Estero Bluffs State Park

Estero Bluffs State Park is a minimally-developed area just a few miles north of Morro Bay on the California coast. Once home to the ancestors of the Chumash Indians, it was later the site of mission lands and cattle ranching holdings under the Spanish before becoming part of a dairy ranch. The land was sold to a developer in 1965, and local residents worked for years to prevent development. They finally succeeded when the land was purchased by the Trust for Public Lands in 2000 and turned over to the state in 2002.

Today the park's primary purpose is to preserve the rich and varied ecosystem. There are no restrooms, drinking water, or camping facilities. There are several parking areas and trails that reach from the adjacent highway up to and along the coastal bluffs. The park is about 2.5 miles long and less than a half mile wide between Highway 1 and the shore. Within its narrow boundaries are wetlands along seasonal creeks, coastal scrub, sand dunes, rocky outcroppings and sea stacks and grasslands with many native grasses and wildflowers.

The park is a wonderful place to stop and spend and hour or several hours enjoying the spectacular coastal scenery and the surprising solitude available just yards from the highway.