Ended up taking the long route to Pirate's Cove (parked near homes and took the trail) which we…read morelater found out is the Shell Beach Bluff Trail. We enjoyed this scenic trail, which had multi-million dollar homes to our right, and the beautiful ocean to our left; and a somewhat steep incline up to the dirt parking lot and Cave Landing trailhead. Good thing the weather was perfect and there was a lovely breeze; otherwise I would've stopped walking and demanded to go back to the car. Once we got to the trail, it was a fairly easy short walk to get to the cave. After taking in the stunning views from the cave, we trekked to the cove. Be cautious going down, as it's a steep dirt path and a couple flights of stairs. Also note that clothing is optional, and you may run into people in their birthday suits on this secluded beach.

While visiting SLO, I was looking for an ocean hike to complete and found this hike on All Trails…read moreso I went for it. I took the long way traversing through a million dollar neighborhood of gorgeous homes lining the street. Once I was in the dirt I could see the cove from above. The beach is beautiful and not crowded. Of course, clothing is optional but I didn't come for the beach. I came to see the cove. You have to hike down to the cove as it sits on the water, but no biggie. Hiking back up and out for some may be challenging for some so just go at your own pace. When I arrived there was a guy playing a guitar so that was nice, not too many peeps around which allowed me to take a couple of pics. The cove itself is picturesque but the graffiti sucks!! Why must people have to paint on rocks in nature?? I just don't get it!! Go paint on abandoned buildings etc. I stayed for a few minutes then I walked out on the rocks and took in the views of the mighty Pacific Ocean. So gorgeous! I could have sat there all day. You can also access this cove and beach by driving directly to it and then following the path down to it, but I preferred the mini hike instead. Remember to Leave No Trace always.

Date: Monday, July 24th, 2023 Time: around 12:45pm…read more We were at Pirate's Cove so decided to check out a cave. We actually didn't make it all the way down to the beach, but I did go into a cave and enjoy the view on the other side. Not sure if that qualifies as one of the Avila Sea Caves, but I will just assume it does. Parking was pretty easy. There is a small lot. No issues finding a spot since it was a Monday afternoon. We only walked down to the first cave, so probably spent a little more than 15 mins walking around and taking pix. If you enjoy water and a view, I'd say definitely check this spot out. REVIEW #3441

Found this little gem of a spot along our road trip up the West Coast ... the caves were…read moreincredible, that breeze and the view... so beautiful

Avila Beach is special. Standing on the pier gives great views. And when waves are rolling through,…read moreit's so calming. The Boardwalk has always had beautiful people enjoying the views and vibes every time I've been here. Parking is tough but once you got a spot, you're good. One of my favorite places to get away.

I loved every moment of this trip, especially because of Avila. It's such a beautiful place, and…read morethe people are truly one of a kind. Everyone I met on the pier radiated the best vibes. If you're visiting California, make sure to carve out time for Avila--the breathtaking views are absolutely unforgettable.

It's very intimate and calm. The pebbles are so tiny. There's stairs for you to walk down and enjoy…read morethe beach. I found an area with my friends to set up and put my towels down. The water is cold but so pretty. There also a park next to it.

Nice area to walk around and explore. No bathrooms so plan accordingly. There are few people around…read moreso may be more of a local spot but we enjoyed taking our littles to explore the tide pools.

Valentines Day picnic paddle was so fun! Great employees thanks for the fun experienceread more

Owner was super sweet and knowledgeable This was my second…read moretime renting Kayaks with this company 100% will be back Thank you for another great experience !

My family and I saw this park while driving to Solvang a few weeks ago and knew we had to check it…read moreout on our way home! Dinosaur Caves Park is just gorgeous! A lovely neighborhood park with amazing views of the ocean! The park was clean and well maintained - they offered bathrooms as well! Swings, slides, spiny rides - you name it. Our daughter had a blast! After our daughter enjoyed the park, we walked around the trails and took so photos of the flowers and ocean views. Why is it called Dinosaur Caves Park? Apparently per the information area, there used to be a massive dinosaur statue that was eventually taken away - caves? I did see a cave or 2 when we were checking out the ocean views. Overall, I think Dinosaur Caves Park is a great place to get out and stretch your legs - it's especially nice to let the kiddos get some energy out before heading back to your roadtrip!

Such a great place to bring the family…read more Brown Family 2025 Always make time to visit and let the kids run loose, enjoy the fun and waves!

Beautiful!! clean and very easy trail to walk. Enjoyed the quite time and felt safe the whole timeread more

The Shell Beach Bluff Trail connects up with the Cave Landing Trail that overlooks Pirate's Cove…read moreand has a "cave" with a beautiful view. The shell trail starts out paved and easy and then there is a moderate to strong grade to get to the cave trail. The shell trail is not really a trail and is a paved walkway. The cave trail is rock and dirt and more like a "trail." There is a separate and larger dirt lot for the cave trail that you need to walk through from the shell trail to access Pirate's Cove and the cave. There is a steep "natural" staircase going down to Pirate's Cove. If you are either older or afraid of heights, you might not want to go down to the cove. The cave has a beautiful view, but no guard rail on the view side. For this reason, we would recommend you not bring your kids on this trail unless they are older, mature, and well behaved. Depending on whether you say on the shell trail or go on to the cave trail, the whole thing is anywhere from 30 min to 2 hours and depending on which sights you see and how long you look at them. This is really one of nicer trails in the area, especially if you take the shell to the cave trail. Definitely recommend visiting.

My absolute favorite dog beach in the area. My dogs live their best life every time here and we…read morealways meet the friendliest dogs and people. There is lots of space on this beach so you don't have to be too close to other groups of people. On the weekdays, it's not super busy so the perfect day to hang out all day on the beach. We enjoy walking back and forth on the beach, and bringing chairs to relax, read and snack throughout the day. :) Always have the best time when we're here. Such a gem in the area!

The perfect beach to bring your pups! Street parking and public bathroom are available near the…read morebeach. I advise to arrive in the morning before the large crowd, but weekdays should be fine. Dogs are allowed unleashed so they can run around and play. The sand is very soft so you can enjoy walking barefoot without worrying about rocks and twigs. Our pups had a wonderful time on a perfect sandy beach and waves.