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Morro Rock
Rating Details »
Categories: Parks, Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
Morro Bay State Park RdMorro Bay, CA 93442
(805) 772-2560
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
16 reviews for Morro Rock
Morro Rock- a big ol' funky rock on the edge of the ocean.
Once upon a time, I lived in close proximity to the beach and the rock (don't be too jealous). At sunset, I would cross the street (highway 1 to be exact) with a coffee mug full of wine (worked at a winery, free wine was a perk), go left and march down the shore towards the rock. Along the way towards the rock, I'd pass the three smoke stacks to the left and watch otters and porpoises swim by the day's last rays on the right (great way to get chillax time and exercise in at the same time huh?) In the last bit before the rock, you come to the road. Accessible by car from the main road, you would pass a skate park and a small playground until you reach the lumpy bumpy parking lot. The rock is on the left (impossible to miss) and you can hear the waves crashing along the shore of the tide pools and lagoon (which you can begin your kayaking journey in if you are so inclined). Once you get closer to the rock, you can see the friendly but greedy seagulls and squirrels. No lie, the squirrels have it down when it comes to begging. A couple of fries or other snacky type food will give you a chubby furry companion to sit next to (and potentially take pictures of). Farther down the road, will take you to the warning signs against climbing the rock and how slick the rock is. Truth be told, I've had lots of friends scale the rock and not hurt themselves. I'm not advocating climbing stuff you aren't supposed to but if you have experience doing it, a sign is no going to stop you. For all of you nonclimbers there are a bunch of tide pools to hike around on and in. Plenty of hermit crabs, anenome and sea urchin to harass. Bring your camera and something sturdier than flip flops and you'll have some fun.
Best part is that its free. Downtown Morro Bay is close by, as are Albertson's/ Spencer's (both grocery stores) and inexpensive berry picking off of Highway 46 making it a perfect stop off on a day trip down or up Highway 1.
Once you've gone to Morro Rock, the sight becomes familiar (because really how many big ol' rocks are you going to see?). Fun reference for future flying: if you're ever on flight from LA/San Diego to the Bay Area (or vice versa) look on the coast for the three smoke stacks. They'll be blinking red and you can spot the rock close by. Yep yep a trip to Morro Bay makes getting the window seat that much more fun!
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Morro Rock is really a beautiful place! I use to camp near here with my dad and we would buy salt water taffy and come explore the rock.
Someone earlier said the rock was best from afar...perhaps they are right. It isn't very pretty when you actually drive to it, but from the visitor's center you get a pretty view.
The last of San Luis's seven sister, Morro Rock is, not surprisingly, best from afar. Any view of the coastline is not complete here on the Central Coast without a view of this natural landmark.
There is, however, no hiking or scaling allowed on the rock itself. The is a vast dirt parking lot at the base of the rock where you can park and enjoy a sandwich while watching the local surfers catch the breaking waves to the north side of the rock.
Beautiful, but take your picture from a distance and keep on truck'n.
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For some reason I thought Morro Rock was going to be small, you know maybe a hundred feet tall at the most. Wrong! Morro Rock is almost 600 feet high and is absolutely striking, both from afar and up close.
Although climbing the Rock is not allowed because there are frequent rock slides and getting down often requires professional assistance, I highly recommend driving out to see the waves break on the jetty that sits on the backside of the Rock. There's tide pools too!
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drive to the rock.
avoid insane craters and holes in parking lot. (yeah right)
eat a sandwich.
watch the tourists feeding the dreaded seagulls, who will inevitably crap all over your vehicle.
play with the sea squirrels who live at the beach.
yeah I miss Morro Bay!
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Even when there's nothing breaking in Cayucos, there's usually still a little something at the rock. And I love the resident sea-otters (you can catch them on the left hand side while driving to the rock). The bay is also a great place to kayak. Throw together a picnic and set out for lunch at the sand spit.
My one complaint... bring down the ugly smoke stacks already! I've been looking at those monstrousities since I was born. Believe it or not, some MB residents are claiming that they are historical monuments. Any other SLO-cals agree with me here?
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Awesome surf spot with a range of skill levels. I saw some first-timers as well as aerials. Great place for shortboards and longboards. Not too crowded.
Lots of marine life: otters, jellyfish, stingrays
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This place has a peaceful presence. Take a walk along this wondrous sight of beauty and you will feel nature all around you.
Thank you yelpers for introducing me to this place!!
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Really nice area to check out for a few minutes. I wish i had gone kayaking here. The rock looks alot bigger from uphill but when you go down nearer to it it looks smaller, still big though. The beach at the rock isnt that nice but there are these huge stones that span out and occasionally you'll see the waves from the other side crash on to it and even over. A few minutes is all you need, nothing really special about this place but it looks nice in pictures! Bring your cameras.
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Um, maybe I just don't get it, but Morro Rock is a rock -- a big one, to be sure, but it's just a rock. Three cheers for Mel, the trolley driver, who drove us to the rock and back -- without even getting out. Mel's last day driving the trolley was on Saturday, so I'm glad we got to meet him. Morro Rock itself? We took a picture of it from the trolley as we were driving on by.
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Morro Rock has been used as a navigational landmark for seaman for over 300 years, or so says the historical landmark plaque that is set at the base. What it really is is a big old rock right next to the ocean. There are beaches on either side with quite a few surfers, and on the South bay we saw some otters and fatty chipmunks. Nice.
Morro Bay itself seems to be a quieter Cali coastal town. It still had its ocean-side tourist traps but less people and more parking.
The beaches were not as pristine as some of the other beaches I've seen, but again they weren't over-crowded.
In short, a nice beaches next to a huge ass rock with tons of gulls and various birds chilin'. The fact that it is free and fairly easily accessible from the 101 gives this place 4.
I did f-up my camera by dropping it in the sand here, so I just can't quite make myself give this place a 5.
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Strolling around the base of Morro Bay is such a treat at sunset. Not only is the rock extremely picturesque, but there are lovely beaches with frolicking dogs on either side of the tremendous boulder. We sat and watched sea otters swim close to shore and were bombarded by not so little squirrels who have clearly been noshing on lots of human food crumbs. There is a rocky jetty that juts out to the south from the piles of large boulders that made me awfully nervous to view...I kept having visions of monster rocks falling on my head....
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i know what each and every one of you is going to think: butt plug. i know it. on account that all of you are a bunch of dirty birdies. that's why. so just go ahead and get it out of your system already. go on, say it.
butt plug. butt plug. butt plug. butt plug. butt plug. butt plug. butt plug. butt plug. butt plug. butt plug.
okay. now that's out of your, uhm, err, ahem, system, let's get on with this review!
morro rock is a large geological formation, known as a "volcanic plug" (expects people to laugh), which essentially means, that millions and millions of years ago, we're talking about 20 million here, this rock laid inside a volcano, and obstructed the vent path of that particular volcano.
i find it fascinating (expects people to laugh again) that the entire volcano eroded and yet, the rock formation remained nevertheless. i think just imagining the process of the volcano eroding and leaving the rock formation on its own, the visual inside my head, is pretty cool.
morro rock seems to be the most popular of the rocks in the area, also known as "the nine sisters" http://en.wikipedia.or.... i think on account that this particular rock is right by the water making the shoreline around it visually stunning.
the rock is very easily accessible. there are no fees to pay. parking is free and there is a beach next to the rock for fun and frolic. waves get pretty decent for surfing too. it's also next door to morro bay downtown where there are lots of little shops and restaurants.
i'd make a weekend out of it and do what i did. jog around morro rock in the middle of the night. say, 10 or 11pm. it makes for one of the most spiritual experiences you'll ever have the pleasure of going through. try it.
oh and also:
butt plug.
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This is a place where you can actually feel the cold wind on your face while enjoying the beach at the same time. It's also where humans and animals can coexist to a degree. For example, I got close enough to take candid pictures of the squirrels that live near the rock! You can get to this place by car or bike, especially since there's now a bike path to the rock. Unless it's really warm outside, don't forget your jacket :) or you might find it a little too nippy. Best time to go is during the day.
Morro Rock is NOT just a big ass rock, it is the biggest and baddest rock I know of. I grew up in Cayucos and this beach was my backyard every summer for a few years while attending Junior Lifeguards. People see this place as so beautiful and peaceful, which it surely is but do not be so fooled. The rip tides here are notoriously nasty so make sure you are a good swimmer before taking a dip in the ocean. The rock might look fun to climb but hey I can count the number of people I have heard die from attempting this with both my hands easily. These waters are rather shark friendly too, I know a handful of surfers who have encountered the big great white here so you really don't want to mess around in these waters. Bottom line is know what you are doing when coming here and enjoy the scenery-take your camera with you, the sunsets here can be breaktaking!
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Morro Rock is a gem of the California coast and is very famous. It is amazing to see in person and everyone should just take a minute when they are in the area to stop, look, and be in awe! Somehting to really appreciate!
