Montaña de Oro State Park

Phone Number

(805) 772-6101

Max. Trailer Lengths

Trailer: Up to 27 Feet
Camper/Motorhome: Up to 27 Feet

Park Hours

Park is open 6am-10pm

Dogs Allowed?

Yes
Dogs are allowed only in the campground, roadways, and Spooner’s Cove Beach. Dogs are allowed only on leash in these permitted areas and are not allowed on trails.

Driving Directions to Montaña de Oro

From San Luis Obispo: North on Highway 1 to the South Bay Blvd. offramp in Morro Bay. Turn left, go about 6 miles and turn right onto Los Osos Valley Rd. Continue 1.5 miles until it turns into Pecho Valley Rd.. Continue about 3.5 miles to the Spooner Ranch House and turn left into the campground.
From the south on Hwy 101: Northbound on Highway 101 to the Los Osos Valley Road offramp in San Luis Obispo. Turn left toward Los Osos and travel about 11 miles until it turns into Pecho Valley Rd.. Continue about 3.5 miles to the Spooner Ranch House and turn left into the campground.
For those seeking an adventure, an even more scenic route may be taken south from Monterey through Big Sur on a 158-mile journey winding along Highway 1 and through the town of Los Osos (When road conditions permit).
The Spooner Ranch House is in the park, 500’ feet west of the campground.
Please note: Pecho Valley Rd. terminates at the Coon Creek parking lot. There is no drive-through access to the south. To exit, you must leave the park the same way you came in.
For more California visitor information, please Request Free California Official Visitor's Guide Service Details | www.ca.gov.

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Visitors will be able to reserve campsites and lodging six months in advance from the current date. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.

Online Reservations

Upcoming Park Events

No events scheduled at this moment.

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
Environmental Campsites
Family Campsites
Primitive Camping
RV Access
TRAIL USE
Bike Trails
Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Exhibits and Programs
Fishing
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Beach Area
Windsurfing/Surfing
Family Programs
Geocaching
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Parking
Drinking Water Available

Notices:
  • RV Rentals on the Central Coast is currently the only approved RV and trailer delivery and pick-up service permitted within the campground. For more information on rental deliveries, please visit: RV Rentals on the Central Coast
  • 2 vehicle maximum per campsite. No extra vehicles in campsites beyond the 2 vehicle limit. Trailers and motorcycles count as vehicles. Although your site may hold 2 vehicles, your reservation only covers 1 vehicle (except for group or specialty sites).
  • No Overflow Parking spaces for overnight camping available in this park. Plan accordingly.
  • DOGS are permitted in campsites and on park roads and must be on a six-foot maximum leash held by an adult. Dogs are NOT ALLOWED on the trails or beaches (except for Spooner’s Cove Beach). Dogs may not be left alone in a campsite and must be kept in a tent or vehicle at night. Please pick up after your pet.
  • Campfires are not permitted in the Environmental Camps.

With over 8000 acres, including seven miles of shoreline, Montaña de Oro is one of the largest state parks in California. Spectacular views, fresh breezes, and the sound of the pounding surf add up to invigorating, memorable visits.

Montaña de Oro State Park features starry nights, rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. Naturalists and backpackers enjoy the solitude and freedom found along the park's many back country trails (Camping is not permitted outside of the campgrounds). There are also mountain biking and equestrian trails for the more adventurous. The best-known beach is Spooner's Cove, across from the campground. The park's name, "Mountain of Gold," comes from the golden wildflowers that bloom in spring. Wildlife in the park includes black tailed deer, bobcats, raccoons, California quail, black oystercatchers and much more!

Seasons - Climate - Recommended clothing
Montaña de Oro State Park has moderate weather. During summer days, the area is often 30 degrees cooler than inland areas. Dress in layers, especially near the ocean. As the water here is cooler than in Southern California, surfers generally wear wetsuits.

Location & Directions

Montaña de Oro State Park & Islay Creek Campground are located:

  • 15 miles west of San Luis Obispo on Los Osos Valley Rd. until it turns into Pecho Valley Rd.
  • 40 miles south of the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument Visitor Center on Highway 1 to South Bay Blvd., to Los Osos Valley Rd., until Pecho Valley Rd.
  • 158 miles south of Monterey through Big Sur via Highway 1 (When road conditions permit)
  • The small town of Los Osos is located 4 miles to the north of the campground and offers gas stations, grocery stores, and dining options.
  • The oceanside community of Morro Bay is located 10 miles to the north of the campground and offers even more gas stations, grocery stores, and dining.

Campgrounds & Environmental Camps

The Islay Creek Campground offers 47 primitive campsites for tent camping and recreational vehicles. The maximum length for an RV is 27 feet. Each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table with water spigots and toilets nearby. Firewood is for sale from the campground host and proceeds go to help the Central Coast State Parks Association.

The Hazard Canyon Horse Camp offers 4 campsites designed solely for horse camping (You must have a horse present to camp at this campground). Each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table with water spigots, chemical toilets, horse stalls and watering troughs nearby. Firewood is for sale from the campground host at the nearby Islay Creek Campground.

The Environmental Camps require a hike of approximately 100 yards to half a mile to reach. These 4 campsites have pit toilets but no potable water. Campfires are not permitted at these sites.

Note: RV electrical hookups, RV sanitation station/water-fill station, and showers are not available at Montaña de Oro SP. Please check with the Morro Bay Campground for nearby amenities.

Junior Ranger Program

This is a special program for kids that provides the chance to partake in a variety of fun and educational nature-oriented activities at Montaña State Park. When offered, parents or guardians may bring kids to the Campfire Center at the Islay Creek Campground for fun, regularly scheduled programs about the Central Coast!

Spooner Ranch House & Nature Store

The Spooner Ranch House offers a glimpse into what life was like for the Spooner family in the early 1900’s, with period furnishings and the opportunity to interact with living history docents. The historic house serves as a visitor center for the park with trail maps and park information. The Ranch House also includes a nature store, with a variety of park-related merchandise available for purchase.

The Spooner Ranch House is within minutes of the Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve, Point Buchon Trail, El Moro Elfin Forest and Audubon's Sweet Springs Nature Preserve.

Additional Visitor Services

To Report Injured Wildlife & Poaching, Contact:

Morro Bay State Park and Montaña de Oro State Park
Morro Bay State Park and Montaña de Oro State Park are renowned for their spectacular scenery produced over millions of years by volcanic activity, plate tectonic interactions (subduction and collision), and erosion to shape this unique landscape. Marine terraces are evidence of regional uplift.

Morro Bay and Montana de Oro SP's
(Photograph by Alan Schimierer)

The full Geo Gems report  |  Geological Gems of State Parks

 
Additional Park Features:
Overnight Facilities - Equestrian Camping         Trail Use - Mountain Biking