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    San Simeon Creek Trail

    4.5 (6 reviews)

    San Simeon Creek Trail Photos

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    Boardwalk over the creek
    Marcus F.

    This 3.5 mile loop hiking trail has a bit of everything. There are wooden boardwalks, Monterey pines, sweeping views of San Simeon's trademark landscapes, forest areas, elevation changes, and of course plenty of danger with some of the worst infestation of Poison Oak I've ever seen. The San Simeon Creek trailhead starts in the rest area right off Highway 1 right before the State Park. From the parking lot you can either hike the loop that goes around the San Simeon State Park or you can walk under the highway and access the beach. Simply jump on the wooden boardwalk and you can choose your adventure. The Poison Oak here is crazy. It has encroached the trail in many areas and at one point you're literally walking down a densely wooded path with poison oak surrounding you, Hopefully you're flexible. Wearing pants or jeans is mandatory. I was wearing shorts and didn't get any of the toxic urushiol oil on my skin. Tips - - Hike the loop counter-clockwise ( head south ) - There's a bathroom facility located in the parking lot. - Another major hiking website calls this the San Simeon Nature Trail. - Plenty of benches along the way. - Many Informational placards. - Kid friendly, if they stay on the trail and dress appropriately.

    Amber S.

    This trail was absolutely beautiful! It was extremely easy! At some points you would begin to get a little warm but you would soon come to a hill top or opening that would allow the ocean breeze to immediately cool you off. The wooden pathways were sporadic on the path but very useful where they were placed! This is a must do trail, the views are completely worth it!

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    4 years ago

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    13 days ago

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    Moonstone Beach

    Moonstone Beach

    4.6
    (249 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Absolutely beautiful! We walked along the pathway....stunning view! Very peaceful! If you…read morehaven't been to this side, a must try when in Cambria!

    My family loves this beach. The parking lot is small, but we usually are able to find a spot…read more There's a public restroom connected to the parking lot. I've never needed it, but I'm glad it is there. Beach access is down some stairs that can be hard if you have mobility or balance issues. They are sturdy, and if you are able to navigate them slowly, it is worth it. The beach itself has driftwood that has washed up, and other beach-goers have fashioned into makeshift structures that are fun to explore. The sand is soft, and has tons of rocks and pebbles to investigate. As the name suggests, there are moonstones to find, if you have a bit of luck. Several times when I've visited, I've found these transparent clear and purplish/blue velella velella all over the shore. Other wildlife seen at this beach include moon jellyfish, sea lions (off shore), pelicans, seagulls, cormorants, and cottontail bunnies along the cliffs. There is a creek outlet that washes into the sea that can be a bit stinky, and tends to make traversing the beach hard past that point. Also along the water's edge, there can be some unstable sand areas, so tread carefully. This beach tends to have a nice breeze, and is refreshing even on hot days. If you are in the area and you can find parking, check it out!

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    Moonstone Beach
    Moonstone Beach
    Moonstone Beach

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    Shamel Park

    Shamel Park

    4.5
    (32 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    This park is a fine place to stop if you want to let the kids or the dog out for a bit…read more Most of the grassy area was taken up by a large group of gentleman playing soccer while we were there but there is a small, unfenced area where you can let your dog off leash for a bit and let them relieve themselves. Most people kept their dogs on leash though Be careful though as it's close to the street and people go around the corner there much faster than I would like, especially for a residential neighborhood. The bathrooms were clean and there is a playground area for kids. You can also access the beach from this park. There is a pool are that was closed, so as busy as it was when we visited, I imagine it gets even busier.

    I really have zero complaints about this hidden park. It was…read morein a quiet neighborhood in a corner. I have 3 kids, two who are adults, and one who is 8 years old. There was a play area with slides and swings and they all enjoyed it. The bathrooms were clean, and I noticed there was a pool too. I don't know when it's open or if they open it at all. I just thought it was cute. There was beach access and the beach was pretty clean. There were not too many people, so it was nice to have it practically all to ourselves. There was sand but also beautiful rocks that we all enjoyed playing in. The waves were extremely large and gorgeous. There was a sign that said no lifeguard on site. Overall it was a great experience for all of us, and we would love to return for another day of hanging out!

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    Shamel Park
    Shamel Park
    Shamel Park

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    San Simeon State Park & Campground

    San Simeon State Park & Campground

    3.6
    (159 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Beautiful campground. We stayed in the lower lot, and were pleasantly surprised by the quick beach…read moreaccess, the large number of clean bathrooms and showers and the trees and greenery that made the campsites feel semi-private. We even were treated to a fantastic ranger talk in the campsite amphitheater, complete with a fire pit and a well spoken lesson about sharks. Both the ranger at check in and the ranger speaking were wonderful, and they made sure the kids had Junior Ranger books for the event. The location is superb, right down the street from the Elephant Seal Rookery and Hearst Castle. A heads up, we reserved a 25 foot campsite for our travel trailer, which is appropriate based on its length. If you're pulling a vehicle, I recommend reserving a 35 foot. Getting both the trailer and our vehicle in our site side by side was tight. Not impossible, but do yourself a favor and get a little extra room if you can. We will be back, only complaint is not staying longer.

    Lower creek has no view but is somewhat out of the wind. In some seasons that may be a bad thing…read morebecause that may mean mosquitoes and other bugs. My spot was shaded and the spots can be private or close depending on which one. The bathrooms and showers are fairly run down. Lexi. But all in all is was not too bad. I just wish dogs could go on the beaches.

    Photos
    April 18, 2025 - Washburn Day Use Area picnic tables are next to Highway 1.
    April 18, 2025 - Washburn Day Use Area picnic tables are next to Highway 1.
    San Simeon State Park & Campground
    San Simeon State Park & Campground

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    Washburn Campground

    Washburn Campground

    4.5
    (4 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Have always loved our experiences here with our RV...remote primitive has always been our choice!…read moreWe can pretend in our (ahem) older adulthood that we are still camping yet indulge in our internal conveniences! No hookups at sites but awesome quiet and most spaces have wonderful views! This campground offers sewage dump and water refill no matter the sites. The views are lovely no matter the site chosen and exploring the grounds is a must! The ocean being just a short walk away as well as venturing inland on the many beautiful hiking trails. If more convenient accommodation is your quest, the lower half have full hookups with electric and water. The extras are Hearst Castle around the corner (always make advance reservations), and my absolute favorite Cambria...such an understated beauty!

    Nice hideaway from the common campers. Up the hill from the San Simeon Campground…read more If you tent camp know that a lot of sites are uneven or rough. Bring tarps for under the tent. I also bring moving blankets to layer the tent floor. The condensation that builds up in the tent will make the floor wet. My set up was tarp, tent, moving blankets, air mattresses. Slept great. The bathrooms up here are pits but the toilets are decent enough and the buildings are handicap accessible. You can drive down to San Simeon and use the showers. They take tokens (if the machines work but luckily we found a shower that ran without tokens). The negatives: Ground squirrels. Dozens and dozens with zero fear. Keep your food secured in totes or in your car. The crows and squirrels will get into your plastic bags. It can get breezy in the afternoon. Secure your tents and canopy. Cell service? Spotty if at all but that makes the charm even better. Bring a book. Games. Take a hike. Hikes; this is tick country. Wear long socks and tuck your long pants into them. You e been warned. Fire pits (with a cooking grate) are nice. Nice concrete picnic tables. It's roughly 10 minutes to Cambria, 10 minutes to Hearst Castle, 15 minutes to Cayucos, 25 minutes to Morro Bay. I'll stay here again for sure.

    Photos
    Tick trail.  Tuck those pants into your long socks.  We saw quail, rabbits, dear.
    Tick trail. Tuck those pants into your long socks. We saw quail, rabbits, dear.
    San Simeon Campground Boardwalk
    San Simeon Campground Boardwalk
    Great sunsets

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    Great sunsets

    San Simeon Creek Trail - hiking - Updated July 2026

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