Montaña de Oro gives San Luis Obispo County a wilder coast

Montaña de Oro is the San Luis Obispo County coast when you want it a little less polished and a little more open. It sits west of San Luis Obispo, near Los Osos, with cliffs, coves, wind, trails, and wide views.

The park has more than 8,000 acres and seven miles of shoreline. It has rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, hills, and 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. Spooner’s Cove is the best-known beach, and visitors also come for hiking, beachgoing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, camping, and tide pooling.

This is a place to plan by the kind of day you want. A beach stop, a trail day, a campground visit, and a tide-pool visit all use the park differently. Bring layers near the ocean, and review park information before you pack the car.

Dog rules are narrow here. Dogs are allowed only in the campground, on roadways, and at Spooner’s Cove Beach. They must be leashed in those areas. Trail rules, road conditions, camp rules, and ocean conditions can change the day quite a bit.