Corallina Cove, Montana de Oro State Park

San Luis Obispo, CA Print   Leave a comment

Description

To access Corallina Cove, you hike along the Bluff Trail and down some steps. The trail takes you past beautiful ocean vistas where you can look down on Spooner's Cove, across to Morro Rock, or on the waves crashing on rocks. Once you reach Corallina Cove, there are tidepools galore to explore. A sign tells you what to look for: mussels, ochre sea stars, octopuses, turban snails, giant keyhole limpets, sunburst anemones, brittle stars, black abalone, rock crabs, lined shore crabs, and red and purple sea urchins. We saw many of these! The beach is made of coarse sand, not pebbles like Spooner's Cove. There is plenty to explore- driftwood, kelp balls, and pebbles of all sizes and shapes. Schools often take trips out here to introduce kids to tidepool ecosystems. Spend some time getting back to nature!
After running around in nature, you'll be thirsty or hungry. For a coffee in a serene setting, head over to Baywood Park Pier. There is also a nice Starbucks with a sunny front patio in Los Osos town. You could also have dinner in Morro Bay and walk around the docks listening to the seals.

Photo Gallery

The southern end of the Bluff Trail.	Sunset on the Bluff Trail.	Looking down on Spooner's Cove from the Bluffs Trail that leads to Corallina Cove.
The Bluffs Trail.	Bench with view of Morro Rock.	Bluff Trail with mountains behind.
I love to look down on the sea from above.	Foamy white waves- a joy to behold!	Walkway leading down to Corallina Cove.
Turban snails.	Rock pools.	Corallina Cove has some great exploring on the far end.
Sunburst Anemones in a rock pool.	Sea mussels clinging to the rock.	Turban snail in a tide pool.
Rock formations at the entrance to the beach.	Looking down on people exploring the rock pools.	View of rock pools below.
Romantic bench.	Looking back toward Spooner's Cove.	A cove below the Bluff Trail.
Cypress tree above the sea.	The Bluff Trail and the blue sea ahead.	Blue-green sea and cliffs.

Directions

To access Corallina Cove, park in the parking lot just past and above Spooner's Cove. Then walk the Bluff Trail to the stairs where you see a sign telling you you're at Corallina Cove.

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

Overall Visitor Rating: Unrated.