Morro Bay State Park State Park Road Morro Bay, CA 93442 (805) 772-7434

Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and orro Bay State Park Morro Bay education of the people of California by helping M to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological State Park diversity, protecting its most valued natural and blends rich history and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. unique beauty with diverse resources — from Morro Rock to a nationally recognized

California State Parks supports equal access. estuary teeming with life. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (805) 772-7434. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected].

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

Morro Bay State Park State Park Road Morro Bay, CA 93442 (805) 772-7434

© 2005 California State Parks (Rev. 2017) M orro Bay State Park looks out over the missions in California were established — bay to wind-sculpted sand dunes. Guarding drastically changing the lives of the native the harbor entrance of the central coast’s people. Most of them left their settlements Morro Bay, Morro Rock has been a landmark and were taken into the mission system, for mariners over the centuries. The park adopting the agricultural practices of the includes the Morro Bay State Park Museum of missions. The number of indigenous people Natural History, Morro Rock Natural Preserve, dwindled in the face of European disease the Heron Rookery Natural Preserve, and and diminishing traditional food sources. the highly acclaimed Morro Bay State When missions were secularized in 1833, Park Golf Course. Amenities include a newly independent Mexico began granting CCC-built “comfort station,” ca. 1934 marina, restaurant, campground, and picnic land to Mexican citizens. Four such grants areas. A butterfly grove sometimes hosts were made near Morro Bay. The Mexican- before the crash. The club’s developers overwintering Monarchs from November into American War concluded in 1848, and in 1850 desperately sought a buyer, and the February. The climate is mild year round. California became part of the United States. residents of Morro Bay pushed for the State PARK HISTORY Becoming a State Park to acquire the land as a state park. The State took possession of the property in 1934. Native People and Spanish Explorers Morro Bay became a popular tourist destination beginning in the 1890s. A For many millennia before European Civilian Conservation Corps construction boom that peaked in the 1920s contact, ancestors of the people who today Started in 1933 as one of President Franklin was halted by the economic crash of 1929, call themselves Chumash or Salinan lived D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, the causing speculators to go bankrupt and new on the central coast. Seasonally, they Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created subdivisions to languish as empty lots. traveled inland, using the area’s marine work for unemployed young men. The CCC The Cabrillo Country Club had opened and terrestrial resources. arrived at the property on May 11, 1934, and on the present state park site a few months The first European overland expedition began transforming the former country club into the Morro Bay area was led by Don into a state park. The finely crafted stone Gaspar de Portolá in 1769. Soon after, the first features seen in the park today were built by the CCC and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Morro Rock from Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History From left to right: Accessible Marina Peninsula Trail, California fuchsia, Museum of Natural History from Morro Bay

NATURAL HISTORY Morro Estuary Natural Preserve Once endangered, the falcons nest high on Plant and Animal Life In this 800-acre wetland, fresh water mixes the rock, where they are well situated for The diverse vegetation in 2,700-acre with ocean tides. Estuaries are rich and their frequent feeding forays. It is illegal to Morro Bay State Park includes grasslands, productive habitats, providing spawning climb Morro Rock. freshwater riparian, saltmarsh, and coastal grounds and nurseries for numerous Museum of Natural History sage scrub habitats. wetland wildlife species. Situated high on White’s Point, The bay is an important stop on the On the southeast shore of the museum commands a Pacific Flyway, providing seasonal feeding the estuary, rare coastal dune spectacular view of the bay. The grounds for more than a hundred species scrub habitat — the Elfin Forest’s museum’s interactive exhibits of migratory birds, sometimes numbering diminutive, wind-pruned oak show how natural forces — in the thousands. trees — provides homes for a variety including humans — affect Earth’s of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Heron Rookery Natural Preserve environment and all life. Trails follow the edge of the Double-crested cormorants, great egrets, Natural and cultural interpretive estuary and wind into the hills Peregrine falcon and great blue herons can be spotted programs such as exhibits, hikes, above the bay. roosting in trees on the point north of the talks, and special events are offered by Museum of Natural History. Many active Morro Rock Natural Preserve the museum staff. Presentations are also nests provide excellent bird watching The spectacular rock at the entrance to offered for school groups to complement between February and June. Morro Bay is a 23-million-year-old volcanic school curricula. For more information and plug; many similarly rounded and dramatic schedules, please contact the museum at Great outcroppings occur in a line between Morro (805) 772-2694. The museum is open daily blue heron Bay and San Luis Obispo. Morro Rock is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving, home to nesting American peregrine falcons. Christmas, and New Year’s Days. Marine Protected Areas in California When hiking, kayaking, Formed as a result of the Marine Life and exploring the shores and Protection Act, California’s marine waters of the estuary, please protected areas (MPAs) are marine or give wildlife space. If any estuarine areas set aside to protect the animal such as a bird, otter, diversity and abundance of marine life or sea lion notices you, back and marine ecosystems. away and give them enough California State Parks works with the space to rest, breed, and feed. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, See www.wildlife.ca.gov. the City of Morro Bay, and the Morro Bay RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES National Estuary Program to provide a The Marina balance between wildlife protection and Activities include camping, human recreational activities. boating, fishing, water sports, hiking, biking, and bird watching. sweeping views of the bay, the estuary, The Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Morro Rock, and the ocean beyond. The Management Area permits some limited Marina —The small boat marina features rental canoes, kayaks, and a café. Kayaking is course is open to the public and includes a recreational fishing and hunting. The Morro driving range, pro shop, and café. Bay State Marine Reserve has the most a popular activity in the bay, but to be safe, check the tide schedule before embarking. Camping —The campground includes 134 protected classification, where all living campsites in addition to two group camps, marine resources are protected and must Golf Course — Located on the hills above the campground, this 18-hole course offers restrooms, showers, RV hook-up sites, and remain undisturbed. an RV dump station. Firewood is sold

Overview of Morro Estuary Natural Preserve from Black Hill PLEASE REMEMBER • All natural and cultural features are protected by law and may not be disturbed or removed. • Camp and park within designated areas. • Dispose of wastewater and trash properly. • Keep campfires in designated rings only. • Do not gather wood. • Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. • Generators must not be used between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. Morro Bay State Park Golf Course Mountain biking in the Black Hill area • Do not leave your dog unattended. Dogs must be on a leash (6’ maximum). on site; visit www.firewood.ca.gov. For • Marina: unisex restroom, Marina Except for service animals, dogs are not camping information and reservations, call Peninsula Trail, and kayak launch ramp permitted on beaches and trails. (800) 444-7275 or visit www.parks.ca.gov. • Trails: Inn at Morro Bay Nature Trail Picnicking — Picnic facilities are available (1,000 feet) and Marina Peninsula Loop for day use throughout the park. Trail and Boardwalk (.7 miles) This park receives support in part Trails — Hiking on the park’s many trails Accessibility is continually improving. through a nonprofit organization. is a favorite pastime. Mountain bikes are See updates at http://access.parks.ca.gov. For more information, contact: welcome on many of these trails. These trails NEARBY STATE PARKS Central Coast State Parks Association take hikers along chaparral-, tree-, and grass- P.O. Box 445, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 • Morro Strand State Beach covered hillsides, with beautiful views of the (805) 548-0390 • www.ccspa.info estuary and mud flats.Please stay on trails. 2 miles north of Morro Bay on Hwy. 1 (805) 772-7434 or (805) 772-8812 ACCESSIBLE FEATURES • Montaña de Oro State Park • Museum of Natural History: parking lot, 3550 Pecho Valley Road, Los Osos 93402 exhibits, unisex restroom, trailhead, (805) 772-7434 picnic tables, and the Museum Loop Trail • Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve • Campgrounds: picnic sites, restrooms, Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos 93402 five campsites, and one group site (805) 772-7434 12 0° 48 ’ 30” 12 0° 47’ 3 0”120° 49’ 30”120° 50’ 30”120° 51’ 30” 120° 48’120° 49’120° 50’120° 51’120° 52’ 30”120° 52’ 51’ 30” 51’120° 50’ 30”120° 50’120° 49’ 30”120° 49’120° 120° 48’ 30” 120° 48’120° 120° 47’ 30”120°

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Trail 400 Parking

600 MORRO BAY Picnic Area STATE 200 Mud flat Trail STATE Crespi 200 Ranger Station

MARINE Chumash MARINE Los Restrooms Os os Cr ee 600 RESERVE k 35° RECREATIONAL El Moro RV Elfin Forest 400 20’ (SMR) (SLO County) RV Sanitation 35° Station 20’ MANAGEMENT Mud flat Showers

200 Marsh Mud flat AREA Santa Ysabel Ave 200

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DE Museum of Natural Campground History Entrance 35° Mud flat 19’

35° State Park Rd 19’ Café ORO White Point LOS OSOS MORRO BAY STATE PARK B oard Mud walk CAMPGROUND STATE flat 35° Ma rin 18’ a P 30” 35° Pecho Valley Rd eninsula Loop Trail 18’ 30” 200

Los Osos Valley Rd PARK 200 LOS OSOS OAKS STATE NATURAL RESERVE

400 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 Mile s 35° 00.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 Kilometers 18’

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