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"

The first .5 mile has a wooden path but don't try to do the full loop! The trial is quite overgrown…read moreand poison ivy is all along it. There was a small sign that indicated a part of the trail was under maintenance but once on the trail there's little direction other than small signs that tell about the trail. With no warning, suddenly you're in a very overgrown part that continues onto a broken bridge. By the point we got here we assumed we were more than halfway and didn't wanna risk more poison ivy which he had hardly gotten past. I'm glad we chose to continue because after getting past the broken bridge which was blocked off at the end (not the end we had come on) it was open, far less poison ivy and we made it to a road intended for vehicles to grt to the campground I think? It had some beautiful parts but not the sort of thing to bring kids out ages. Very narrow path for most of it!

Absolutely beautiful! We walked along the pathway....stunning view! Very peaceful! If you…read morehaven't been to this side, a must try when in Cambria!

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!

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!

This is a viewing spot in a residential area. While it is great for sitting on a bench and viewing…read morethe sea life below the cliffs, there is no stairs down to the beach currently. The storm washed them away, so no tide pool rock hopping until the stairs are back. There are otter, herons and seals to watch and an amazing spot for sunsets. If you are looking for a quiet spot to propose to someone, this would be a winner.

We stopped by the park on our way out of town to get one more view of the ocean. Luckily for us,…read morethe tide was out. So we parked in the tiny lot and followed the trail towards the staircase- where we had full access to the beach and tide pools below. There were only a handful of other people exploring. I think unfortunately the stairs and rocky beach puts a limit on who can enter. However don't be discouraged because the views from the benches on the cliff are just as amazing. The hour we spent there was so peaceful and tranquil. My husband and our dog perched themselves on a large rock while I sat on the beach and enjoyed the sun warming my back. We left with a renewed energy and appreciation of the ocean.

Beautiful campground. We stayed in the lower lot, and were pleasantly surprised by the quick beach…read moreaccess, the large number of clean bathrooms and showers and the trees and greenery that made the campsites feel semi-private. We even were treated to a fantastic ranger talk in the campsite amphitheater, complete with a fire pit and a well spoken lesson about sharks. Both the ranger at check in and the ranger speaking were wonderful, and they made sure the kids had Junior Ranger books for the event. The location is superb, right down the street from the Elephant Seal Rookery and Hearst Castle. A heads up, we reserved a 25 foot campsite for our travel trailer, which is appropriate based on its length. If you're pulling a vehicle, I recommend reserving a 35 foot. Getting both the trailer and our vehicle in our site side by side was tight. Not impossible, but do yourself a favor and get a little extra room if you can. We will be back, only complaint is not staying longer.

Lower creek has no view but is somewhat out of the wind. In some seasons that may be a bad thing…read morebecause that may mean mosquitoes and other bugs. My spot was shaded and the spots can be private or close depending on which one. The bathrooms and showers are fairly run down. Lexi. But all in all is was not too bad. I just wish dogs could go on the beaches.

We got to visit the section of the beach that's right by San Simeon campground. There's a path from…read morethe campground that goes under PCH to connect to the beach. We went during the fall of 2022, not too cold in the afternoon but you'll probably want to wear a long sleeve since it's a little windy there. It's a nice peaceful beach, we saw lots out pull over spots along PCH so there's more than just one opportunity to check this beach out.

This is the beach below San Simeon's hotels, though it's often confused with San Simeon State Beach…read moreand the San Simeon Creek Beach.. It's a sandy beach with plenty of small rocks. This beach was made for long walks and is generally not very crowded. You can park off Pico Avenue and walk down to the beach from there. If you head north on this beach you can walk past Pico Creek and pond and walk over some large beach rocks. Heading south will take you Jung Trail and the area's best tide pools.

Mandy was amazing. So many interesting facts about the estuary. the kayaking was wonderful…read more Highly recommend this tour.

My husband and I did the kayak and lunch tour with Mandy as part of our honeymoon adventures. We…read moreabsolutely loved the entire tour! The views, the wildlife, and Mandy's knowledge made everything so enjoyable. Afterwards we enjoyed a delicious lunch with a beautiful view! The food was so fresh and so good we highly recommend this tour!!