It’s been estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 Chumash people lived across California’s Central Coast between Morro Bay and Malibu. Interesting rock formations invite climbers to play, particularly at low tide. Amenities include restrooms, picnic tables, and free parking. The Mission Period began when Don Gaspar de Portola came to claim this stretch of coastline for Spain. Two group sites (Madrone and Oak) accommodate up to 50 people and 16-18 horses. At 4.5 miles round trip and 1,275 feet in elevation, this hike offers a 360-degree view in return for hard work! Beaches at Montaña de Oro State Park include quaint, protected coves, long stretches of sand, remote shores and ideal surfing conditions. Visitors and local residents are invited to download free maps for trails across Highway 1. The hike begins at the parking area just beyond Spooner’s Cove, across from the Bluff Trail trailhead. Find the trailhead between the Spooner Ranch House and the Islay Creek Campground entrance, marked by a sign. The most remote and untouched of Montaña de Oro’s beaches, Coon Creek sits at the southern end of the park. We started at the bottom of this map at the Hazard parking area, tracked parallel to the road through the forest, went down to the beach and rode toward Morro Rock, then back up through dunes Montana De Oro remains a natural and wild section of the California coast. To reach the trail, just after entering the park find the trailhead on the left, before Spooner’s Cove. To reach the beach, drive to the end of Pecho Valley Road (the park’s main thoroughfare) park, and follow the Point Buchon Trail to the beach, only open Thursday through Monday. . Camper/Motorhome: 27 Feet. Camping in Montaña de Oro allows visitors from across the globe to experience California in its natural state. To find this beach, enter the park, pass the eucalyptus grove and look for the Hazard Canyon Parking sign. EFFECTIVE (September 16, 2020) - Thank you for your patience and continued support of California State Parks as we work to limit your risk for exposure to COVID-19 … United States of America › California › Montana De Oro State Park #17 of 90 state parks in California Best trails in Montana De Oro State Park. Thanks to year-round moderate temperatures and the nearby coastline, everything from beef and grains to produce and […], The Highway 1 Discovery Route Stewardship Travel Program partners with local organizations to offer free hiking and mountain biking maps. Help keep our trails and parks open during COVID-19 by committing to social distancing. The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S., and certainly on the West Coast. And if you can’t join a trail work day, consider donating toward the purchase of trail building tools for volunteers. Dining is a major attraction along our stretch of Highway 1 for good reason: the food, the views, and the ambiance are world-class. The trail doesn’t require a fee or permit, but remember that dogs aren’t allowed on the trail. Sign up for a free Highway 1 Coastal Hiking map and insider 
knowledge on local scenery, events, activities, and adventures. California State Parks is temporarily closing the Coon Creek parking lot and a public road in the Montaña de Oro State Park. Amenities include fire pits, primitive toilets, electrical hookups, potable water and picnic tables. Round-trip, the hike spans 6 miles and climbs an elevation of 950 feet. By Pat Fish What could be better than a day spent at the seashore near Morro Bay and in the eucalyptus forests of the Montaña de Oro State Park? These primitive sites are hike-in sites and do not allow campfires or dogs (but still accommodate groups up to eight people). Spooners Cove is the only area of Montana de Oro State Park where dogs are allowed on the beach, but they must be on a leash. Look for the trailhead near the Montaña de Oro visitor center and Spooner Ranch House.