Tidepooling and climbing Valencia Peak in Montaña de Oro State Park

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Last updated

July 31, 2024

Trip · 3-day camping trip

For · Families and new campers

Vibe · Relaxing and chill

Reservations · Reserve a site at Islay Creek Campground‍

Drive · 3.5 hours from LA

Ideal dates · April to June (for wildflowers!)

Pets · Welcome at camp and Spooner’s Cove beach, but not on other beaches and trails

Montaña de Oro State Park is a stunning 8,000+ acre escape along the Pacific Ocean. It boasts seven miles of coastline, which is mostly covered by an ancient rock called Miguelito Shale. For real: these rock formations are about 5 to 6 million years old. Find cool stones and a sliver of serenity at Montaña de Oro.

Official State Park Website

Directions to Campground

Main image credit: Sean Crane Photography

Prep Itinerary Gear Food

Stuff to know

Montaña de Oro State Park is only 12 miles south of Morro Bay State Park. Both parks are known for their spectacular views and unique tectonic landscapes
Pack layers! The weather can shift from warm to cold quickly and the park has a more moderate climate, it can be up to 30 degrees cooler than inland in the summers.
The park is only 12 miles southwest of Morro Bay
The park is the largest state park in California with 8,000 acres and 7 miles of beach
Wildlife in the park includes black-tailed deer, bobcats, raccoons, California quail, black oystercatchers, and much more!

Resources

Check the weather

Where to camp

Islay Creek Campground

Each campsite comes with a:

Picnic table
Fire pit
Space for up to 8 people
Two parking spots
Food storage locker
Restrooms (on-site)
Drinking water (on-site)

Islay Creek Campground has 50 reservable campsites in the summer and 25 spots during the winter (the rest are first-come, first-served). The campsites are well spaced out so you can have your own nook near the coast. You're only a short walk away from the ocean so reserve a spot as early as you can.

Check-in: After 2 PM · Check-out: Noon

Nightly Rate: $25

Image credit: Trey Duffy

Reserve your campsite

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Itinerary

Day One

Leave LA by 8 AM and grab lunch at Cool Cat Cafe in San Luis Obispo

This 50’s themed diner has a kid’s menu and food that’ll please the pickiest of eaters.
Located at 3165 Broad St in San Luis Obispo
Open Everyday but Sundays · 11 AM to 8:30 PM
Last pit stop · Shell - 995 Los Osos Valley Road in Los Osos
Nearest grocery store · Grocery Outlet - 1130 Los Osos Valley Road in Baywood-Los Osos

Check in and settle in at Islay Creek Campground

Set up camp, wander around the campground, and relax

Walk to Spooner's Cove

It only takes a few minutes to walk to Spooner's Cove beach from camp
Change into a swimsuit, shorts, and sandals
Make sure you’ve got your beach gear, sunscreen, snacks, and plenty of water to keep everyone happy
Check the tide schedule to see the tide pools and explore the caves in low tides
Soak up the views and explore the tidepools near Islay Creek
Watch the sunset

Cook up dinner and s'mores

Prep dinner, desert, and enjoy an evening relaxing and stargazing around the campfire
For a break from traditional s’mores, we recommend trying campfire brown bears!
For enjoying a night around the fire, we recommend these camp chairs and camp blankets

Montaña de Oro translates to "Mountains of Gold" in Spanish, inspired by the golden wildflowers that bloom in the spring.

Day Two

Montaña de Oro State Park. Credit: Imgur

Make brekkie and make your way to Hazard Reef Trail to explore some tide pools

This easy 0.7 mile out and back trail takes you down to Hazard Reef where you’ll find tidepools to explore
Pack a daypack with snacks, a towel, sunscreen, sunhat, swimsuit, bug spray, and drinking water. You’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to get wet while you explore the tide pools.

Enjoy lunch back at the camp

Spend the afternoon hiking the Reservoir Flats Loop

This easy 2.7-mile loop trail goes through the Inlay Creek Campground
Its name can be misleading as there is no longer a reservoir on the trail, but you can see the historic remnants of one
You can see wildflowers blooming along the trail depending on the time of year
Be sure to bring plenty of water to keep everyone hydrated and happy! We recommend 1L per adult and 0.5L per kiddo.

Return to camp and chill

Clean up, prep a delicious meal, and warm up with your favorite hot chocolate
If you’re looking for an easy meal, try this one pot taco skillet!
Cozy up next to the campfire, roast up s'mores and soak up your last night in Montaña de Oro State Park

For at least nine thousand years, the Chumash and Salinan people inhabited the San Luis Obispo county coastline, which includes the state park. These people were the original inhabitants of the land, and had a special connection to it, living in harmony with nature and respecting its resources. We can learn a lot from this way of life and respect for nature.

Day Three

Pack up and check out before noon

Cook up brekkie, clean up around camp, and throw away any random pieces of litter

Head home!

Montaña de Oro State Park has at least a dozen marine terraces, which are formed by waves eroding the coastline over time, eventually creating a marine platform at the base of a sea cliff.