Locals call this place the Smugglers Cave. Cool name. But it's not really a cave and not near the…read moreshoreline. It's a natural carved tunnel through the a rock formation on a bluff overlooking Avila Beach and the ocean. Sadly though the cave is tagged with graffiti and folks treat the inside of the cave as a trash bin. Disheartening site to see a beautiful work of nature treated like this by those that come to view and hang out. Ironic. The hike from the parking lot is less than half mile one way. It starts at a slight incline. When you get to the point where the path splits to the right and left, turn right... the cave is to the right. You're less than halfway there at this point. The cave overlook has no guardrails, so please pay attention especially with the kiddos. The cliff has a drop. Have your wits about you and stay alert. If you have an overwhelming urge to creep close to the edge to take the perfect selfie, do so cautiously and be aware of your surroundings. Overall the views are gorgeous. But the trash bin cave vibes was a downer.

Date: Monday, July 24th, 2023 Time: around 12:45pm…read more We were at Pirate's Cove so decided to check out a cave. We actually didn't make it all the way down to the beach, but I did go into a cave and enjoy the view on the other side. Not sure if that qualifies as one of the Avila Sea Caves, but I will just assume it does. Parking was pretty easy. There is a small lot. No issues finding a spot since it was a Monday afternoon. We only walked down to the first cave, so probably spent a little more than 15 mins walking around and taking pix. If you enjoy water and a view, I'd say definitely check this spot out. REVIEW #3441

Beautiful, peaceful spot with stunning ocean views. Located in South Palisades Park, easily…read moreaccessed from Shell Beach Road at the end of Ebb Tide Lane. Street parking is quite limited since it is a residential area. No nearby restrooms, so keep that in mind. The park itself is clean, secluded, and has a nice grassy area with a walkway and benches perfect for relaxing. The area feels very safe. There is a staircase that leads right down to the beach, where you can explore awesome tide pools during low tide. Overall, we had a wonderful, relaxing time here with our pup.

Amazing little gem! This has wonderful tide pools and a pretty calm looking beach so it looks like…read morea great beach for little kids. Although I did read that during high tide, you don't want to be exploring the tide pools then. I think this is a must see for anyone at any age.

It should be renamed "Ankle Twist Park"…read more As far as a neighborhood park, it is a nice place to walk to and back home, but as a greater public park area, it really does not compare to other area parks. Since the sunset is generally behind the Spyglass outcropping, you will miss a proper sunset. The view is OK for a few minutes, but is forgetable and cannot compare to the much more expansive views on the many other coves , beaches, and even cul de sacs along this area. Rather oddly, we often take our walks toward Spyglass and the coves/beaches beyond since they are far better...and can offer a great snack or meal at the areas hotel resturants...or even grabbing something from De Palos Deli [& then hitting Spyglass Park or even the Hotel area promenade to then consume coffee and a snack]. The grassy area is pocketed with all too many goffer holes, so it is all too easy to twist an ankle. If you do make it to the water area, the overwhelming number of large rounded and slippy loss huge rocks can definitely pose yet another challenge for proper footing. There are no restrooms, food, parking or facilities since it is a residential area, as opposed to the very nearby Spyglass Park [which has it all, including a playground]. While there are stairs, can end in active surf at high tide and the rocky area is then inaccessible. Even though the stairs are not that old, erosion has heavily damaged the bottom and between the erosion, huge gap, and slippy rocks, it is far from a safe area for kids or older adults. The addition of stairs was more to rescue the local sewage system with retaining walls than to make a useful beach or a park. Sadly, this small rocky cove fails at being useful as a beach, a fishing area, a surfing spot, and a rest area. The most likely visitor are actually tourists who probably have lost their way to better nearby coastal areas. Spyglass Park is literally just a couple of blocks away. That being said, the Park and area are nice places to live and walk around, but as for going to a beach, all locals will walk, bike, & drive to other areas for far better parks, beaches, and more. The areas from Spyglass to Palisades Park is much nicer...as are the coves near Dinosaur Caves....but then again sandy beaches are far better at nearby Pismo Beach or Avila. The neighborhood views in our area can be excellent depending upon where one lives near the park, orientation, elevation, and light pollution. Since I am into various forms of Photography, I do take all kinds of photos from very near this park area. Since the spray and mist can be an issue, I typically take more photos away from this immediate park area and more in residential areas...but then street lights are more of an issue. Unfortunately, there is a large street light right next to the park which degrades the night sky. In my area near the park, I have taken great photos available to those with a elevated porch and good views of the sky, the ocean, and some of the coast. We are lucky to have a good view of the Orion Nebula, distant Fireworks off the distant Pismo Pier, and more.

I think this is our first time to this park and it was quite relaxing here. Great views of the…read morecliff and the ocean. We parked here and took a break during our bike ride! Definitely one of our favorite places to visit, an easy 2 hr drive from our spot!

Easy walk onto the beach and bathrooms ( really wet but at least there's a restroom). You can…read moredrive on to the beach if so inclined.

One of my favorite places for beach camping…read more Been here twice already and the sand near the shore is very soft. This was the first time I realized the beaches in California could actually be decent. I've stayed here for a few nights over the weekend and booking a month prior is recommended. The nights are extremely cold, so I'd recommend bringing layers. Friends say it's not the best for surfing, but it's a nice place to ride in the sand dunes. I also recommend bringing wooden boards to block the wind from any sandstorms. Recently, the camping areas had a lot of coal and glass shards beneath the sand. I'd recommend wearing shoes or slippers to prevent injuries. Closer to the shore, the sand is beautiful. On windy days, a sand towel comes in handy. I wouldn't recommend a shower pan because it gets messy, if you're car or tent camping. They have an outhouse that has toilet paper and one toilet. There's also three porta potties, but no running water. Hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and bringing your own tap water are essential.

This was a gorgeous hike, but I recommend taking Avila Beach Dr to Cave Landing Rd and parking…read morethere. Go clockwise around the trail, so you'll start by going UP! It's steep, and the ground is loose... Sphew!!! Once you're up, though, everything feels easier (and you know your strength!). There are a couple of spots with rope swings at the top! We missed the one with the wooden bench part but loved the one we did find anyway. I used my hiking poles, and more than one person we met along the way said they wished they had some too! There were also some trail runners (how?! No clue!) who clearly did not need poles. :P So, you do you!

We parked at Cave Landing lot at 2:30pm, it was hot in mid June, not ideal temp for hiking but we…read moremade the best of it by taking breaks in the shade. This was a short but challenging hike with rewarding views all around. We hiked counter clock direction with the extreme steep downhill part at the end. This was a wise decision because if my graduating daughter saw that steep grade at the start, she would have quit on the spot. My son and I christened our new hiking boots, his Keen Targhee 4, mine Altra Lone Peak 6. It took us 1.5 hours to complete 3 miles, with a longish rest stop at the swings. I told the family that next time we drive by this hill along 101N, we can be proud that we have hiked it.

Looked up things to do in Avila Beach and discovered the Bob Jones Trail, glad I did. After…read morestaying many times on short getaways in Avila Beach, this was a first. We were staying at the Sycamore Mineral Springs and the trail was just steps away. The path was easy, but as we got towards the end going at a slight incline, and in the full afternoon sun, we looped back to a nice shady spot next to the stream for a respite. We then ventured back to the cafe next to the trail and enjoyed some live music and pizza.

We decided to bring our bikes to take the Bob Jones Trail! We ended up parking along Avila Beach…read moredrive where the trail met the golf course and there was a spot to exit to the road. The trail did continue down to the beach, but we didn't want that whole distance for the time we had that day. There were some neat secret spots! A playground with swings, a spot for snacks... So cool! Many families were out and about when we were there, and everyone was respectful of the shared space.

There is a beach right next to the behemoth Morro Rock in Morro Bay, CA. The beach access and…read moreparking is totally free. Yup, FREE. Sandy three mile stretch of beach from the Rock to the camp grounds. There are lifeguards on duty, all ready with their gear ready to save a life. I know they are there daily in the summer, not sure about the other months. This is a popular spot with surfers. Good waves. Another tidbit to know is that there are restroom located in the parking lot. Also smack in the middle of the lot is the California State Historical Marker #821-Morro Rock. I think it's worth a quick stop to read the plaque, take a quick moment to soak in the gorgeous direct view of the rock and not to get all sentimental but also reflect on the past, present and future. Another another tidbit is that dogs and horses are not allowed on the beach due to the protected shorebird habitat such as the western snowy plover that nest from March-September and live here. Service dogs on a leash are allowed though. But so many folks broke the rule once the lifeguards left for the day. Ironic, people want wildlife and nature to be able to visit and enjoy but don't want to follow the rules that protect all those things they enjoy. Go figure?!

The last time I was at this beach, I was only 2 years old, so I don't have any memory of it. Last…read moreyear, I decided I wanted to take a trip here with my family. I've lived in California most of my life and have been to almost every beach, so it's funny that this one in Morro never really came to mind especially since it's not that far from us. When I finally came last year, I really enjoyed it. The beach was clean, beautiful, and peaceful. There were lots of sand dollars along the shore and even some wildlife, which made it feel even more special. Since that first trip, we've come back about four more times. There's just something about this place that makes me feel calm and at peace every time I'm here.

Very fun experience playing at the dunes! Took my 2 dirt bikes and also rented ATVs with my…read morefriends. SUPER affordable camping prices. Would recommend to people who's okay with camping in the car/RV that don't mind the sandy inconvenience. 4WD/AWD and basic low traction driving knowledge is necessary to get to the camp areas. Ocean view is nice to wake up to and the sound of the waves is super relaxing.

Driving on the beach just feels weird to me but my daughter really wanted to visit so we went to…read moresee what this experience was all about. The Oceano Dunes cover 1,500 acres and are a huge draw for ATV's, Razors, four wheel drive and motorcycles. It is open daily from 7am - 10pm for day use. The beach area can handle normal cars and trucks. We arrived late in the day and there was not a ranger in sight. There is a small fee of $5.00 to take your vehicle on the beach. We paid by the honor system since the fee station was closed. After we paid, we went ahead and drove down the driveway onto the sand. Speed limit is 15 mph. We did not go far but found a great place to park and take in the views. The second time we went back for sunset and parked in the paved parking lot instead. Everyone that was there was having a great time with campfires, waves rushing in and out, dogs and kids running around. The temperatures were perfect, just a light hoodie was needed. Overnight camping is available but does require a reservation especially during high season. My grandfather spent many summers with his buddies camping here and fishing away the days. It did feel good to be here knowing this was one of his favorite getaways. This is definitely a unique experience.