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Montana de Oro State Park, CA

 

Spring Poppies, Montana de Oro State Park (c) Gar Cropser

Location

Rugged cliffs, crashing waves, secluded coves, coastal canyons and hills, spring flowers, and sweeping coastal sand dunes are what make Montana de Oro State Park such an inviting and photographic destination. The Park is located along California’s central coast, 12 miles southwest of San Luis Obispo. From Highway 101, take the Los Osos Road Exit and drive through the town of Los Osos until you reach the Park’s Ranger Headquarters and Visitor Center, adjacent to Spooner’s Cove.

Comprised of over 8,000 acres, Montana de Oro offers the outdoor enthusiast over fifty miles of hiking and equestrian trails, backpacking, mountain biking, surf fishing, kayaking, bird watching and, of course, abundant photo opportunities. Fifty developed and four environmental campsites are available within Montana de Oro State Park with an additional 103 campsites at Morro Bay State Park, located three miles north of Los Osos. Hotel accommodations are also available in the town of Morro Bay. Camping reservations are required throughout the summer months and may be made through MISTIX (800) 444-7275.

Weather

Montana de Oro is considered a temperate environment, where temperature highs average in the mid-sixties throughout the year and winter lows average in the forties, while summer lows hover in the fifties. Moderate to high winds and rough seas are typical throughout the winter and spring months, so the visitor is well advised to carry a sweater or jacket. Rain typically falls from October through April, whereas low clouds, mist and fog are the norm throughout the summer months, usually burning off by mid-day. Locals welcome the "Indian Summers" that occur during the fall season, where clear skies greet the residents and visitors alike.

Photo Experience

A favorite trail for nature photographers is the "Bluff Trail," consisting of two miles of spectacular viewpoints, where jutting rock formations meet the ocean waves. Wildflowers carpet the path along the trail in springtime, drawing flower enthusiasts and photographers alike. Bird photographers will enjoy photographing the wide variety of bird life viewed from the trail, including nesting cormorants, flying formations of brown pelicans, oyster catchers, California gulls, snowy egrets, great blue herons, and families of California quail that scurry quickly across roadways into nearby thickets of groundcover. Also accessed via the Bluff Trail, Quarry Cove is a prime location to photograph playful seas otters, sea lions and tide pools teaming with marine life. Additional inland trails offer nature photographers the opportunity to photograph the elusive mountain lion or more common bobcat which frequent the hills, canyons, and bluffs within the Park.

Photographers seeking a panoramic view of the Park will want to hike up a two-mile trail to 1,347 foot Valencia Peak, which affords spectacular views of the entire Park, as well as points of interest well beyond its borders; such as, the 578 foot tall Morro Rock. Also, a less frequented Park feature is the twelve-mile long sand spit, consisting of a broad, sandy shoreline and sand dunes that separate Morro Bay from the ocean. Accessed via a road approximately one mile inside the Park’s entrance and requiring a short hike, the sand spit offers ample opportunities to photograph expansive sand dunes, coastal birds and sea life.

Best Times

Spring is the optimum time for flower photography, with lush green hills and an abundance of predominately yellow wildflowers that gave Montana de Oro, translated "Mountain of Gold," its name. The most common flowers are buttercups, tidy tips, mustard and the California golden poppy, which stretch across the bluff tops to the sea. All the seasons afford excellent photographic opportunities for scenic coastline and wildlife photos. Winter, however, lures countless migratory birds to the park with some of the best vantage points along the wooded creek adjacent to the campground. Winds are prevalent throughout the year and photographers, regardless of the season, will want to head out to their favorite destinations in the morning when the winds are relatively calm. Photographers will be pleased with their visit in all fours seasons, but if capturing Montana de Oro’s namesake is your preference, spring is the season of choice.

Contact: Information

Montana de Oro Visitor Center
Pecho Road
Los Osos, CA 93402
(805) 528-0513