Page 46 - SLO Visitors Guide Fall 2025

46 FALL 2025 slovisitorsguide.com
Los Osos
and Baywood Park
Los Osos, Spanish for “the bears”,
is off the beaten path and the
gateway to Montana de Oro, an
amazing state park along the ocean.
Ranch Cañada de Los Osos, meaning
“Valley of the Bears,” was a Mexican
land grant initially granted to Victor
Linares in 1842 by Governor Juan B.
Alvarado. The town of Los Osos has
many quaint places of interest for visi-
tors to stop on their way to and from
the state park. Try one of the many
restaurants or grab something to take
with you for a picnic at the beach or
one of the nearby forests.
Montaña de Oro State Park
The park is well-used with daily
visitors throughout the year who
go there to hike, picnic, fish, camp,
surf, take a dip in the ocean, or visit
the tide pools. The park’s visitor
center is located at Spooner’s Ranch
House Museum above Spooner’s
Cove. The park is open from 6 a.m.-
10 p.m. and is free to enter. Details:
(805) 772-6101, or parks.ca.gov.
El Moro Elfin Forest
El Moro Elfin Forest in Los
Osos is a 90-acre natural area in
the San Luis Obispo County Parks
and California State Parks systems.
Its plant communities include
coastal brackish marsh, riparian
woodland fringe, pygmy oak
woodland, maritime chaparral, and
coastal dune scrub. The Elfin Forest
supports more than 200 species of
plants, as well as 110 kinds of birds,
22 species of mammals, and 13
species of reptiles and amphibians.
It is home to rare plants, butterflies,
snails, and birds. Chumash
middens occur throughout the
forest. There is a short, wheelchair
accessible boardwalk loop that also
protects sensitive habitat. Guided
walks are conducted every third
Saturday, reservations required. The
forest is managed by the Friends of
El Moro Elfin Forest. Details: elfin-
forest.org, (805) 528-0392.
Baywood Pier
The pier, at the intersection
of 2nd Street and El Morro Ave.,
overlooks the shores of the back bay
of Morro Bay. The Los Osos Oaks
State Reserve Half-mile east of
South Bay Boulevard on the south
side of Los Osos Valley Road. The
reserve has an easy one-mile trail
through the “Pygmy Oaks”, which
are dwarfed coast live oaks. The low
canopy reserve is on the site where
Chumash once lived.
Los Osos Community Park
Located at the corner of Los
Osos Valley Road and Palisades
Avenue, the park includes a
17,000-square-foot skate park,
three tennis courts, playgrounds
and restrooms. The park is ideal for
walking or picnicking and is the
site of the Los Osos Valley School,
one of five original one-room
schoolhouses between San Luis
Obispo and the coast. Of those five,
only two still exist today, both in
Los Osos.
Sweet Springs Nature
Preserve
Located on the north end of
Ramona Avenue between Broderon
and 4th Street, the park is open
from dawn to dusk and has trails
that wander through the Monterey
cypress and eucalyptus trees around
two freshwater ponds and a salt
marsh to the edge of Morro Bay.
Baywood Park Farmers’
Market
On Santa Maria Avenue
between 2nd and 3rd streets. The
market takes place every Monday
from 2-4:30 p.m. (805) 748-1109.
Bear statues
On your way into Los Osos
notice the large grizzlies stationed
as guards into the town at South
Bay Boulevard and Los Osos Valley
Road. The statues were created by
local artist Paula Zima.
Dining & Drinks
Foggy Bottom Distillery
A small-batch craft distillery located
in Los Osos on Los Osos Valley Road,
specializing in bourbon, whiskeys,
gin, and spiced rum. Come visit and
meet the distiller. 905 Los Osos Valley
Road, fbdistillery.com, (805) 795-1727
The Olde Alehouse
A family owned establishment with
20 craft beers on tap, local wine
and delicious food. Both indoor and
outdoor seating with fire pits. Dog
friendly patio and occasional music.
Perfect for a stop on your way to
Montana de Oro State
Park 945 Los Osos
Valley Road Los Osos,
theoldealehouse.com,
(805) 439-1466