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    San Simeon Beach

    4.7 (7 reviews)

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    Joy U.

    City dwellers like me need a doze of vitamin sea to bring in some balance in our busy urbanized lives. Being with nature has it's benefits and if you want to have some R&R come and visit the beach. Watch the waves, smell the salty breeze. Take a walk or sit by the sides while watching the sunrise or sunset is but a joy to the feels. Add in the sea breeze and the sound of the waves rejuvenates the soul and calms us within.

    Jessica P.

    My family loves San Simeon beach, we have been here a lot and will continue to, we always fine the coolest rocks and driftwood. I recommend anyone and everyone to come to San Simeon beach !!!!!

    Whale spotted out of season!
    Stephanie K.

    My family and I were cruising the Pacific Coast Highway and made an unscheduled stop here so my husband could take a phone call and I'm soooo glad he did! We went for a walk down the pier and were greeted by TWO grey whales swimming in the cove. We also spotted Dolphins, seals and birds too! It was the highlight of our day and so much fun! The whales were a real treat as they were hanging out there out of season! I have paid for several whale watching cruises in my time and this was by far the best view I've ever gotten.

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    Moonstone Beach

    Moonstone Beach

    4.6(247 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    On A mini vacation to Cambria with my family. This was a beautiful walk on the boardwalk. Great…read moreviews of the ocean and surroundings. Easy pathway for everyone, even good for strollers and wheelchairs. The beach has stone sand and it so colorful. Beautiful pieces to look at. I had lots of fun walking on the beach and looking at the stones. It's a lovely place to be. Part of why I love living in California. So many beautiful beaches and small towns.

    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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    Fiscalini Ranch Preserve - Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

    Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

    4.8(111 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    On my annual trip to Cambria, this trail walk is a must. It's so beautiful! They have a very nice…read morewalkway that borders the ocean on one side and rolling hills on the other side. When your on the trail closest to the water, a lot of times you can find seals, or birds, or if you look way in the distance, whale spouts. Along the trail they have really cool driftwood made beaches for you to sit and just take it all in. The tide pools by the homes are fun to walk around and experience as well. It's just a breathtaking walk. On my last trip it was really neat to see all these people out painting. I loved watching them create their masterpieces. I would almost love to find out if they are for sale. Some of them were amazing that I would love to have in my home! I definitely recommend walking this trail. It's a very easy flat loop to walk.

    I love coming up to Cambria with my pup Suki. Came up here over the 4th of July weekend to escape…read moreall 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.

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    Fiscalini Ranch Preserve - Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

    Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

    Fiscalini Ranch Preserve - Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

    Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

    Fiscalini Ranch Preserve - Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

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    Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

    Shamel Park - Let's check this place out!

    Shamel Park

    4.5(32 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    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.

    I really have zero complaints about this hidden park. It was…read morein a quiet neighborhood in a corner. I have 3 kids, two who are adults, and one who is 8 years old. There was a play area with slides and swings and they all enjoyed it. The bathrooms were clean, and I noticed there was a pool too. I don't know when it's open or if they open it at all. I just thought it was cute. There was beach access and the beach was pretty clean. There were not too many people, so it was nice to have it practically all to ourselves. There was sand but also beautiful rocks that we all enjoyed playing in. The waves were extremely large and gorgeous. There was a sign that said no lifeguard on site. Overall it was a great experience for all of us, and we would love to return for another day of hanging out!

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    Shamel Park
    Shamel Park
    Shamel Park

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    Leffingwell Landing - A Leffingwell Landing seagull looking for Paula.

    Leffingwell Landing

    4.6(17 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I swear I was a mermaid in my past life. The sounds of the…read morewaves crashing against those huge rocks on the side of the cliffs, the infinite water that never ends, the sand between my toes and the sun beaming down on my skin completed me... oh and the music on my Bluetooth speaker... is just the absolute best feeling ever. I easily lose track of time when I'm there... I was totally inspired by the rescues by the Marine Mammal Center while we were there at this beach... First they came and rescued a bird who couldn't fly... there were two of them... totally patient and very careful they put it in a bag and said they were going to check to make sure everything was okay before releasing it back out... A few hours later there was a sea look who looked like it was not doing very well... Someone must have called and a team of rescue came and did the same... carefully putting him in a cage and said they were taking him to morro bay hospital for observation and then would be taking it to Sausalito to release it. They were speaking with the public which I thought was really cool! I've already done my donation and I think more people need to know about this place. But back to this beach.. There is a bathroom nearby... benches to sit and have lunch... grills to cook... it's just a perfect place to spend the day at... I cannot even explain the beauty that is here Go check it out if you haven't yet!

    Part of the reason I love the Central California Coast is their commitment to keeping the…read morebeachfront areas public. You'll find miles upon miles of shore-near cliff trails, walkways and mini parks. It's not like other parts of California where million dollar mansions are taking up prime beach views. You don't have to try and find super secret beach front access and park miles away. It's just... accessible! Leffingwell Landing is across from Oceanpoint Ranch. There's public parking dotted here and there and we've never had trouble finding a spot. There are paved trails, combined with established dirt trails and the occasional newly created trail (which we try to avoid). Some of the cliffs have been eroded over time, along with the stairs and beach access points. There are also several areas blocked off to inhibit foot traffic and encourage plant growth. It's a great place to stroll, or take your leashed pup for a walk. The clear sunny views are breathtaking and the morning fog captivating - you'd be hard-pressed to have a bad weather day here! On our last visit we encountered a lone Great Blue Heron. She had recently finished a freshly-caught meal and was drying off just off the trail. Folks were mesmerized by her and everyone respectfully kept their distance. Leffingwell Landing also has a small grassy park with benches. A nice spot for a small party or wedding - albeit a bit breezy. Don't miss walking the Moonstone Boardwalk and Leffingwell Landing - it's simply Cambria!

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    Leffingwell Landing - Crab

    Crab

    Leffingwell Landing - A beautiful summer afternoon at Leffingwell Landing. Temperature 61°F @ 4:00 pm.

    A beautiful summer afternoon at Leffingwell Landing. Temperature 61°F @ 4:00 pm.

    Leffingwell Landing

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    San Simeon Creek Trail

    San Simeon Creek Trail

    4.8(5 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    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"

    This kinda beauty is why I live on the central coast. I cannot believe that views like this are in…read moremy neighborhood! This is definitely more of a walk than a hike as the trails weaves in and out of eucalyptus trees and the cliffside. The views are truly out of a picture book. Words almost do not do it justice. The smell of eucalyptus in the air, the big beautiful ocean on the your right and the forest on your left. On a clear day you can see Hearst castle on the hill and aquatic animals swimming in the ocean. I have never not seen at least some marine life whenever I have visited. Whether that is a sea lion lounging on the beach or a pod of dolphins. The marine life is alive and well in this area! Luckily, it is almost completely flat and not too long so you can bring your pup along for the ride! The only warning I have about this amazing walk is that there can be a great deal of rattlesnakes during rattlesnake season. They can be scary, but remember that they rarely attack humans. Just do not go poking them with a stick and watch your puppy so he doesn't go sniffing around one! This walk is absolutely breathtaking and it is flabbergasting more people do not know about it. It is so close to Big Sur, so people must overlook it. Do not do that! Go visit for yourself!

    Photos
    San Simeon Creek Trail - Trail walk path in the meadow near San Simeon creek campground.

    Trail walk path in the meadow near San Simeon creek campground.

    San Simeon Creek Trail
    San Simeon Creek Trail - Walk way from the campground goes under PCH right to the beach.

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    Walk way from the campground goes under PCH right to the beach.

    San Simeon Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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