Montaña de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County, CA

Montaña de Oro State Park was purchased by the state of California in 1965 after a long history as a farm and dairy ranch owned by Alexander Hazard and others.

The state kept the name from the Rancho Montaña de Oro (“Mountain of Gold”,) so called for the golden wildflowers on the hillsides.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montaña_de_Oro_State_Park

It has 8,000 acres of cliffs, sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including the 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. The park has many hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, as well as a campground located across from Spooner’s Cove, a popular beach. The Bluff Trail is an easy and popular trail along the scenic coast. Trails lead to the summits of Valencia Peak, Oats Peak, and Hazard Peak.

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Coon Creek Trail, Montaña de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County, CA

Coon Creek Trail, a 5-mile round trip hike with 250 feet of elevation gain, explores a coastal canyon at the south end of Montaña de Oro State Park.

The trail heads inland for 2.5 miles through a dense riparian zone of arroyo willows and brush that bursts with wildflowers each spring, attracting lots of butterflies.

The opposing ridges grow closer together as you head inland up the canyon, passing interesting rock formations along the sides of the canyon.

In 2012, a prescribed fire in Coon Creek Canyon grew out of control and burned much of the area along the first half of this trail. As a result, more of the bedrock has been exposed and there are numerous charred trees surrounded by young growth.

At the end of the trail is the following sign:
"Coon Creek Trail ends at a grove of Monterey cypress, at the site of a homestead that predates the Spooner Ranch. In 1965 there was still a shed there, by 2002 only a few of the floor boards remained."

Junctions with Rattesnake Flats Trail and Oats Peak Trail allow hikers to explore even more of Montaña de Oro State Park.
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Montaña de Oro State Park was purchased by the state of California in 1965 after a long history as a farm and dairy ranch owned by Alexander Hazard and others.

The state kept the name from the Rancho Montaña de Oro (“Mountain of Gold”,) so called for the golden wildflowers on the hillsides.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montaña_de_Oro_State_Park

It has 8,000 acres of cliffs, sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including the 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. The park has many hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, as well as a campground located across from Spooner’s Cove, a popular beach. The Bluff Trail is an easy and popular trail along the scenic coast. Trails lead to the summits of Valencia Peak, Oats Peak, and Hazard Peak.

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Islay Creek Road, Montaña de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County, CA

Islay Creek Road is a service road that parallels Islay Creek and runs through a canyon with the Oats Peak Ridge on one side and Hazard Peak Ridge on the other.

The dirt is fairly hard packed and generally stays dry after a rain. Its grade is moderate and offers some light rollers. The road does not have good views of the ocean but the section overlooking Islay Creek Campground is quite scenic.
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Montaña de Oro State Park was purchased by the state of California in 1965 after a long history as a farm and dairy ranch owned by Alexander Hazard and others.

The state kept the name from the Rancho Montaña de Oro (“Mountain of Gold”,) so called for the golden wildflowers on the hillsides.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montaña_de_Oro_State_Park

It has 8,000 acres of cliffs, sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including the 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. The park has many hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, as well as a campground located across from Spooner’s Cove, a popular beach. The Bluff Trail is an easy and popular trail along the scenic coast. Trails lead to the summits of Valencia Peak, Oats Peak, and Hazard Peak.

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Mew Gull, Morro Strand, Morro Bay, CA

Preening

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Great Blue Heron, Sea Pines Golf Course, Los Osos, CA

Just before swallowing a large fish.

Unfortunately the camera was turned off just before the fish was being swallowed in one fast gulp.
The next video clip shows the Great Blue Heron, with a bulging neck after swallowing the fish, walking to the pond for a drink.

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