E=Easy = Under 1 mile, usually level ground.
M=Moderate = 1 to 3 miles, moderately level ground.
A=Active = 3 miles and/or difficult terrain.
S=Strenuous = Difficult, requires high degree of fitness.
H=Hike = Active to strenuous, no intrepretation.
T=Talk = Talk or Lecture.
*=Poison Oak = Poison oak in the area.
Special Notice: 2012 Mind Walk Lecture Series
Because of the popularity of the Monday Mind Walk series, any of the Mind Walk events listed below will be held at the Inn at Morro Bay, just north of the museum at 60 State Parks Road. Saturday presentations will remain at the Museum.
February 3, Fri., 2:00 pm Sketch Walk - SLO Botanical Garden Visit the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden in Chorro Regional Park. Tour the demonstration garden with your sketch pad, pencils, watercolors, pastels, or other media. Meet at the garden. Turn North from Highway 1 into Chorro Regional Park, then turn right and proceed past the baseball field. (E) .5 miles, 2 hours.
February 4, Sat., 10:00 am Celebrate Western Monarch Day! Fun activities for the whole family! Butterfly face painting, butterfly quilt making, string a Monarch butterfly lifecycle bracelet, roving puppets, and more! Activities are from noon to 2PM. Located at the Monarch Butterfly Grove at Pismo State Beach on Highway 1 (between Grand Avenue and the North Beach Campground). 10am to 4pm
February 4, Sat., 10:00 am Coon Creek-Rattlesnake Flats Trail Work-Out Hike This loop is 5.5 miles with some elevation gain. We will hike out the Coon Creek Trail through lush riparian woodlands. The trail is well maintained with 6 bridges. We will return via the Rattlesnake Flats Trail. Wear sturdy shoes, sun hat, and bring water. We will keep up a good pace. Meet at the Coon Creek Parking area, Southern end of Montana de Oro Road. (H*) Active, 5.5 miles
February 4, Sat., 10:00 am Los Osos Oaks Reserve Enjoy a shaded stroll through ancient forest. See native plants and evidence of Chumash habitation. Learn colorful historical background. Meet at Reserve entrance, 0.7 miles east of South Bay Blvd. on Los Osos Valley Road. (*E) 1 mi., 1.5 hr.
February 4, Sat., 11:00 am White's Point Vistas Enjoy a short, but steep walk to view the estuary and learn about the forces that have created this watery world that serves as home to hundreds of marine and terrestrial animals. Learn why in the past century the estuary has lost 25 percent. Dress for wind. Meet at Morro Bay Natural History Museum entrance. (M) 1/2mi., 3/4 hr.
February 5, Sun., 10:00 am Hike Black Hill Hike up to the 660' elevation gain in a 1.5 mile summit of Black Hill from the MB campground. We will be discussing the native plants in four different communities. Fabulous views. Bring binoculars. Long pants and good shoe tread suggested. Meet at the gate access to the group area in the Morro Bay campground. (A*) 3 miles, 2- 2.5 hours
February 5, Sun., 12:00 pm San Simeon History (Weather Permitting) Join our "Docents at the Pier"between 11am and 1pm and travel through time as we explore the diverse history and uses of San Simeon Cove. Meet at the Coastal Discovery Center at W.R Hearst State Beach across from Hearst Castle west of Hwy 1. (T)
February 6, Mon., 10:15 am Morro Bay Underwater Wonders Ken Bondy and Gary Powell, underwater photographers for more than 30 years, will share photographs of beautiful and bizarre animals living among the man-made junk beneath the North T-Pier in Morro Bay. Talk given at the Inn at Morro Bay in the auditorium. Talk
February 6, Mon., 2:00 pm Intertidal Life at Hazard Creek Walk through coastal scrub and sand dunes to the beach to see seaweeds and marine animals and learn a little about the geology of the area. Meet in the Hazard Canyon parking lot on the right side of the road, 1.6 miles south of the Montana de Oro State Park entrance sign. Look for the announcement board propped against the tree. Dress in layers, and wear non-skid shoes that can get wet. (A) 1 mi., 3 hr.
February 8, Wed., 3:00 pm Montaña de Oro Bluff and Tide Pool Nature Walk Walk the Bluffs and look for whales, birds, otters and seals. You will be enlightened about some local history on the walk. Then explore the tidepool and its inhabitants at Corallina Cove at low tide. Wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers for the coast, and bring binoculars. Meet at the trailhead, 200 yards south of the Visitor Center at the Montana de Oro State Park. (*A) 2mi, 2 hours
February 9, Thu., 1:00 pm Salt marsh to Mudflats Follow a path from the State Park Marina through native plants to the salt marsh and on to the mud flats. Learn the history of the salt marsh, and see the plants and animals living in and on these specialized environments. Dress for heat, wind and mud. Bring binoculars. Park close to the southeast end of the marina parking lot or across the street by the MB campground restrooms. (E) 0.5 mi., 2 hr.
February 10, Fri., 10:00 am Hazard Peak Work-out Hike This hike is a great work-out. We will keep a good pace. Trail is well maintained. 6 miles round trip, and 1,000 feel elevation gain. Great views from the top. Approx. 2 1/2 hours. Bring water and a snack. Wear hat, sun screen, and sturdy shoes or boots. Meet at the Hazard Peak parking lot 2.3 miles from entrance to MDO State Park. (*H) Active to Strenuous
February 10, Fri., 1:00 pm Valencia Peak Hike We will hike to the summit of Valencia Peak, over 1300 ft. above the sea. In this dramatic natural area, we will discuss plant communities, coastal geology, birds, and photographic tips. We will carry a new Hiker's Logbook for the sign-in box at the summit, and be ready to do brief maintenance on it. Carry water and snacks, wear sturdy hiking shoes, and bring a hat, sunscreen, and layered clothing in case of wind. Binoculars optional. Meet at the Valencia Peak trailhead, 200 yards uphill from Spooner Ranch House at Montana de Oro State Park. (S) 4 miles+, 3 hours
February 10, Fri., 1:30 pm Sketch Walk (Coon Creek) Explore the riparian landscape along Coon Creek, stopping to draw the plants or the landscape. No drawing experience necessary. Bring a pad of drawing paper, colored pencils, watercolors or pastels, and some water to drink. Meet in Montana de Oro State Park at the end of the Pecho Road in the Coon Creek parking lot. (M) 1 miles, 2-3 hrs.
February 11, Sat., 8:30 am Birds at the Oceano Lagoon Walk along Oceano Lagoon and through the Pismo State Beach native plant gardens to look at waterfowl, songbirds, raptors, and more. We sometimes see an unusual species or more. Bring binoculars, scope and bird book if you have them, hat, sunscreen, and water. Birders of all levels welcome. Meet at the Pismo Nature Center. (M) 3hrs.
February 11, Sat., 10:15 am How We Sent Probes to Mars and What We Learned From Them Rouvaishyana, Manager of the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, will summarize what we have learned about Mars, and Jean Fanselow, former computer modeler at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, will describe some of the science and engineering behind space exploration projects. Talk given in the Inn at Morro Bay auditorium. Talk
February 12, Sun., 2:00 pm Eucalyptus- Beauty or Beast? Do you love Eucalyptus? Hate it? Can't decide? Come on this informative walk through one Eucalyptus grove in Montana de Oro and learn the history, biology, pros and cons, and uses of the trees. Then decide for yourself! Meet at the Hazard Canyon parking lot, on the right, 1.6 miles from the park entrance. Enjoy the ride in looking at the grove, trees, bark and light filtering through. Dress for the weather, bring binoculars. (E) 0.5 miles, 2 hours
February 13, Mon., 10:15 am How We Sent Probes to Mars and What We Learned From Them Rouvaishyana, Manager of the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, will summarize what we have learned about Mars, and Jean Fanselow, former computer modeler at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, will describe some of the science and engineering behind space exploration projects. Talk given in the Inn at Morro Bay auditorium. Limited seating please come early. Talk
February 16, Thu., 9:30 am Harmony Headlands History & Wildlife Walk Walk through a ranch landscape, past extensive wetlands, to a rugged coast. Learn the history of the land and its people. See a variety of plants. Discover its current occupants. Meet at the entrance parking lot, 5 mi. north of Cayucos. (M) 3miles 2 hours
February 17, Fri., 12:00 pm Montaña de Oro Bluff and Tide Pool Nature Walk Walk the Bluffs and look for whales, birds, otters and seals. You will be enlightened about some local history on the walk. Then explore the tidepool and its inhabitants at Corallina Cove at low tide. Wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers for the coast, and bring binoculars. Meet at the trailhead, 200 yards south of the Visitor Center at the Montana de Oro State Park. (*A) 2mi, 2 hours
February 18, Sat., 10:00 am Valencia Peak Work-Out Hike This is a work-out hike with no interpretation. It is 3.5 miles, with 1347 feet elevation gain, approximately 2.5 hours. We will hike a loop trail going up the west face and returning via Oates Peak and Reservoir Flats trails. Fantastic views. Bring water, hat, sun screen and wear boots and long pants as there is poison oak on the trail. Meet at Bluff trail parking area 100 yards south of Montana de Oro Ranch House. (*M) Approx. 2 hours
February 18, Sat., 11:00 am Living History at the Spooner Ranch House Learn about the fascinating history of Pecho Ranch & its inhabitants. Visit with charming Victorian Era women in the "Parlor" at the Spooner Ranch House in Montaña de Oro State Park. (T) 1hr.
February 18, Sat., 3:00 pm The Gray Whale and its Long Distance Migration A talk about our twice-yearly visitors off the Central Coast given at the whale bone exhibit at the entrance to Oceano Campground, Pismo State Beach. Free parking is available. (F) (T) 30 minutes
February 19, Sun., 10:00 am Grand Dune Trail A leisurely walk through the Pismo Dunes. Learn about the dunes and various habitats close to the ocean. Meet at the entrance kiosk at the ocean end of Grand Avenue, Grover Beach. Free parking is available. (*M) 2 mi., 2 hr.
February 20, Mon., 10:15 am California's Glorious Trees Limited seating please come early. Matt Ritter, botany professor at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, will present a photographic expose of the lives and stories of some of the fascinating trees featured in his new book "A Californian's Guide to the Trees Among Us." Talk given in the Inn at Morro Bay auditorium. Talk
February 20, Mon., 2:00 pm Intertidal Life at Hazard Creek Walk through coastal scrub and sand dunes to the beach to see seaweeds and marine animals and learn a little about the geology of the area. Meet in the Hazard Canyon parking lot on the right side of the road, 1.6 miles south of the Montana de Oro State Park entrance sign. Look for the announcement board propped against the tree. Dress in layers, and wear non-skid shoes that can get wet. (A) 1 mi., 3 hr.
February 22, Wed., 10:00 am Montaña de Oro Bluff Nature Walk Take a pleasant hike along the Bluff Trail for magnificent views and see a variety of birds, plants and sea life. Binoculars helpful. Meet at Bluff Trailhead, some 200 yards south of the MdO Ranger/Information/Ranch House, on Pecho Road. (*A) 2 mi., 3 hours
February 22, Wed., 2:00 pm Salt Marsh to Mudflats Follow a path from the State Park Marina through native plants to the salt marsh and on to the mud flats. Learn the history of the salt marsh, and see the plants and animals living in and on these specialized environments. Dress for heat, wind and mud. Bring binoculars. Park close to the southeast end of the marina parking lot or across the street by the MB campground restrooms. (E) 0.5 mi., 2 hr.
February 25, Sat., 10:00 am Cow and Plow to Now Many people think of Montana de Oro as a pristine, natural wilderness area. On this walk we will do a bit of detective work to discover the hidden signs of the previous agricultural uses of this very special State Park. The Plant community will give us the biggest clues. You will be amazed by the changes the land has gone through in the last 60 years. Bring water, long pants, sun hat, sturdy shoes. We will walk about 2 miles in approximately 2 hours. Meet at the Montana de Oro Ranch House in Montana de Oro State Park. (*M) 2miles approx 2 hours
February 25, Sat., 10:00 am Los Osos Oaks Reserve Enjoy a shaded stroll through ancient forest. See native plants and evidence of Chumash habitation. Learn colorful historical background. Meet at Reserve entrance, 0.7 miles east of South Bay Blvd. on Los Osos Valley Road. (*E) 1 mi., 1.5 hr.
February 25, Sat., 10:15 am Staying Alive-Basic Butterfly Morphology and Behavior Peggy Coon, State Park Docent, former interpretive ranger and Chairperson of the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, will talk about protective coloration, flight characteristics, mimicry and crawl behavior in butterflies. Talk given in the Inn at Morro Bay auditorium. Seating limited please come early. Talk
February 25, Sat., 11:00 am White's Point Vistas Enjoy a short, but steep walk to view the estuary and learn about the forces that have created this watery world that serves as home to hundreds of marine and terrestrial animals. Learn why in the past century the estuary has lost 25 percent. Dress for wind. Meet at Morro Bay Natural History Museum entrance. (M) 1/2mi., 3/4 hr.
February 27, Mon., 10:15 am Staying Alive-Basic Butterfly Morphology and Behavior Peggy Coon, State Park Docent, former interpretive ranger and Chairperson of the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, will talk about protective coloration, flight characteristics, mimicry and crawl behavior in butterflies. Talk given at the Inn at Morro Bay in the auditorium. Talk
February 29, Wed., 10:00 am Montaña de Oro Bluff Nature Walk Take a pleasant hike along the Bluff Trail for magnificent views and see a variety of birds, plants and sea life. Binoculars helpful. Meet at Bluff Trailhead, some 200 yards south of the MdO Ranger/Information/Ranch House, on Pecho Road. (*A) 2 mi., 3 hours
February 29, Wed., 1:00 pm Salt marsh to Mudflats Follow a path from the State Park Marina through native plants to the salt marsh and on to the mud flats. Learn the history of the salt marsh, and see the plants and animals living in and on these specialized environments. Dress for heat, wind and mud. Bring binoculars. Park close to the southeast end of the marina parking lot or across the street by the MB campground restrooms. (E) 0.5 mi., 2 hr.
