SLO CAL Visitors Magazine 2019

With some of the most consistently perfect
weather worldwide, the outdoors beckon in
SLO CAL®. Get ready for adventure.
MONTAÑA DE ORO
A state park unlike any other, the 8,000 oceanfront acres south of Los
Osos & Baywood Park are out of this world. The Bluffs Trail is an easy
stroll along a single-track dirt path just above the pounding waves
below. Wildlife abounds everywhere, from curious deer meandering
about to the sea anemones in the surfside tide pools.
OSO FLACO LAKE
Tucked away at the end of a simple and flat 1.5-mile stroll awaits a
curving boardwalk on the way to Oso Flaco Lake in Nipomo. There
are plenty of benches to sit and take in the natural scenery, or sip a
hot cup of coffee while reflecting upon the still waters.
Montaña de Oro
EL MORO ELFIN FOREST
Step into the whimsical 90-acre preserve and stroll along its winding
boardwalk, which bends through the pygmy oak woodlands and
a picturesque manzanita grove. Sitting on the edge of Los Osos &
Baywood Park adjacent to the Morro Bay National Estuary, this
wheelchair-accessible park is suitable for all ages.
SANTA MARGARITA LAKE REGIONAL PARK
This 7,100-acre park in Santa Margarita is replete with many miles
of hiking, cycling and horseback riding trails. Rocky Trail is a
moderately strenuous single-track that leads in and out of an oak
forest along its way through the lake’s western shore.
FISCALINI RANCH PRESERVE
Monterey pines frame the north coast seascape along the 430-acre
bluffside preserve known as the Fiscalini Ranch. Many singletrack
trails zigzag though the property in Cambria, which provides
unending opportunities to commune with the natural surroundings.
Lake Nacimiento
LAKE NACIMIENTO
Coveted by water skiers, this 18-mile-long lake northwest of Paso
Robles offers 5,000 acres of freshwater for boats and swimmers alike.
A winding beachfront encircles the lake with ample camping facilities
and more than 100 miles of mixed-use trails.
BOB JONES TRAIL
Babies in strollers, cyclists, nature lovers and beachcombers all share
the flat, winding and paved path leading to Avila Beach. Much of the
scenic 2.5-mile pathway is enveloped by a canopy of oak trees, which
leads away from traffic all the way to the surf and sand.
MORRO BAY STATE PARK
A natural wonderland is the best way to describe the park-by-the-bay
that boasts everything from camping and hiking to sailing and golfing.
That’s right, there is even an 18-hole golf course. And, do not miss Black
Hill for a quick, easy hike to the top with amazing views of Morro Rock.
Shell Beach
DINOSAUR CAVES
The perfect way to explore this area is from the water by kayak or stand-up
paddleboard. Get a close-up look at the cliffs along Shell Beach and become
one with the frisky harbor seals and playful dolphins that keep watch as you
explore the many hidden coastal caves and hard-to-access beaches.
2019 SLO CAL® VISITORS MAGAZINE | 75