GET OUTSIDE IN SLO COUNTY
Choose the setting first
A coastal trail, a lake-side picnic or a park day near town: start with the kind of day you want, then choose your route and arrival point.
Compare six coastal and inland parks below. For a program with a set time, use the current event calendar.
Browse current events →Compare the setting, the starting point and the plan before leaving home.
| Place | What to do | Route and terrain | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montaña de Oro State Park | Coastal bluff walks and a cove stop | Bluff Trail: compacted aggregate; other routes vary | Pecho Valley Road via Los Osos; no through road |
| Morro Bay State Park | Bay wildlife, hill trails and a museum | Choose a bay-side stop or a separate hill trail | Marina, campground or museum on State Park Road |
| Pismo State Beach | Beach or lagoon walking | Sand at the beach; aggregate, wood and concrete on named routes | Grand Avenue for beach walking; Pier Avenue for the visitor center |
| El Chorro Regional Park | Picnics and oak woodland walks | Oak Woodland: 1.5 miles, moderate; Eagle Rock: 0.7 miles, strenuous | Dairy Creek Road off Highway 1, opposite Cuesta College |
| Lopez Lake Recreation Area | Lake-side picnics, hiking and boating | Rocky Point: 0.4 miles, easy; Blackberry Springs: 0.8 miles, moderate | Main entrance on Lopez Drive, east of Arroyo Grande |
| Santa Margarita Lake | Shoreline walks and natural-area trails | Lakeside: 1.5-mile dirt road, easy; Grey Pine: 3.3 miles one way, moderate | Main park on Lake Road; natural area from River Road |
Trail distances follow the official listings; they are not necessarily round trips. A shorter trail can be harder: Eagle Rock is rated strenuous despite its 0.7-mile length. Open a profile for route details and current park links.
Los Osos
Coastal bluffs, coves and inland trails
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.
Pecho Valley Road, Los Osos. The road ends at Coon Creek; leave the park the way you entered.
Plan this outing →Morro Bay
Bay habitat, hill trails and a natural-history museum
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.
State Park Road, Morro Bay. Follow the marina, campground or museum signs for the part of the park you want.
Plan this outing →Grover Beach / Oceano
Beach access, dune-side walking and a freshwater lagoon
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.
For walking beach access, use the West Grand Avenue lot in Grover Beach. The visitor center is at 555 Pier Avenue, Oceano.
Plan this outing →San Luis Obispo / Chorro Valley
Picnic areas, creek-side trails and a dog park
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.
Highway 1 at Dairy Creek Road, across from Cuesta College. Enter from the highway between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.
Plan this outing →Arroyo Grande / Lopez Lake
Lake-side picnics, hiking and boating
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.
6800 Lopez Drive, Arroyo Grande. Follow Huasna Road onto Lopez Drive toward the lake entrance.
Plan this outing →Santa Margarita
Shoreline trails, picnic areas and a natural area
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.
4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita. The natural area has a separate entrance from River Road at the east end of the lake.
Plan this outing →The route and entrance matter as much as the park name.
Use official trail maps and surface descriptions to choose the distance and terrain that work for your group.
Conditions, closures and entry arrangements can change. Each guide links to the park’s current information.
Compare family places for a different setting, or browse SLO restaurants if your day includes a stop in the city.