Hiking Among Rugged Cliffs and Secluded Beaches in Montaña de Oro State Park

The cliffsTim Mossholder/ Unsplash

Summer season is approaching fast forward and most people can't wait to explore the vast-open landscapes of the country. Many National Parks and Campgrounds are open again or at least in a process of partially opening for now.

So this is now the time to plan your summer holiday and in case you're not sure yet where to spend the vacations when exploring California. Here is another national park on the coast that is worth checking out.

Montaña de Oro State Park

A huge variety of landscape features invite you to explore the beauty of the coastline. Rugged cliffs and secluded sandy beaches, as well as streams, canyons, and hills, are what the park has to offer. Hikers and backpackers alike embrace the various trails and solitude and freedom along the way.

Montana de Oro stands for "Mountain of Gold". This name describes the countless golden flowers that decorate the hills when blooming in springtime. The park and its spectacular scenery have been formed millions of years ago when volcanic activity had been taken place here. Erosion shaped the landscape over the years to come and marine terraces received an uplift.

The park covers 7 miles of pristine coastline. On those 8,000 acres of ground, a unique treasure on the Californian coast has been preserved for years to come. Only one road leads into the park and invites visitors to explore the beauty of nature on a day trip or on multiple-day overnight stays.

Countless hiking trails invite beginners and experienced hikers to walk along and enjoy the astonishing views. Even bikers are welcome in the park as more and more trails open for mountain bikers as well. Dogs however are not allowed on any of the trails. They are allowed to be brought to the campsites but have to be kept on a leash.

If you're interested in going on a hike but are unsure about which one to pick there is a great list with descriptions of each trail to be found on hikespeak.com.

Camping is possible inside the park on a selection of 50 different sites. Islay Creek Campground in the park is rather primitive but a hidden gem for nature lovers. The camp is located inside the park's largest canyon and is only a short walk away from the beach.

Shade is provided in the camp by large cypress and pine trees. The ground is rather soft and therefore perfect for setting up tents. The Sites can also accommodate smaller RVs. Each campsite has picnic tables and a fire ring. Toilets and potable water is available at the sanitary stations.

There are more campgrounds inside the park, however, all of them are at the moment still closed due to the pandemic. Unfortunately, the park is currently only open for day visitors. Hopefully, soon overnight visitors will be allowed again.

Sources:

• https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=592
• https://www.hikespeak.com/california/centralcoast/slo/montana-de-oro-state-park/
• https://www.stateparks.com/montana_de_oro_state_park_in_california.html

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