Morro Strand

Morro Strand SB https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=593 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morro_Strand_State_Beach Morro Strand State Beach (formerly Atascadero State Beach) is a protected beach within California's state park system located in north Morro Bay along California State Route 1. Morro Strand is a popular coastal frontage park on Estero Bay featuring the Morro Strand Trail and picnic sites. A three-mile stretch of beach connects the southern and northern entrances to the beach. Fishing, windsurfing, beach walking, jogging, and kite flying are popular activities.

Our Mission Morro Strand State Beach The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Miles of sparkling dunes at Morro Strand State Beach hold expansive views, coastside camping and vibrant bird life. California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (805) 772-8812. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369. (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Discover the many states of California.™ Morro Strand State Beach Yerba Buena and Highway 1 Morro Bay, CA 93442 (805) 772-8812 www.parks.ca.gov/morrostrand © 2015 California State Parks M iles of established in 1771 windswept sand, and 1772. Indigenous sea and dunes people moved away at Morro Strand from their settlements State Beach curve into the missions, which gently from the town drastically changed of Morro Bay to their lives. The native Cayucos. Two long population dwindled stretches of beach from exposure to provide recreation European diseases and for visitors and lack of traditional Shorebirds at low tide habitats for a diverse food sources. array of plant and The missions were animal life. Overlooking Estero Bay and secularized in 1833, and the Mexican iconic Morro Rock, the beach hosts a variety government granted that land to Mexican of coastal environments  —including strand, citizens. Four such land grants were made dunes, and dune wetland communities. near Morro Bay. The Mexican-American War Morro Strand experiences dry summers, concluded in 1848, and in 1850 California with average temperatures in the low 70s, and became one of the United States. wet, cool winters. Coastal fog and wind affect Becoming a State Park the beach during all seasons. Morro Strand was traditionally known as Morro Beach. Land developer Edward G. PARK HISTORY Lewis purchased the southern portion in Native Peoples 1916, calling the area the Atascadero Beach or Ancestors of the Chumash and Salinan people Atascadero Colony. Lewis planned to create lived on the California’s Central Coast, including a beach community and began selling lots to the Morro Strand area. Adept at hunting and prospective builders, but only one house was gathering, they made seasonal use of the vast built. Lewis opened the Cloisters Inn and resources of the Pacific Ocean, today’s Morro Cottages in 1925, but by the start of and Estero Bays, and inland areas the Great Depression, Lewis and Spaniard Don Gaspar de Portolá’s journey his hotel were in financial and to the Central Coast in 1769 was the first legal trouble. European overland expedition to reach The inn stayed open until the area. Nearby missions San Antonio de the beginning of World War Padua and San Luis Obispo de Tolosa were Beach sand verbena II; the property was added to the State Park System in 1948, classified as Atascadero Beach. The remaining northern portion of Morro Beach had been acquired by California State Parks in 1932. Atascadero Beach and Morro Beach were combined in 1988 and renamed Morro Strand State Beach. NATURAL RESOURCES Like many places in California, Morro Strand State Beach has been greatly impacted by both invasive species and coastal development. Restoration efforts have removed invasive plant material that once blanketed the habitat, returning it to a diverse functioning dune ecosystem. Nearest the ocean is the coastal strand community. Battered with almost constant wind and waves, the strand has practically no vegetation;   kelp, wrack, driftwood, and assorted marine debris accumulate along the shoreline. Farther back from the strand, several types of dune communities are well established. Those farthest from the harsh Long-billed conditions of the strand curlew shelter more vegetation and RECREATION Camping — Camping is only available at the entrance off Yerba Buena Street. More than 70 tent or RV spaces with fire rings Campground with views of Morro Rock are available along the beach. animal life, including beach sand verbena, Restrooms are provided; campers may use the Blochman’s leafy daisy, dune scrub, and showers at nearby Morro Bay State Park with emergent wetland vegetation. Removing proof of registration. Hookups for trailers and invasive vegetation, such as European beach recreational vehicles, with a maximum length grass and ice plant, has been a focus of park of 40 feet, are available. For current reservation restoration efforts. information, call (800) 444-7275 or visit Many shorebird species overwinter www.parks.ca.gov/morrostrand. along California’s Central Coast and ca

Morro Strand State Beach Yerba Buena St. off Hwy. 1 • Morro Bay, CA 93442 • (805) 772-8812 Morro Strand State Beach is a coastal frontage park featuring outstanding beach recreation. A three-mile stretch of beach connects the southern and northern entrances to the beach. Fishing, surfing, jogging, birding, and sunbathing are popular. PARK FEES are due upon entry into the park. Use the self-registration system if the entrance station is closed. The campsite fee covers one vehicle and one towed vehicle. Additional fees apply to extra vehicles, including motorcycles. VEHICLE PARKING: No more than three licensed vehicles per site (four for motorcycles). Trailers are considered vehicles when counting for the three vehicle limit. Vehicles parked in a campsite must be parked between the white lines and entirely on the pavement. TRAILERS/RVS: Hookup sites can accommodate vehicles up to 40 feet maximum. Standard (non-hookup) sites can accommodate up to 24 feet maximum. If available, vehicles exceeding 24 feet requesting a standard site may purchase sites 4, 6, A, B, C or D. RV sites include full hookups (50 and 30 amps) and space for vehicles adjacent to the RVs. CHECK-OUT TIME is noon. Please vacate your site by that time. Check-in is 2 p.m. OCCUPANCY: Eight people MAXIMUM are allowed per campsite. SPEED LIMIT: The maximum speed limit is 15 mph. When pedestrians are present, even 15 mph might be too fast. Use good judgment. RESTROOMS: Electrical outlets in the restrooms are for short-duration use. Do not use outlets for long-duration charging. Do not use extension cords in these outlets. SHOWERS are located at Morro Bay State Park Campground. Present your receipt to the kiosk staff for free entry into campground. GENERATORS may only be operated between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. DAY USE offers beach access, restrooms, barbecues and picnic tables. Day-use parking across from the kiosk is free from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. FISHING regulations are available at www.wildlife.ca.gov. QUIET HOURS are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. All radios and other sound-producing devices must be turned off. To ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, please do not disturb other campers, regardless of the time of day or night. Voices, radios, and other soundproducing devices must not be audible beyond your immediate campsite. FIRES/FIREWOOD: Fires are only allowed in the standard (non-hookup) sites, and only in the fire rings provided. Because of space restrictions, fires are not permitted in the hookup sites, the exception being camping stoves. Collecting dead or downed wood is prohibited. Firewood is available for sale at the camp host sites. All fireworks are prohibited. BEACH: No camping or fires are permitted on the beach or in the dunes. Visitors must use marked corridors to access/exit the beach. It is unlawful to occupy the area inside the fenced habitat or nest enclosures during bird-nesting season — March 1 to September 30 annually. ALCOHOL and glass containers are allowed in your campsite and on the beach. Please use the trash and recycling receptacles for cans and bottles. TRASH: Cigarette butts, paper, boxes, bottles, ashes, and other rubbish must be placed in designated receptacles. Please clean up after yourself so that others may enjoy the beauty of this park. DOGS are permitted in campsites and on park roads and must be on a six-foot leash (or less) held by an adult. Except for service animals, dogs are NOT ALLOWED on the trails or beach. Dogs may not be left alone in the campsite and must be kept in a tent or vehicle at night. Please pick up after your pet. BICYCLE, skateboard, and scooter riders under the age of 18 are required by state law to wear a safety helmet. Mopeds and motorized scooter operators must be 16 years of age or older and licensed according to state laws. NOTE: All natural and cultural features are protected by law and may not be disturbed or removed. Discover the many states of California.TM CAMPING RESERVATIONS: You may make camping reservations by calling (800) 444-7275 (TTY 800-274-7275). To make online reservations, visit our website at www.parks.ca.gov. ALTERNATE FORMAT: If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov. To Highway 1 Morro Strand State Beach Kiosk Your space # _____________ BEACH Day-Use Area 1 3 5 2 4 6 2 4 6 81 80 79 7 9 11 8 10 12 8 10 12 78 77 76 75 74 A Ocean 1 Accessible Campsite B BEACH Pacific Legend 13 15 17 16 18 16 18 19 21 23 25 27 20 22 24 26 28 20 22 24 26 28 66 65 64 63 62 29 31 33 30 32 34 30 32 34 35 37 39 36 38 40 36 38 40 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 41 43 45 42 44 46 42 44 46 C 2 D Camp Host 71 70 69 68 67 49 48 47 Parking Picnic Area Restrooms # Telephone Trail Trash 1-46, Campsites 74-81 (24 ft. or less) 47-71 RV Campsites - Full Hookups (40 ft. or less) Campsites A-D (30 ft. - 40 ft.) For Emergencies Dial 911. © 2012 California State Parks (Rev. 2015)