So pretty and peaceful. Very nice to walk around and look at tidepools and wildlife. read more

Spooner's Cove - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

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Love this beach so much! Go here every time we visit friends, relaxed beach with great views. Bathrooms are just okay but close to the beach which is very convenient. Parking lot can be busy but wow I love this beach! read more

Cove Dwellers Located in Montaña de Oro State Park, Spooner's Cove is an awesome little piece of beachfront with some really interesting features. The Good: *Free! *Literally the only place (besides the camp grounds) in Montaña de Oro that is dog-friendly--altho that doesn't seem to stop anybody. *Restrooms (Vault Toilets [i.e., hole in the ground with a toilet above it]) *Parking lot *Great place for tidepooling (check tide charts) *Sea caves! Again, check the tide charts. *Fascinating rock formations and some that are climbable--if you're brave enough, that is. *Picnic tables The Meh: *Large for a cove, but small for a beach The Ugly: *I'm not sure what it is about this beach, but we saw a bunch of people just grabbing tons of the rocks to take back home with them. One lady had a five-gallon bucket! Conclusion: Great place to stop, have lunch, and explore when visiting Montaña de Oro. read more

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I live about 8 miles from this beach. Spooner's Cove is a great beach for walking and, yes, the beach is rocky so wear shoes, not flip flops, to avoid walking the rocky trip to the shoreline. Once at the shoreline you can take off your shoes and walk in the wet sand. Remember, never turn your back on the ocean, unpredictable surf. The cliffs have trails and a nice grassy area above the road where the ranch house is read more

GORGEOUS! Great beach! Easy parking (does get busy though), dog-friendly (with a leash), small shells and pebbles, cliffs, coves, and tidepools. Bring a beach chair and enjoy the area. Water was a little rough, so i dont know how great it is for swimming. read more

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When the sky is clear. The sun sets here. When it does...it is breathtaking! Waves crash upon a shore of tangled scarlet seaweed and treasured polished stones, circular layers of varied beauty. Among the shoreline of washed up pebbles, lay lots of seashells to admire! Sit on a blanket quietly watching the cotton candy clouds go by, golden sun setting on the horizon, and waves lapping upon the beach. If you take a stroll, you'll find some hidden spots revealing more of God's artistry! read more

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There are many beautiful beaches, coves and inlets along the central California coast. Spooner Cove is no exception. More a pretty sizeable beach than what you would think of as a cove, it's the perfect place to enjoy a sunny day at the ocean with friends, family or just yourself. We were visiting the area for several days and stopped into this beach after a long hike. On a weekday, there were a number of people but parking was still plentiful. We found a spot near the big rock that that is the central landmark of the cove, kicked off our shoes and soaked in some sun. It's a particularly nice spot for kids and we saw many. I enjoyed walking along the shore and collecting rocks and shells. There are quite a bit of both here. This isn't the softest sand as there are so many rocks, but you can get used to it pretty quickly. read more

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Nice beach, little too rocky but it's a one time visit for me . If you can climb the rock like me and my daughter did it's a awesome view read more

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A sweet slice of heaven on earth (Central Coastal Cali). The ride to this beach is mystical - you'll need to drive through an unusual forest with trees that have a story of their own you tell. There are plenty of pull off points to take in the view of the coast line until you come across Spooner's Cove. I wonder if this was a place where pirates came to replenish or take refuge from the sea? If you are in SLO I encourage you to take this short drive for amazement. I made it for sunset read more

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I woke up in somebody's else bed. At first, I was confused. I was in shock and a little bit in awe, so to speak. As I got up, I looked around. Had I been here before? For some reason, this place felt eerily familiar to me and I couldn't explain why. And then, it happened... He touched me. It felt cold at first... very, very cold. But soon, it began to feel like a warm embrace. He started at my feet and worked his way up until he reached my shoulders. By this time, I was numb. My eyes were closed and I was just floating in his warmth... floating in complete comfort. I didn't want this feeling to end. I opened up my eyes and I looked at him. He was big and ferocious. A little rough around the edges but so amazingly beautiful inside. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. He was blue. A crystal clear, blue. His splashing waves sang to me in the sweetest song. The sky casted a wonderful reflection off of his body, and the sun illuminated him like no other. He got excited and started to drift me deeper into him. But it was too deep for me to handle, so I started to back away. I slowly backed away until I could only feel him on my feet again. The wind blew and I started to feel cold. I didn't want to leave him, but I had to go. I turned around and walked away, only leaving behind my footprints in his sand. I looked down beneath my feet and then... I saw it. His heart. His heart in the form of a beautiful rock. I quickly picked it up and took it with me. I stole it. I stole his heart the same way that he stole mine. I can still remember the way he sounds. The way he touched me. The way that he made me feel. I can still remember him. And, his name. His name is Cove. Spooner's Cove. And, he is truly beautiful. read more

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My absolute favorite beach and camping spot in Central California (so coveted I hesitate to share this rare gem!) Spooner's cove has a large beach with stunning views and multiple caves which fill and empty with the tides. Restrooms and parking are on site. It's rarely busy which is surprising given its features. Hiking and camping is available in the surrounding area. Always a wonderful place to come back to! read more

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So lovely and a wonderful place to find smooth beach rocks. I like collecting one and writing the name and date I visited underneath it as a keepsake. This is where the tide pools are. We caught high tide so unfortunately we were not able to see much. But when the tide is low, definitely make it out here. It is a short drive from Morro Bay Rock. read more

Spooner's Cove - Views to your front during high tide - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

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Spooner's Cove is a beautiful beach tucked away inside the Montana de Oro State Park. It's right across the road from the campground (very convenient if you're camping here), and is a 20-minute drive from the nearest town of Los Osos. The beach is relatively small but not too crowded. There's ample parking in the lot above the beach. The cove is hemmed in by tall cliffs on both sides, with hiking trails going up them. Along the cliffs are interesting formations, like one where the cliff comes down in the shape of an arch, allowing passage through it. There are tidepools and a large rock jutting out into the water. The rock is climbable, and provides a pleasant view of the blue sea and white froth from waves crashing into the rocks. Colorful pebbles adorn the shore, and there are a couple picnic tables on the beach. The waves are large so surfing is definitely possible, but only experienced surfers should surf here due to the rocks. More surfing info here: http://en.wannasurf.com/spot/North_America/USA/California/San_Luis_Obispo/spooners_cove/ read more

Spooner's Cove - Taken from the hills above the Montana De Oro campgrounds - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

Spooner's Cove is a treasure trove for gathering smooth rocks and shells. I came to the Montana de Oro State Park with the family looking for a fun activity or two and we definitely hit the jackpot on this beach. Between collecting beach stones and climbing around the rock formations there was a sold two hours or activity. The only bummer was the parking which was a hassle on a busy weekend. We had to park up the road and hike down. - Free - Kid fun day. - This whole park has many exploring and hiking opportunities. read more

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From my 9 year old: there is a lot of nice animals I saw a seal and a sea anemone. This place is eally good cause it's very fun to explore and just see the rocks it's pretty rocky but there's a lot of like shells to find and collect so thank you! From me: parking is easy and ample... They do have bathrooms available... The sand is a little bit rocky, so it's not exactly like a day at the beach... We hit this place on our way out of town as a final adventure, which worked worked out perfectly... read more

Spooner's Cove - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

Wow! What a beautiful place! The cliffs and the rock formations are breathtaking. There's a public parking lot when you get to the cove and it can get quite crowded there at times. If you've never taken the time to drive to Montana de Oro State Park when on the central coast, it is definitely worth your time. Spooner's Cove has a great beach area for the kids to play in the sand or the water. Nearby there are many trails throughout the park. Spooner's Cove is the only area in the park where dogs are allowed. They must be on leash, though. read more

Great hidden beach on the Central Coast of CA. We've been to the beaches near SLO like Avila and Pismo, but never ventured a bit West to Montana de Oro in the Los Osos area. When my husband mentioned his curiosity regarding this area our cousins brought us here for a few hours to check it out. The views at Spooner's Cove are breathtaking, and there is free parking on a bumpy dirt lot or street parking! The beach sand is more like small pebbles vs. soft sand. This is not a walking beach but rather a small cove style beach, reminded me of some of the beaches in HI. We had fun sifting through the sand to find small pieces of jade and the smallest intact shells I've ever seen! read more

Located inside Montana De Oro state park, Spooner's Cove is a beach great for tide pooling, rock collecting, and hiking. You can bring your dog here. The shore is made of pebbles of various sizes. There is a rock jetty that you can walk on and there are tide pools around. If you like to climb, there is a massive rock in the center of the beach that people scale and then walk around on. Nearby, you'll find vault toilets (nasty huge holes in the ground over which a toilet is placed). No sinks, no plumbing in the "bathrooms". Bring your hand wipes and any other items needed for your visit. There are no services for miles so come prepared. Entry into the park and parking for the day is free. If you'd like to camp, check out the rental of the primitive camping sites online. read more

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If you're visiting Montana de Oro State Park and love to beach comb, then Spooner's Cove should be on your itinerary for the day. It's a small beach that is primarily made up of smooth round stones and framed up with rock formations and cliffs. After hiking Hazard Peak on Thanksgiving weekend, I was able to head down to Spooner's Cove to admire the waves crashing and collect some beautiful shells and pebbles. Located about 20 minutes or so from Morro Bay it's a pleasant ride in to the park. If you're hungry along the way or looking to bring a picnic, the town of Los Osos is right outside the entrance to Montana de Oro. It's fun to climb the rocks if the tide is low, but be aware-in the winter there could be sneaker waves (I witnessed one family nearly get trapped out on the rock formation when the tide suddenly surged.) Relatively small beach with an adjacent lot-perfect for either settling in and spending the day admiring the dramatic coastline or for a quick visit as you explore the entire park. read more

The ride to the cove is a bit treacherous but the cove itself is quite lovely. We were there during high tide so we unable to fully explore the cove. We'll need to return during low tide. read more

Spooners Cove is located within Montana de Oro State Park at the intersection of Pecho Valley Road and Campground Road. There is a small parking lot by the roadside, and it is a short walk from the overnight campgrounds just to the East. The beach is covered with smooth colorful stones just perfect for rock collecting or skipping. Curiously, a number of the rocks bear smooth depressions or holes in them, creating interesting shapes and textures. A child (or a childlike adult) could lose themselves for hours collecting and comparing the beautiful shapes and colors of the beach rocks. The cove is flanked on both sides by rocky cliffs that are just a little too tempting not to camber over. One starts to follow a trail, only to discover it was but a figment of the imagination and you are blazing new trails in a journey of discovery of the beauty of the natural world that surrounds you. You can see the various layers of rock that make up the cliffs, some sections jutting at awkward angles that makes one wonder about the geological history of the place. Was it earthquakes causing the various sections to tilt and fall? Did the movement of tectonic plates send sections soaring to the sky? Volcanos? Natural erosion from the wind and waves? Whatever the cause, this cove exhibits the striking majesty of nature at its rawest and roughest. If you're lucky enough to visit at low tide (I wasn't) you can explore tidal pools or climb the large rock that rises far overhead from the water's edge in the middle of the cove. At high tide, you can watch the waves crashing over the rocks shooting jets of white foam skyward, watch the seagulls soar overhead, listen to the soothing sound of the waves washing ashore, or enjoy the bright orange flowers that seem to grow abundantly everywhere around the edges of the parking lot. There's a little something for everyone's taste here. There are two single stall public restrooms in the parking lot, but one of them was in rough shape during our visit which occurred around 7 pm on a Saturday. There is also a sign which explains what you are supposed to do if you hear a sustained siren for 3-5 minutes during your visit to the beach. Here's what will happen if I hear the siren during my next visit: 1. hear siren 2. crap my pants 3. try to remember where that sign was 4. follow the advice on the sign to go indoors and tune to my radio. Come to think of it, that might explain the poor condition of one of the restroom stalls... hmmmm... read more

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Beautiful beach! The sand here is smaller, smooth rocks and it feels amazing on your feet. It's also nice to not have sand in everything when you come here. Perfect for finding cools rocks and shells too. It's usually pretty quiet and peaceful. There are some awesome rocks to climb on. Plenty of parking, a few picnic tables and bathrooms. Bring a picnic and enjoy this beauty! read more

Spooner's Cove - This place rocks. - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

What a beautiful and fun experience! I parked in the parking lot and walked the 2 minute walk to the water/cove. Warning: It is very pebbly/rocky walking to the water so it will hurt your feet (with or without shoes). But it's worth it! The cove was so fun to climb and stand on with the water splashing all around you. The waves are strong and the tide was high so be careful- especially with little kids. And I would reccomend to wear water-proof shoes that have some traction because the rocks are wet and slippery. Gorgeous photo op. and lots of fun! read more

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Great place!! As much as I like beach sand it's hard to get off on little ones but this beach is made up of tiny smooth rocks... so no sandy kids or cars!! Nope they don't hurt when you walk on them barefoot but probably not the best for playing volleyball. Lots of trails nearby and tide pools to explore. Limited parking but free, restrooms but no flushing toilets. read more

Spooner's Cove - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

This is for a 7-4-2018 review. There is a free parking lot at the beach. So car to sand distance was foot steps away. The beach was not crowded so it was very nice walking on the beach. The pebbles were silky smooth and mostly egg shape and flat. Very pretty to look at. We walked over to the cave on the right side of the beach. It was interesting. We did not want to stay long as the tide was getting stronger in the late afternoon. We did not go on the rock jetty ad it looked very slippery. The most interesting and sad thing on the beach was red crabs (looks like red shrimp) washed up onto the beach on the left and died on the beach. Possibly Crustaceans. We tried to throw the alive ones back into the water but they washed back up to the beach. Maybe there is algae toxins in the water. read more

A very serene area. Please don't bring your dog here. If you do, please keep it on a leash. Please don't let it piss and crap on the beach and at the water's edge, as I have seen done here so often. Just because dogs may be allowed doesn't mean it's dog "friendly." In general, dog owners are rude people. I know this post will cause lots if backlash from them because they don't get it. Montana de Oro should stay clean of pet noise pollution and dog annoyance pollution. Children play here on a regular basis. As parents, we aren't obligated to tolerate rude dog owners and their dog's urine and feces ruining our beach experiences. read more

The view at spooners is always nice, last couple years more people have been finding out about it so it's getting a little rough in the crowd coming. Multiple hikes around the Cove if it's to busy at the time being. Cool how you can hike on top of the rocks In the Cove to sit and relax, just watch out both south and North rocks if you don't the tide can catch you off guard. Hopefully people start cleaning up after themselves more and don't ruin it for everyone else. read more

Spooner's Cove - Overcast today - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

If you haven't been out here at least once, shame on you... Come early, and stay late. Also, there is some interesting local history to be found at the small house up the hill. Spectacular ocean environments and the beginning of a variety of hiking trails to satisfy any casual to moderately difficult hiking desires with gorgeous 360 degree views from different peaks. read more

Loved the rock formations!!! The rocks are literally striations and layers of rocks. It was pretty amazing to walk through them and check it out. You can explore the whole area in a few hours, there's alot of tide pools and rocks to climb over and of course, lots of photos opps. Be careful on the rocks though, they are slippery. Saw many eager kids climbing around just to fall the next minute. And the rocks are very sharp, I do not recommend going in flip flops or flats (like me). Wear tennis shoes and bring a camera! read more

Spooner's Cove - Awesome rock formations - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

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Now this is a beach!!! This a lovely cove located approximately 20 minutes from Morro Bay with stunning views of the bay while in route. The cove itself is a rocky beach with dramatic rock formations and a long, skinny peninsula that juts out from the mainland. Be sure to plan a beach day here and take the time to walk the peninsula to the vista point at it's end. Highly recommended, even for a quick peak. read more

Spooner's Cove - A small corner of the cove. - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

Oh Spooners Cove. I love you and hate you at the same time. So I'm going to start on a sour note so I can end on a positive one. We were trying to get away from the heat, but it was ridiculously hot here. The sand isn't regular sand, it was tiny little gravels. I was trying to run towards the ocean barefoot, but I burned my foot so I had to run back and get my Vans sandals. The drive to get here is short, but windy and because it's the summer, the scenery was ugly besides the ocean. We just came from Big Sur a couple of weeks ago and none other than Lake Tahoe can compare to the views. We should have brought an umbrella because my very pale husband got sunburned pretty quick and there was no shade and so hot, my dog was hiding behind my husband to get some shade from his shadow. Also, the restrooms have no handwashing station so I waited until we got into town. My husband and dog just hung out on our beach mat while I dipped my feet in the ocean. I also attempted to climb the big rock. I got up, but my soda bottle slid down, then, one of my sandals slid down, then I started sliding down. My husband was laughing as a man nearby had to help me down. The man was laughing and told me I wasn't wearing the right shoes and that I should have scaled the sides. That was a big fail. What wasn't a big fail was the vast amount of parking which was free and the beautiful scenery. I may not have made it on the big rock, but I was able to walk through the shallow tide in front to get on what I called an island, but is actually a rock jetty. It was gorgeous. It was hot on the sand, but for a minute, I was at peace. The waves crashing against the jetty, the views and the feel of the pacific ocean on my feet made this California girl happy. If I had a change of clothes, I would have let the waves splash me. It's crazy how much I love the beach and the ocean, but I don't know how to swim. read more

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Beautiful cove! Great for families and couples. Love the cove and trails along the coast. read more

Spooner's Cove - Spooner's Cove - photo taken along the trail - Beaches Near Me - Los Osos, California

Pretty beach but they need to have signs warning of the tar issue, we had to leave early with our feet covered in smelly tar from walking near the water... keep shoes on and look at the pretty view from afar read more

Awesome area to visit and explore! You can climb up the big rock (just be careful), explore the tidepools, fish off the rocks, dip your feet in the cold water, picnic on the pebbly beach, chase the birds, take pictures, etc... Plenty of room to spread out and a wonderful place to be. With two young ones, I wasn't going to climb the rock like I did last time but it sure was fun just being out there watching the waves with them. The parking lot has a ton of potholes so take it easy driving through - no rush! Easy drive from Pismo/SLO/MB/Avila and well-worth the visit. read more

An awesome place to relax & gather your thoughts!! Great beach for rock collecting too. :)

Just absolutely peaceful and beautiful read more

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Truely a hidden gem in the central coast. Water is great as is the view. The rock formations are great for climbing and there are hiking trails close by. read more