I was excited to explore Morro Bay and Morro Rock. It has been on my to-do list since I started living in California, so I was looking forward to seeing Morro Rock in person. I didn’t know much about Morro Rock, just that it is a large rock located just off the coast. I had no idea there was so much history behind it. (Although why am I surprised, there usually is)
About the Area:
Morro Rock, known as Le’samo in Salinan, Lisamu’ in Chumash, and El Morro in Spanish, is a volcanic plug located at the entrance of Morro Bay harbor on the Pacific Coast in Morro Bay, California. Linked to the mainland by a causeway, it forms a tied island and is protected as the Morro Rock State Preserve.
Morro Rock stands 581 feet (177 meters) tall and is one of 13 volcanic plugs, lava domes, and sheetlike intrusions extending from Morro Bay to Islay Hill in San Luis Obispo County. It’s mostly composed of dacite, a volcanic, igneous rock.
In 1966, California state law transferred the title of Morro Rock to the State, and in 1968, it was declared California Historical Landmark number 821.
The area around Morro Rock is rich in wildlife and plants. The rock itself is home to several bird species. In the surrounding water, you’ll see sea lions and sea otters. Seals are more commonly found breeding in the nearby Morro Bay State Park. There have been known great white shark attacks nearby.
Lastly, the Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area and Morro Bay State Marine Reserve are offshore protected areas that serve as underwater parks, conserving ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.
My Experience Exploring Morro Bay and Morro Rock:
Gear needed:
- A comfortable pair of walking or running shoes. I don’t recommend flip-flops or sandals, especially if you are walking on the rocks.
I didn’t really know what to expect when I arrived at Morro Bay. Would we be able to walk to Morro Rock? You actually can! You can walk all the way out and around. There is a paved path that goes about halfway around Morro Rock. It was slightly windy and cool when we were out (so no swimming), but there were plenty of people walking around and enjoying the beautiful view. Plus, there were plenty of professional photographers taking photos of the wildlife. Once the paved path ends, you can actually walk on the smaller rocks, but we didn’t feel like going all the way around. It was a nice two-mile walk around the area.
While we were in Morro Bay, we saw plenty of wildlife including birds, squirrels, and even a sea lion.
There are also plenty of shops and history to check out in the downtown once you are done. You really could spend a few days in Morro Bay checking everything out!
Morro Bay and Morro Rock Conclusion:
If you are looking for a fun walk that is one of the most beautiful in the United States, you should check out Morro Bay. You won’t regret taking a nice walk or run there.
You can see more hikes here or find more things to do in Morro Bay here.
Questions for you:
Where is your favorite place to hike?
Have you been to the Central Coast of California?
Very cool. I had forgotten that Morro Rock was that far north, it looks similar enough to Point Mugu rock that I confuse them 🙂
It does remind me a lot of Point Mugu. I love both areas!