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San Luis Obispo / Chorro Valley · Picnic areas, creek-side trails and a dog park

El Chorro Regional Park

Plan a picnic, a walk through oak woodland or an off-leash dog-park stop at El Chorro, on Highway 1 between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

Highway 1 at Dairy Creek Road, across from Cuesta College. Enter from the highway between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

Choose your outing

Choose El Chorro for a park day near SLO rather than a beach outing. Pick a picnic area or trail first; the two named hikes have different difficulty ratings.

Oak Woodland Trail

This hiking-only route follows Dairy Creek through coast live oaks. County Parks lists it at 1.5 miles with a moderate rating; use the map to plan your return.

Eagle Rock Trail

The shorter 0.7-mile trail is rated strenuous. Choose it for a climb rather than assuming a shorter distance means an easier walk.

Picnics and park stops

Group picnic areas have barbecue facilities. The park also has an off-leash dog park and the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden; check the garden’s own opening arrangements if that is your main stop.

Before you go

Choose a route, check the park’s current notices, and confirm the details that matter for your day.

Find the right entrance

Turn into the park at Dairy Creek Road from Highway 1. The park is opposite Cuesta College, outside downtown San Luis Obispo.

Entry and group reservations

Check the current vehicle-entry charge before driving in. Reserve a group area through County Parks if you need a dedicated picnic space; entry and reservation charges are separate.

Trail access questions

The named trails are hiking routes with moderate or strenuous ratings. Ask Parks staff about surfaces, slopes or a specific access need before choosing a route.

Dogs and other activities

Use the designated off-leash dog park for that activity. Confirm the rules for the trail or picnic area you plan to use rather than extending dog-park rules to the whole park.

Call the park: (805) 781-5930

Another kind of day

Compare coastal and inland settings, or switch to a family place or an event with a set time.

Los Osos

Montaña de Oro State Park

Start here when you want a trail outing along coastal bluffs. Choose the route before you drive; a beach stop and a longer hike need different plans.

Morro Bay

Morro Bay State Park

Choose this for a bay and wildlife outing with a museum option. Decide whether you want to stay near the marina or take a hill trail.

Grover Beach / Oceano

Pismo State Beach

Choose this for a beach walk or a lagoon route. Pick an access point first; the grove, beach and visitor center are different starting points.

Arroyo Grande / Lopez Lake

Lopez Lake Recreation Area

Choose Lopez Lake for a lake-side day with picnic and trail options. Bringing a boat needs extra preparation; a vehicle-entry ticket alone does not clear a vessel to launch.

Santa Margarita

Santa Margarita Lake

Choose Santa Margarita Lake for shoreline trails or the inland natural area. Plan the main recreation entrance and the River Road trail access separately; check water-access rules before planning time in the lake.