directions*to*birding*venues*in/around*morro*bay*&los*osos*from*the*morro*bay...
TRANSCRIPT
Directions to Birding Venues in/around Morro Bay & Los Osos from the Morro Bay Community Center (#1)
IN MORRO BAY St. Timothy’s Catholic Church (#2): Within walking distance, directly across street (Kennedy Way) into Church parking lot; workshops meet in building to the right in the Church parking lot. Morro Bay Library (#3): Within walking distance, across street (Kennedy Way), turn right, cross Piney Way; Library parking lot is on the left; entrance across Library parking lot. Veteran’s Hall (#4): Turn left out of parking lot to Quintana Rd. Turn left. At signal, turn left onto Main St. Turn right on next street (Surf). This street curves to the right. Vet’s Hall is one block after the curve on the right. Pacific Wildlife Care (#5): Follow directions to Vet’s Hall. At signal, turn right onto Main St. Before the Highway 41 interchange (opposite Lemos Feed Store), there is a left turn lane; turn left and stay to the left. Dirt road leads to two portable buildings behind the power plant. First building on the left is PWC. Morro Bay High School (#6): Left on Kennedy Way to Quintana Rd. Go right on Quintana. At traffic circle, go around and cross over freeway to take Highway 1 North. Take Highway 41 exit; turn left (west). After passing under the highway, take first right into high school; entrance to high school is at far left (west) end of parking lot. Cloisters (#7): Follow directions to Morro Bay HS; stay on Highway 1 North to San Jacinto exit (about 7/8 mi.). Turn left (west). Turn left on Coral Avenue, entrance to the Cloisters. Park and parking lot are on right side. Embarcadero, Morro Rock (#8) & Sub Sea Tours (#9): Go straight out of parking lot across Kennedy Way; street becomes Piney Way. Turn right on Harbor, which runs into the Embarcadero; for Morro Rock, turn right and follow the road to Morro Rock. To reach Sub Sea Tours, turn left to the south end of Embarcadero; Sub Sea Tours is on the right at Pacific and the Embarcadero (#699). Black Hill (#10): Go straight out of parking lot, across Kennedy Way; street becomes Piney Way. Turn right on Morro Bay Blvd. to Main St. Turn left. Main St. passes 2 stone pillars and becomes State Park Rd. Just inside pillars turn left on Black Hill Rd. at golf course entrance. Take left fork in road at clubhouse and continue uphill to parking lot (limited). Heron Rookery and Museum of Natural History (#11): Follow directions to Black Hill. After passing 2 pillars, stay on State Park Rd. Just past the Inn at Morro Bay, there is a turnout on west (right) side of road with limited parking for the Heron Rookery. For the Museum, continue on State Park Rd. past the cove and cypress trees. The entrance is on west (right) side of road, opposite the golf course. State Park Marina Boat Launch and Marina Boardwalk (#12): Follow directions to Museum; pass it and turn west (right) opposite campground entrance to Bayside Café. Turn left to east end of parking lot and start of Marina Boardwalk. Kayak trips launch from the State Park Marina (straight ahead in parking lot). IN LOS OSOS VICINITY (from Morro Bay) El Morro Elfin Forest Natural Area (#32): South on Highway 1 to Los Osos/Baywood Park exit (South Bay Blvd.); exit right. Turn right at first signal, Santa Ysabel. Access to Elfin Forest is via right turn on any numbered street from 12th to 17th. Limited parking; carpooling advised. Trailheads at end of streets lead to Elfin Forest boardwalk. Morro Coast Audubon Overlook (#33): Follow directions for Elfin Forest. Continue on Santa Ysabel to 4th St.; turn right. Park in cul-‐de-‐sac. Limited parking; carpooling advised. Walk to overlook shelter via path. Sweet Springs Nature Preserve (#34): Follow directions for Audubon Overlook. From Santa Ysabel, turn left on 4th St. Continue several blocks to Ramona, turn right. Sweet Springs entrance is down hill on right. Park on street. Los Osos Oaks State Reserve (#35): South on Highway 1 to Los Osos/Baywood Park exit (South Bay Blvd., exit right). Turn left at third signal, Los Osos Valley Rd. The Reserve is approximately ¾ mile on right. Watch for sign. Montaña de Oro State Park (#36-‐39): Follow directions for Los Osos Oaks, except turn right onto Los Osos Valley Rd. Proceed past stop lights through town. Road curves left, name changes to Pecho Rd. Continue uphill to park entrance. Road to the Sand Spit Day Use parking lot (#36) is ¾ mile from park entrance on right. Spooner’s Cove, Ranch House, Campground (#37) and Bluff Trail (#38) all approximately 2.8 miles from park entrance (cove on right, house uphill on left, bluff uphill on right). Coon Creek Trail (#39): follow road until it ends at parking lot. Trail head is on
east side.
Directions to Venues Outside of Morro Bay/Los Osos (from MB Community Center); locations 1-‐12 & 32-‐39 on other map
VENUES NORTH AND EAST OF MORRO BAY Piedras Blancas Lighthouse (#13): Follow directions for Hearst Castle and elephant seal area. Continue north approx. 1.5 miles. Lighthouse road is on west (left) side. Entry during the Bird Festival is only for arranged field trips. Not open to the public. Elephant Seal Beach (#14): Follow directions for Hearst Castle and Hearst State Beach. Continue north approx. 5 miles. Watch for brown sign that says “Elephant seal viewing” with arrow to left. Parking lot is on west (left) side of road. Hearst Castle (#15) & William R. Hearst Memorial State Beach (#16): North on Hwy. 1 to north of town of San Simeon. Watch for long pier on left. Hearst Castle is on the right; William R. Hearst Memorial State Beach is on the left. San Simeon State Park-‐Washburn Day Use Area and Campground—approx. 25 miles (#17): North on Hwy. 1 north of town of Cambria. Pass Windsor Blvd. traffic light; continue approx. 2.5 miles. Turn right at Washburn Day Use Area access or park in turnout on west (left) side of road. The San Simeon State Park Campground entrance is the next right after Washburn Day Use Area. Halter Ranch – approx. 38 miles (#18): North on Hwy. 1. In Cayucos, turn right at Old Creek Rd. Turn right at Hwy. 46; then left at Vineyard Dr. Turn right to stay on Vineyard Dr. Turn left at Adelaida Rd.; vineyard on right at 8910 Adelaida Rd. Leader meets the group at the Donati Family Winery at the intersection of Hwy. 46 and Vineyard Drive (on the right). Fiscalini Ranch (#19): North on Hwy. 1 approximately 20 miles. Turn left on Windsor Blvd. (Cambria); turn right to stay on Windsor Blvd.; .4 mile to south entrance of ranch property. Harmony Headlands State Park (#20): North on Hwy. 1 approximately 11.5 miles; turn left on Sea West Drive to park entrance. Estero Bluffs State Park Trails (#21): North on Hwy. 1 north of town of Cayucos. The 1st turnout is north of 37.5 mile marker. Park on west (left) side of road, opposite San Geronimo Rd. 2nd turnout is near 38.0 mile marker. Park on west (left) side of road. Stairs down to trail are near a bushy fig tree; 2 more turnouts approx. ½ and ¾ mi. north. Vandenheuval Ranch (#22): North on Hwy. 1; turn right (east) on Old Creek Road (Cayucos); turn right on Montecito Rd. (approximately ¾ of a mile); follow road approximately 2 miles to a Y in the road. Cerro Alto Campground – approx. 8.5 miles (#23): North on Hwy. 1 about 1 mile; turn right (east) on Hwy. 41. Drive 7.3 miles to campground entrance on right. Carrizo Plain National Monument (#24): Van trip. Sunshine Ranch (#25): South on Hwy. 1 to US 101 North. Take the Santa Margarita exit; go through town and follow the curve heading North (becomes El Camino); take a left on Linden; go over bridge into Garden Farms. Veer to the left at white farmhouse (becomes Poplar Street). Follow until it ends at Oak Ave. Turn right; first house on the left. Santa Margarita Lake – approx. 33 miles (#26): South on Hwy. 1 into San Luis Obispo (becomes Santa Rosa); take US-‐101 exit North to Hwy. 58 (exit 211, El Camino Real) toward Santa Margarita. Turn right at Hwy. 58 (Estrada Ave.); turn left at Hwy. 58 (east, J St.). Follow Hwy 58 E, continue onto W. Pozo Rd.; slight left at Santa Margarita Lake Rd.; turn right at Santa Margarita Lake. El Chorro Regional Park (#27) and Botanical Garden (#29): South on Hwy. 1 to 2nd signal, approx. 7 miles. Turn left at El Chorro Regional Park on Dairy Creek Rd. Follow signs to Gardens on right. Cuesta College (#28): South on Hwy. 1 approximately 6 miles to Cuesta College (on right). Turn right at the light onto Education Drive; turn right on Cuesta College Rd. and follow it to Chorro Valley Rd.; turn left and enter parking lot #5. Class meets in classroom #2204 of Biology Building. Bishop Peak (#30): South on Hwy. 1. Turn right at Highland Dr. Continue to Patricia; turn right. Trailhead on left 3-‐4 blocks. Park on left Cal Poly (#31): South on Hwy. 1 about 12 miles; turn left at Highland Dr. into Cal Poly. Meet at kiosk at entrance. Lopez Lake (#40): South on Hwy. 1 (becomes Santa Rosa in San Luis Obispo). Turn left at Marsh. Take second right onto Johnson Ave.; slight left at Orcutt Rd. Turn left to stay on Orcutt; continue on Orcutt Rd. Turn left at Lopez Drive to lake. Pismo Nature Center & Oceano Campground (#41): South on Hwy. 1 to US 101 South. In Pismo Beach, exit Hwy. 1 (Dolliver St). Drive approx. 3 miles, turn right on Pier Ave. The Campground and Nature Center are on right. Oso Flaco Lake (#42): South on Hwy. 1 to US 101 South to Arroyo Grande; take Fair Oaks exit, turn right. Continue to Valley Rd., turn left. Continue to Mesa View Rd., turn left (becomes Hwy. 1). Continue 8 miles to Oso Flaco Rd., turn right, 3 miles to parking area. Guadalupe Dunes & River Mouth (#43): South on Hwy. 1 to US 101 South, 28 mi. to Santa Maria; exit 166 West (Main St.). Continue west approx. 16 miles to Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Co. Park at river mouth.