Montana de Oro State Park California live oak and Bishop pine
occur in the chaparral covered hills, and there are willows,
big-leaf maple, box elder, myrtle and black cottonwood trees in
the stream-cut canyons. Trails have been developed throughout
this uplifted area and hikers are welcome to explore all parts
of the park. Motor vehicles must remain on the paved roads. The
park includes more than 8,000 acres, is largely undeveloped, and
features a wide range of wildlife including rabbits, squirrels,
skunks, raccoons, badgers, deer, fox, bobcats, coyote, and even
an occasional mountain lion. There are also many kinds of birds,
and in the spring and early summer a brilliant display of
wildflowers. It was the predominantly yellow color of these
flowers that inspired the naming of the this area - Montana de
Oro or Mountain of Gold. A unique feature of Montana de Oro
State Park is the long sandspit that separates Morro Bay from
the ocean. Made up of successive rows of sand dunes, some of
which reach 85 feet in hei