Outdoor Adventures at your doorstep
From sea to shore, Los Osos boasts a wide variety of outdoor activities for the adventurous at heart. Serving as the entrance to beautiful Montaña de Oro State Park, you'll enjoy unparalleled access to some of California's most stunning rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, canyons, and hills during your next trip to Los Osos. Whether you're a skilled surfer or a trailblazer in training, there are adventures to be had for every type of interest along our stretch of Highway 1, so get outside and see California from an entirely new perspective with the activities outlined below.
MONTAÑA DE ORO
Whether you're into hiking, biking, or horseback riding, spend some time exploring the sandy shores, majestic foothills, and gentle sloping dunes of Montaña de Oro State Park, located just moments away from Sea Pines Golf Resort. Known as "MDO," by locals, this park offers 8,000 acres of trails and beaches for you to enjoy during your stay.
Hiking
Montana de Oro offers beautifully maintained trails with flora and fauna and striking ocean and mountain views. For something relaxing, we recommend the Bluff Trail, which begins at the parking lot on Pecho Valley Road. This level hike is about 2.1 miles as a loop and offers stunning coastal views right on the bluffs. For a more strenuous hike, try Valencia Peak, also accessible from the parking lot on Pecho Valley Road. This 4.5 mile hike gains over 1,000 feet in elevation - certainly a trek, but the views all the way up are stunning and panoramic. It is one of the highest points in Montana de Oro, and is an excellent hike to cross off your bucket list. Oats Peak is another strenuous Montana de Oro hike, which differs from Valencia peak largely because of the differences in views. As Oats Peak is more inland than Valencia Peak, you'll see more views of the hills and mountaintops. To start the hike to Oats Peak, you can begin from a trailhead behind the park visitor center in Spooner's Ranch House on the road into Islay Creek Campground. For more information on hikes in Montana de Oro, visit this website - and happy hiking!
Horseback Riding
Whether you're an experienced rider or just want to try it out with the scenic Pacific Ocean as your backdrop, horseback riding in Los Osos can be an exciting adventure. At Sea Pines, take advantage of our horseback riding package that allows access to the horse corral. Saddle up discover miles of trails within Montana de Oro, just a few minutes away. Take a look at our horseback riding package to learn more.
Biking
Mountain biking through the hills of Los Osos may not be for the faint of heart, but it's one of the most thrilling and breathtaking ways to explore nature while exercising. If you're up for a more leisurely ride, there are trails throughout Montana de Oro for all ability levels and strengths. So while a blood-pumping exercise might be in your future, there are plenty of ways to customize mountain biking for whatever you prefer. Mountain biking trails about in Montana de Oro and it is a local favorite pastime. See this page for more information on trails, many of which are the same trails you can hike up, like Valencia and Oats Peak.
CCSPA Adventures with Nature
The CCSPA - Central Coast State Parks Association - has events, docent led hikes, and guided adventures on a schedule, designed to help everyone have access to the great outdoors, whatever their physical ability level. Check this calendar for updates of the latest events, which range from educational workshops about birdwatching or other animals to guided hikes.
Tide Pools
Beautiful displays of ocean life, plants, and rocks can be found in the Central Coast's numerous tide pools. Visit the Piedras Blancas tidepools in San Simeon, located in northern San Luis Obispo County off the side of Highway 1. San Simeon's shores host small sand dunes and shallow tide pools that provide a glimpse into the dynamic sea wildlife. Moonstone Beach, in a small coastal enclave called Cambria, also has several tide pools, which are brimming with ocean life including sea anemones, spiny purple sea urchins, snails, and crabs. Finally, very close to Sea Pines are the Montana de Oro State Park tide pools. In the park's 7,282 acres and miles of shoreline, there are many tide pools to explore in between sand dunes and wooded canyons. Additionally, be on the lookout for other, much larger wildlife - like dolphins, sea lions, and oystercatchers which are frequently seen from the shores.
OCEAN OUTINGS
San Luis Obispo County is part of the Whale Trail, an oceanfront trail consisting of beautiful outposts where you can observe sea wildlife. This trail spans from the north in British Columbia, down the Pacific Northwest, to the Central Coast of California, and further south. This conservation group focuses on expanding access to these majestic ocean creatures through access points where people can easily watch animals and learn more about the science and biology of ocean wildlife. In San Luis Obispo County alone, there are ten different Whale Trail stops; including three within fifteen miles of the Sea Pines Golf Resort, so witnessing even the most rare ocean species won't be a challenge.
Seeing animals like gray whales, sea otters, and dolphins is easy on the Central Coast when you know the right places and times to go. Near Los Osos and the Sea Pines, visit the oceanside Shamel Park in Cambria, a six-acre park where you can see gray whales and occasionally harbor porpoises. In Cayucos, a walk down the Cayucos Pier will offer views of wildlife as well, including harbor seals and California sea lions. The best time for peak wildlife season is late winter, specifically March/April, but ocean species can be seen year round. And keeping the Whale Trail in mind is always a good idea: in San Luis Obispo County, Whale Trail stops include the Discovery Center in San Simeon, Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Estero Bay, and Montana de Oro.