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KimberlyAnn Says: Pismo State Beach is an area of one of the largest areas for wintering Monarch Butterflies in the United states, varying from 20,000 to 200,000 per year. Wow! Wouldn’t that be something to see? These orange and black butterflies will form large hanging clusters in the...
Ocean Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area
KimberlyAnn Says: Pismo is the only beach in California where the area along the water’s edge is firm enough to support travel by ordinary street vehicles. At the southern end of the State Beach is the 2800 acre Ocean Dunes SVRA, State Vehical Recreation Area, for off highway vehicles. This...
KimberlyAnn Says: The Meadow Creek Trail is an attractive, short walk that connects the area near the Le Sage Day Use access ramp to the beach, and the North Beach Campground and Monarch Butterfly area. The trail starts at the western end of the Le Sage Drive and leads north, ending near the...
KimberlyAnn Says: If you enjoyed the short, Beach Dune Trail, you might like to walk The Grand Dunes Trail. This is a one-way trail, which begins near the Grover Beach Day Use Area at the end of Grand Avenue, then winds south through the dunes to Oceano Campground. Some of the plants that...
KimberlyAnn Says: If you are at the Oceano Campground, or visiting the visitor center there, take the short winding Beach Dune Trail to the beach. It is a very lovely walk through a plant and shrub covered set of dunes. If you watch carefully, you may see small lizards and pretty birds along...
Nature Center and Lagoon Trail
KimberlyAnn Says: There is a small Nature Center located at the Oceano Campground. This center has a few displays on the birds, animals, butterflies, and native plants in the area, as well as the Chumash Indian culture. There is also a collection of videos. Since we missed the main monarch...
North Beach Campground: My Favorite Campground
KimberlyAnn Says: North Beach is the second of two campgrounds located in Pismo State Beach. We had made a week’s reservations in the Oceano Campground, but when that week was up we moved to North Beach, which became our favorite campground on our winter trip that year. This campground has no...
Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground: If You Need Electricity
KimberlyAnn Says: Oceano Campground has 42 sites with water and electric hook-up for trailers and RVs up to 36 foot, as well as 40 additional sites without electricity for those up to 31 foot. There is also one primitive hike or bike in site. Picnic tables and fire rings, as well as...
KimberlyAnn Says: Pismo State Beach has very few violent crimes, but at times there are thefts of private property. It is recommended that you do not leave valuables in your car out in plain view, and that you always lock your car. If you are camping, be sure to stow valuables and lock bikes...
KimberlyAnn Says: There are no lifeguards on the beach, so be careful when swimming or wading, as water conditions can be dangerous due to rip currents and heavy surf. The word Pismo comes from the Chumash Indian word meaning tar. Sometimes tar like deposits wash up on the beach from the...
KimberlyAnn Says: Before we visited Pismo, I had heard that the area was known for their clams and their butterflies. At one time Pismo was famous for it’s clams, but that is not so today. Historically Pismo clams were an important food source for the Chumash Indians. Even in modern times,...
Plan a Pismo State Beach vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Pismo State Beach locals
Oceano Campground has 42 sites with water and electric hook-up for trailers and RVs up to 36 foot, as well as 40 additional sites without electricity for those...
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Pismo State Beach, A Place To Have Fun
About halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, you will find Pismo State Beach, stretching along Highway 1 from Oceano to Pismo Beach, California. The park has low coastal sand dunes, a broad......
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