Page 50 - SLO Visitors Guide Spring 2024

Los Osos
and Baywood Park
Los Osos, Spanish for “Valley of the Bears”, is off the beaten path and the gateway to Montana de Oro, an amazing state park along the ocean. The town has many quaint places of interest for visitors 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.
Montana de Oro
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 free to enter. (805) 528-0513. For camping call (800) 444-7275.
Elfin Forest
The forest has nearly 200 species of plants, more than 100 varieties of birds, and many species of mammals and reptiles and amphibians. The forest includes a 1-mile boardwalk that is wheelchair accessible at the north end of 16th Street. Guided tours are given on the third Saturday of each month at 9:30 am starting
at the north end of 15th Street off Santa Ysabel. (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
50 SPRING 2024
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