The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Wine Coast Country California, San Luis Obispo County

May 30, 2021 Carley Gatson

Discover the best top things to do in Wine Coast Country California, United States including Montana de Oro State Park, Bluff Trail, Piedras Blancas, Bob Jones City to Sea Bike Trail, Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center and Gift Shop, Point Buchon Trail, Estero Bluffs State Park, Bluff Trail, Boucher trail.
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1. Montana de Oro State Park

3550 Pecho Valley Rd, Los Osos, CA 93402-4103 +1 805-528-0513 http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=592
Excellent
83%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 556 reviews

Montana de Oro State Park

A great network of biking trails make this state park a perfect destination for expert and beginner bikers alike.

Reviewed By theadventurebuddies - Manhattan Beach, United States

The Adventure Buddies went hiking at Montana de Oro and it was so incredibly beautiful. The cliffs with caves, tide pools, beaches, wildlife.. what a wonderful surprise it was for us to be able to capture incredible photos of the landscape and central coast cliffs. There were tons of sea otters in the waves playing. Nice to walk, explore, and stop at a beautiful picnic bench with spectacular breathtaking views. We highly recommend!

2. Bluff Trail

Montana de Oro State Park starts just past Ranger Station 5 miles south of Los Osos near the end of Pecho Valley Road, Los Osos, CA +1 805-772-7434 http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/montana-de-oro-bluff-trail/www.hikespeak.com/trails/montana-de-oro-bluff-trail
Excellent
87%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 83 reviews

Bluff Trail

Scenic hiking trail in the Montana De Oro State Park.

Reviewed By carolinenF3524LM

Gorgeous views- hills behind, cliffs ahead, and a short level path down to the beach. Incredible tide pools with lots of creatures to be found. Huge kelp and lots of sandstone with urchin pits in it. Lots of fun for kids too. Careful on the rocks!

3. Piedras Blancas

15950 Cabrillo Highway, San Simeon, CA 93452
Excellent
80%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 722 reviews

Piedras Blancas

Reviewed By DePere - De Pere, United States

We visited the elephant seal rookery of Piedras Blancas in mid-April. We learned while we were there that the large males (5000 pounds) with the extended noses (proboscis ) would not be on the beach at this time of the year. The elephant seals on the beach would be females and adolescents using the beach as a place to molt. This was a great experience. We visited the boardwalk during the evening and then returned to the same area in the morning. We witnessed more activity in the morning session. The boardwalks extend both north and south of the parking lot. There were seals in the water, seals on the beach, seals sleeping, seals climbing over each other, and seals sparring with each other. This was just a great experience, especially for a person from the Midwest. The area has great signage on the road so a person can easily find the rookery, located a few miles north of San Simeon. Brochures and informational bulletin boards provides you with education about these sea mammals. No fee associated with parking or accessing the viewing area.

4. Bob Jones City to Sea Bike Trail

Ontario Road, Avila Beach, CA 93406 +1 805-544-9096 [email protected] http://lcslo.org/project/bob-jones-city-to-sea-trail/
Excellent
81%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 294 reviews

Bob Jones City to Sea Bike Trail

Reviewed By marktrus - Newbury Park, United States

This is a 1.7mile walk or bike ride to Avila Beach. Very senic, relaxing and easy to do, wonderful! It also takes you around the golf course, over a river via bridge.

5. Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

Off Highway 1, South on Windsor, Cambria, CA +1 805-927-2856 http://www.cambriacsd.org/cm/parks-rec/trails.html
Excellent
87%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 370 reviews

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

Reviewed By cvcalifornia

What a find! We've been going to Cambria for several years and I don't know how we missed this. BEAUTIFUL trails with whimsical benches. Can't wait to go back. You can meander along the cliff trail and return on the upper trail.....or save one for another day. We brought a little snack and watched the waves. Easy easy walk for any age.

6. Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center and Gift Shop

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Viewing Area: 7.2 miles north on Hwy 1 or 4 miles North of Hearst Castle, San Simeon, CA 93452 +1 805-924-1628 [email protected] http://elephantseal.org
Excellent
79%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3,096 reviews

Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center and Gift Shop

The Elephant Seal Viewing area and the Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center and Gift Shop (250 San Simeon Ave, Suite 3B, San Simeon, CA) are two separate locations. They are 7.2 miles apart. Please plan to visit both while you are in the area. Directions to both locations: https://elephantseal.org/locations/ The Friends of the Elephant Seal docents (guides) provide education for visitors to the Elephant Seal Viewing area at Piedras Blancas, every morning and afternoon, 365 days a year. Long boardwalks provide wonderful, up-close viewing opportunities. Look for docents in the blue jackets! Viewing Area is located 4 miles north of the Hearst Castle. Find us here: Put these coordinates into any map program: 35° 39' 48" N, 121° 15' 28" W Or use this link for the accurate location of the viewing area: https://goo.gl/maps/fzfACKBqNgcwurjf9

Reviewed By timohteee - Delaware, United States

My wife and I actually drove passed this stop and turned around to go back because we noticed a large group of people. We are glad we decided to turn around! When we got there around 6PM, there were a couple dozen elephant seals basking in the sun on the beach. Every now and then, you’ll catch one get up and stretch or another scooting across the sand to a new spot. It was surprisingly amazing to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat and was definitely a highlight for us both on our trip.

7. Point Buchon Trail

Pecho Valley Road South end of Montaña de Oro State Park, Los Osos, CA 93402 http://pge.modwest.com/pgereservations/trailschild.php
Excellent
87%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 38 reviews

Point Buchon Trail

Reviewed By TravelerPaul18

Closed for covid. We love this place because there are not as many people as the Montana de Oro bluffs. We've seen otters, whales, falcon, kestrel, numerous sea birds. It can be windy. It can be cold, It can be hot. Always beautiful.

8. Estero Bluffs State Park

Highway 1, Cayucos, CA 93430 http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22263
Excellent
79%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 29 reviews

Estero Bluffs State Park

Reviewed By eileenf703

Love all the scenery on the central coast.51 yrs. Forever grateful never gets old. Great trail to run a working dog Aussie kelpie

9. Bluff Trail

2799 Bluff Trail, Cambria, CA 93428
Excellent
90%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 20 reviews

Bluff Trail

Reviewed By 509russm - San Juan Capistrano, United States

Great ocean views from a nice level walking trail. Most of the trail is level ground but sections are level wooden walk. Placed throughout the trail are great benches made with driftwood pieces that provide great views of the coastline. We leisurely walked on the clearly marked trail and and enjoyed the views of the coast, surf and sealions playing in the surf.

10. Boucher trail

Half Mile North of the Piedras Blancas Light Station., San Simeon, CA
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4 reviews

Boucher trail

Reviewed By tinaNtravel - San Jose, United States

This is the trail to the north of the first parking lot (southbound) overlooking the Elephant Seals. It is a nice, short hike overlooking the beach. We saw Elephant Seals on the beach, and a heron and a hawk in the grassy area. You can also see a lone rock out in the ocean and can get some pretty good pictures when the waves crash on the back side of the rock with the spray in the background. While we did see several Elephant Seals, we saw a lot more walking on the boardwalk towards the second parking lot.

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