Spyglass Park is a clean, fun and scenic park in Pismo Beach. There is a parking lot to park in…read more This park has bathrooms, which were clean when I was there. There is a large grassy area to play on. There are a few picnic tables to eat on. There is a fantastic overlook to see the ocean. There is a semi hidden path to get down to the ocean. The playground is great. Part of the playground is in the shape of a ship. There is plenty of equipment to climb on and a few slides to enjoy. There are toddler swings but there aren't any regular swings. Part of the playground has wood chips underneath, part has soft padding. The playground has a larger and smaller playgrounds. Both playgrounds are in good condition. Have fun out there. -Dadzone

Loved this little hiding spot. It's a cute little park. My dog and boyfriend could have stayed for…read moreliteral hours!!! I loved that there was beach access too. Pretty awesome. I would love to go back for a picnic or just some relaxation! Compared to Central Valley heat, it's a real nice get away in the summer! Definitely recommend this park for families, couples, everyone!

A nice beach where you can actually drive down too. They did let us know it's only 5 dollars to…read morepark but if you get stuck in the sand they will not tow you. So if you don't think your car can do it they do have free parking in walking distance. We parked and walked down to the beach. The sand was so soft and not hot at all. We happen to show up on a day they were having a sand art competition. It was really cool to see what people can make with sand. My boys tried to make their own tiny scale sand castles too. We did notice they had people selling toys and ice cream out here. This beach did seem A little quieter than pismo. So if you want a slower side to relax this might be the beach for you.

Grover Beach really is a hidden paradise and has so much to offer, including one of the best…read morebeaches and dog friendly trails in south county. The Sand Dunes are incredibly popular during the summer and allow you to drive on the beach to BBQ and have campfires in the sand. Such a wonderful place to hang out on the weekends with friends and family. They have a beautiful 9-hole hold course with beautiful ocean views, as well as some well maintained RV parks within blocks to the ocean! Grover Beach is growing significantly and there are a lot of small businesses popping up, so it's a great time to be here! Love this little city

It should be renamed "Ankle Twist Park"…read more As far as a neighborhood park, it is a nice place to walk to and back home, but as a greater public park area, it really does not compare to other area parks. Since the sunset is generally behind the Spyglass outcropping, you will miss a proper sunset. The view is OK for a few minutes, but is forgetable and cannot compare to the much more expansive views on the many other coves , beaches, and even cul de sacs along this area. Rather oddly, we often take our walks toward Spyglass and the coves/beaches beyond since they are far better...and can offer a great snack or meal at the areas hotel resturants...or even grabbing something from De Palos Deli [& then hitting Spyglass Park or even the Hotel area promenade to then consume coffee and a snack]. The grassy area is pocketed with all too many goffer holes, so it is all too easy to twist an ankle. If you do make it to the water area, the overwhelming number of large rounded and slippy loss huge rocks can definitely pose yet another challenge for proper footing. There are no restrooms, food, parking or facilities since it is a residential area, as opposed to the very nearby Spyglass Park [which has it all, including a playground]. While there are stairs, can end in active surf at high tide and the rocky area is then inaccessible. Even though the stairs are not that old, erosion has heavily damaged the bottom and between the erosion, huge gap, and slippy rocks, it is far from a safe area for kids or older adults. The addition of stairs was more to rescue the local sewage system with retaining walls than to make a useful beach or a park. Sadly, this small rocky cove fails at being useful as a beach, a fishing area, a surfing spot, and a rest area. The most likely visitor are actually tourists who probably have lost their way to better nearby coastal areas. Spyglass Park is literally just a couple of blocks away. That being said, the Park and area are nice places to live and walk around, but as for going to a beach, all locals will walk, bike, & drive to other areas for far better parks, beaches, and more. The areas from Spyglass to Palisades Park is much nicer...as are the coves near Dinosaur Caves....but then again sandy beaches are far better at nearby Pismo Beach or Avila. The neighborhood views in our area can be excellent depending upon where one lives near the park, orientation, elevation, and light pollution. Since I am into various forms of Photography, I do take all kinds of photos from very near this park area. Since the spray and mist can be an issue, I typically take more photos away from this immediate park area and more in residential areas...but then street lights are more of an issue. Unfortunately, there is a large street light right next to the park which degrades the night sky. In my area near the park, I have taken great photos available to those with a elevated porch and good views of the sky, the ocean, and some of the coast. We are lucky to have a good view of the Orion Nebula, distant Fireworks off the distant Pismo Pier, and more.

I think this is our first time to this park and it was quite relaxing here. Great views of the…read morecliff and the ocean. We parked here and took a break during our bike ride! Definitely one of our favorite places to visit, an easy 2 hr drive from our spot!

We started out for the park -- but went down the hill a bit more and found this amazing beach (not…read moresure what the name is). Dog friendly with many furry friends playing and running in the water. Beach is large too -- with high bluffs around it. Looks like a cool surfing spot as well. I'm sure this is popular with the locals as it doesn't come up if you search "dog beach" -- but now you know the secret!

We are SLO locals and stumbled upon this cute, quiet, peaceful little park while looking for an…read moreescape during the fires in No CA which brought a lot of smoke into the area of SLO County where we live. There is a small parking lot for visitors to this park ... you enter the neighborhood at Hermosa to get to the parking lot. Near the parking lot there are about 4 picnic tables w/ BBQs and a horse shoe pit. There is also a small playground area for children. If you head up the hill a short walk to the top of the park, there's a beautiful ocean view. There is a nearby bench and ocean view point, but no beach access.

Local Walk: "SLIPPERY WITH LOOSE PEBBLES"…read more Of course there are nice 360 views on the sizable plateau on top, and going up is steep for a short bit. Unfortunately, if you are used to even easy to moderate hiking, it is a near insignificant amount of Cardio, since it may take only 5-10 minutes to get to the top, using the steepest assent. Now if even you did prepare by wearing decent hiking sneaker or shoes, you would still have to be cautious going back down since there are tons of loose pebbles & dirt all over the rutted well worn path. Since most people come up here not for hiking, but for a nice walk, the view, or even a picnic, I think that they should make a concrete or asphalt path for those people for safety reasons. I did see a least one big group of about 15 people complete with coolers coming down, without really paying attention to the risk of falling. The short path up is rather nice and either side can be filled with yellow wildflowers along the way. Before you know it, you are on top, and you wonder if that is it. It is. While there are a few more meandering paths up or down, they again has quite a few loose pebbles, and are not much of an improvement. Since I read that it was considered not much of a hike, I did not prepare and did wear my older New Balance 990 running sneakers. While they are great for flat smooth ground, they are definitely not good to navigate a step slope with loose pebbles, even for such a short distance. Once you get on top, the views are quite nice, but if you are a local, you are going up there more to do stuff. You will either see people picnicking, walking around, or even doing Yoga. While it is called a Preserve, and can be termed a hike, a park, or a walk, it is really quite limited in value, since there are no services, water, nor bathrooms. In conclusion, it is more for immediate locals, or for those who want some cool pics, but not worth a special trip. Compared to let say Laguna Lake trails, it is rather disappointing. At least with Laguna Preserve, you do see birds, varied terrain, can do a whole range of easy to challenging distances and elevation, and have good views to boot. Laguna Lake also has restrooms on the bottom. If one is really into trying different hiking areas, the Alltrails website/app is likely the best for finding viable trails, but since mostly experienced hikers do the reviews, they have a bias toward making things seem easier for those who are not in shape. You can even set your iPhone to use both your GPS & Alltrails to map your progress, time, elevation, & more. Along with your iwatch, you can also keep track of your heart rate and more over your hike and during recovery.

My peace and serenity whenever I needed to take a break from studying or a quick brisk walk after a…read morework out and wanted a beautiful view of SLO. I've gone up here multiple times just for the views and even had dinner up here once. Sunset time is the best. Apparently this place was really popular during the midst of covid. Lots of picnics up here, which I still see! Grab your mat and chill for a bit. This isn't a place where you get a workout. It's a short walk up hill so don't expect to have to hike or break that much of a sweat. It's best to wear tennis shoes, but I walked up with my vans and I have seen many walk up with sandals and slippers.

One of the most beautiful and secluded areas I've been to. If you walk down to the dunes via…read moreStrand Street towards where the vehicles congregate you may see a tribune you have to cross. Head east from there as there is a gap between areas that are protected.

I can only assume that Pismo Dunes Natural Preserve gets so little traffic because it's getting…read moreconfused for the more X-treme Oceano Dunes SRVA (which is awesome in its own right). While they are immediately adjacent, they are worlds apart. Making a pilgrimage through the dune grass, away from the ATVs and Jeeps whirling their wheels into sand pits, you'll be rewarded with quiet warmth and geographic perfection. Hours can be spent watching the wind blow miniature canyons into the silk-fine sand, or diving down the tallest dunes only to fall onto the natural pillows of pure beach. Completely protected from cars, traffic, and (frankly) assholes, the Natural Preserve is an arid oasis. I like to imagine that if I were a Chumash living in the area generations ago, I would have a pretty awesome home going in the Dunes. It shouldn't cost you anything to get there. In Oceano, drive to the end of Pier Ave. and park for free either on the street or in the lot, near all the ATV rentals. Walk south about half a mile along the beach, then veer east toward a natural lake. You'll see markers restricting motor vehicle access - go beyond them, and keep going until you hit a clearing...you'll know the Dunes when you see them - they'll make you feel like you've landed on the moon. By far one of my favorite places in SLO County - a definite must for someone looking to relax and soak in some unique, natural beauty. Enjoy.

In the area celebrating our 13th anniversary, my wife and I happened upon this docent-led…read more(reservation-only) trail tour to the Point San Luis Lighthouse. The hike was easy enough for us (it is noted as moderately strenuous) and not overly long. The highlight of the trail (aside from the extraordinary views of SLO Bay) were the docents: knowledgeable, funny, and paced the hike for everyone to enjoy. There are some steep steps, but the scenery was gorgeous. We learned a great deal about the history of the area. At the lighthouse, we took the tour, which again was beyond our expectations. The lighthouse, long abandoned until the late 1990s, has been incredibly restored and the stories of the people who lived there were interesting. The original 4th Order Fresnel Lens is on display. We had a great time!

Shh, don't tell anyone, but this well-kept secret is one of the best experiences in SLO county. We…read morestumbled onto this place while researching the area and lucked out with a spot on one of the free, docent-led tours. (Be sure to make a reservation online.) This was so much fun and informative, from start to finish. The docents were knowledgeable and easygoing, and guided our group along the coast, pointing out the variety of flora and fauna native (and non-native) to the area. The hike is about 2 miles each way, with some ascent and, conversely, descent, though nothing was too intense. The midway point is at the lighthouse, where there's an optional tour, which provides more stunning views. Speaking of, the views throughout the hike are absolutely stunning; we lucked out and a bit of the marine layer was still in place on our return to the starting point. The roundtrip takes about four hours (9am-1pm), though it all went by in the blink of an eye.

This little quiet neighborhood park is just up the creek from the end of Pismo Beach's boardwalk…read more All you do, is to follow Addie Street up and you will at first encounter a cool single lane vintage wooden bridge [Cypress Street] from which you will have good views of the marsh bird life. Then, you will also pass the historic Pismo Beach Cities Lions Club, which was instrumental in the founding of some of the neighboring parks per their website: "Pismo Beach Cities Lion Club was established in 1945. Our Charter President Joe Rose was also the first mayor of the City Of Pismo beach...He was instrumental in the construction of the Mary G. Harrington Park, the Ira Lease Park, and the Ira Boosinger Park in Pismo Heights... We hold many pancake breakfasts, hall rentals, bartend special events, that help us in our fundraising efforts towards eye-care for the needy,recycle eye glasses and hearing aids for third world countries, fundraise for The Noor Foundation, Support Canine Companions,support the Lions Eyesight Trailer that provides eye-exams to students across the county from Paso Robles to Arroyo Grande. Monies are also raised and donated for Slo Food Bank, SLO chapter of NAMI... Pismo Beach Cities Lions Club is always welcoming new members that are looking to serve the community!"... ~~~~~~~~~~~ Up a bit more, you will encounter two cute little local parks on either side of Hwy #1 [Cabrillo Hwy] One side is called Mary Harrington Park and the other is Ira Lease Park. Each offers a quiet respite from the Pier or Beach crowds and have mostly local visitors. Sometimes it seems that the ducks outnumber the people here. If you are looking for a nice quiet grassy area for young kids to play in, this is it. Pismo Cities website describes it as such: "A 1 acre park located on Pismo Creek (west side of Dolliver Street), the park offers a restroom, grassy recreation area, picnic tables and benches, individual and public barbecue facilities, a drinking fountain, bicycle and auto parking. Handicapped parking is also available. Park is located in downtown, nearby campground areas." Across the street it describes it's sister park as: "A 1 acre park located on Pismo Creek (on the east side of Dolliver Street), offers a trail along the creek, grassy recreation area, picnic tables and benches, barbecue facilities, drinking fountain, bicycle and auto parking. Handicapped parking is available. Park is located in downtown, nearby campground areas. " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Many of the City Parks info can be found at https://www.pismobeach.org/99/Parks They list some of the many more landlocked neighborhood Parks that mostly locals visit, such as: Boosinger Park [" A lovely neighborhood park with play equipment, drinking fountain, picnic areas, bbq's and benches. Spectacular city and ocean views" ]; Chumash Park {"This 38-acre natural park includes wetlands, willows, oaks and is popular with walkers and dog lovers. The park also has two play areas, picnic tables, a basketball court and restrooms"} [this really nice Park/Pond/Creek/Path/Playground with safety mats] is right across the 101, opposite the Outlet stores]; Highland Park {"This 7 acre park which includes picnic areas and children's play equipment. "} [it is up the road near Chumash Park]; Price Historical Park {" Four acre park in the country, with hiking trails, class 1 bike trail, and open space. The gated Meherin House and the Price Anniversary House, built by Pismo Beach founder, John Michael Price, are located on this park. The park incorporates history from Chumash culture, Missions System, and Historical Pismo Beach Access to the site is available by private tour only..."}; Ebb Tide Park {" Secluded park located at the end of Ebb Tide Court Beautiful grassy area with short cement pathway Amazing views of the Pacific Ocean"} on top of the Palisades Beach Park]; & more of the better known Parks, such as Dinosaur Caves, Eldwayen, Spyglass, Palisades Parks [North & South], but do not include others, such as Pirates Cove or Memory Park. All of these places are wonderful to explore if you either stay for an extended vacation, love to explore, or are locals. Some are more "kids safe" than others, like the fully foam matted huge Kids Playground @ Chumash Park, which has restrooms, picnic tables, and easy access to the eats [or the take out Bagel sandwich shop] near/around the Pismo Outlet stores & Cali-Fresh.