Page 43 - SLO Visitors Guide - Summer 2026

slovisitorsguide.com SUMMER 2026 43
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
Vacation Rentals
Baywood Casita
A cozy, family and dog-friendly Los
Osos retreat near the Elfin Forest, Cal
Poly, Morro Bay, and coastal outdoor
adventures. This fully stocked
two-bedroom home features rustic
Alaskan charm, a hot tub, fenced
yard, outdoor dining, and baby gear.
baywoodcasita.com, (760)427-2472