the return to it. This year we only went as far as Lookout Point before we had to turn back due to a reservation elsewhere (a kayak tour of Morro Bay). But we usually hike all the way to the end. Spectacular views of the coast and the rock formations jutting out into the ocean. Birds galore on the rocks and often seals in the water. Sometimes we have spotted whales far offshore. PG&E maintains the trails nicely and the walk is easy, though several miles long to the end. Along with the many hiking trails in next-door Montana de Oro, this is not to be missed by any hiking enthusiast on the central cost.

Wow. This might be one of my favorite trails I've ever hiked…read morein my life. My cousin and I recently re-visited the Montana De Oro State Park area. Last time, we had hiked Valenica, Oates, and Hazard Peaks, which you can read about here: http://tinyurl.com/8mjdzhha This time, we wanted to hike Point Buchon Trail through Diablo Canyon, which only accepts a limited number of hiking reservations per day. Luckily, we made it on time, and were able to register in person at the kiosk on the trail. (Technically, Point Buchon trail is owned and operated by PG&E, and is not a part of Montana De Oro State Park, but the road is the same, and the parking areas are right next to each other.) My cousin had mentioned some "cool rocks," but that barely even begins to describe what we saw here. There were spectacular geological formations around every single bend in the trail. The views were indescribable. I've never seen anything like this in my life, even though I am originally from Southern California. Most of the "cool rocks" are the remnants of eroded coastlines (the ruins of ancient beaches). There are numerous arches and caves, and even a sinkhole. Watching the waves come in through the sinkhole was one of the most interesting things we saw that day. We had originally planned to go down into some of the caves, but the tide was way too high for that. In fact, the tide was the highest I've ever seen in my life. Once we were nearing the end of the trail, from up on the cliffs near the power plant, we saw some waves that we estimated to be about thirty feet high. Down on the beach, back on the calmer side of the trail, we found all kinds of tide pools and tiny shells. While I was busy taking pictures of sea snails inside of pink abalone shells, my cousin was jumping rope with a giant piece of bull kelp. My cousin said we hiked eight miles, but I swear it only felt like one. Time flies. This trail was pretty easy to hike, but for an added challenge, it would be easy to add on any of the nearby three peaks in Montana De Oro. Point Buchon Trail is a must-see. If you haven't been here yet, I highly recommend checking it out at least once!

So pretty and peaceful. Very nice to walk around and look at tidepools and wildlife.read more

Love this beach so much! Go here every time we visit friends, relaxed beach with great views…read more Bathrooms are just okay but close to the beach which is very convenient. Parking lot can be busy but wow I love this beach!

Montana de Oro State Park has so many fun trails I hardly know which to review. Valencia Peak is…read morethe second tallest in the park and a great hike for the views of the surrounding area. This weekend was a warm one and for this hike, that meant an early start as you are exposed nearly the full time. We did a sort of loop though, so we came down through relatively shady trails and had a great time. The sign marking the peak is not at the peak, fyi. If you get that far, the picnic table at the top is just a short bit further.

One of my all-time favorite hikes to do in SLO county! I would consider this medium difficulty and…read moreif you plan to go all the way to the top, the hike in total is right around 4.5 miles, up and back down. Doing this hike in Springtime is my favorite as the weather is absolutely perfect, and there are so many wildflowers on the trail to enjoy as you go up. Most recently I went on this hike with a friend and we spotted a number of orange poppies as well as a large variety of other flowers of all different colors. It was magnificent. When you make it to the top, the views are just breathtaking with obstructed ocean views in front of you! To your right you can see the entire town of Morro Bay and Morro Rock; great for some amazing photos! It is relatively windy once you reach the top but thankfully there's a nice little bench you can sit at. One thing to note is this hike is NOT dog friendly, so unfortunately, I had to leave my fur babies behind. Overall though, one of my favorite hikes - highly recommend!! I will keep coming back again and again!

The Elfin Forest trail is named after the beautiful grove of Pygmie Oaks off the boardwalk of this…read morebeautiful trail. Park along one of the many residential streets with signs marked Elfin Forest. Please be mindful of the neighborhood. The trail is flat with a boardwalk with directional signs everywhere. If you take one of the trails on the sand that runs along the freeway you will be able to see the beautiful groves of trees. This is an easy flat hike except for a few steps off the boardwalk. Benches are located at the lookouts. Bring your binoculars for bird and wildlife watching at the lookouts.

Absolutely beautiful place. It has a boardwalk that is good for those who have knee or arthritis…read moreproblems. As the name suggests it is full of elfin trees. There are places where the boardwalk leads to that are inside the elfin trees, super cool. Good for people who have kids who like climbing trees. #locallegend

After walking barefoot a short distance along the water, we both discovered large oil/tar spots on…read morethe bottoms of our feet. So sad. Other than that, this beach is amazing. The short walk to the beach is nice. Favorite part was no people around! I guess the review about bombs keeps them away.

Sandspit is an often-missed beach at the entrance of the Montaña de Oro State Park. This is the…read moreplace to go if you're seeking the solitude of a long beach walk with very few people. The hike to the end of the spit and back is 10 miles and for every mile you walk the fewer people there will be. It's basically ocean on one side, sand dunes on the other. Not many shells but there are plenty of birds. It's worth visiting. - Bathrooms are pit toilets... no fun - No dogs Tip - if you have any snow/sand sleds you can use them on the dunes at the beach entrance. But only if there are no plover nesting signs out...

My enchanted forest!!!…read more ...and you don't have to travel far to the Fairy Tale Land, the Los Osos Oaks State Reserve is located right off Los Osos Valley Rd. with a small parking lot fits maximum maybe 10 cars. Look at the trail map, you will get a brief idea. Even though some reviews stated trails are not well marked, it's in fact very simple and hard to get lost. There's no scale on the map, it's smaller than I had anticipated though. The whole loop (started from Loop trail, connected to Oak View Trail and back from Los Osos Creek Trail) took me about 35 mins despite I stopped here and there to take photos and just enjoying the fresh smell of the wood after the rain. The more deep into the wood, where the Loop trail and Oak View Trail connects, the 800 years old Costal live oaks made me feel like everything would come alive when the sun goes down...and I absolutely love my solitude. Once you are closer to the entrance, you will start hearing the cars driving by Los Osos Valley Road and you know you are heading the right direction. I wouldn't consider it's a workout but absolutely good for all hiking levels and a short escape from the people. Side note: Poison oaks are natural part of the area, however, it's winter I was pretty much covered.

Located near Montana De Oro, Los Osos State reserve is a great place to hike trails and just enjoy…read morethe outdoor Beaty that the Central California Coast offers. I absolutely love those twisted oaks, they are gorgeous. Also a great place for family pictures

The otters are absolutely cute. They are best viewed in T pier but can also be seen along the rest…read moreof the pier.

We came to check out the Black Hill Trail!…read more Parking lot is limited, but it's a great out and back trail. We took the exercise loop and went up black hill trail, and then took grove trail on the way back and linked back to exercise trail -back to parking lot. Bring hat and water- the trail is partially shady but gets really hot. Some breeze, great views up top! Caution: there's a lot of poison ivy lining the path- don't advise small children or pets on the trail.