Morro Bay Area
There are three camp grounds which have convenient launch sites
Morro Strand State Park
Morro Strand SP is located 15 miles West of the city of San Luis Obispo in the city of Morro Bay. Morro Strand is 2 Miles north of Morro Bay. Take highway 1 to Morro Bay. and turn toward the ocean on Yerba Buena St
You can launch right on the beach adjacent the campground, but the surf is kind of rough. Multiple break lines of hard breaking waves are typical. If you flip in outer break be sure to roll or you will have a long swim to shore. This launch site is for advanced paddlers or intermediates under the guidance of an advanced paddler. If you can't make it out through the surf, that is a good sign you should paddle somewhere else.
From here you could enter the bay to the south, or head up to the rock gardens five miles north at Cayucos.
Morro Bay State Park
From San Luis Obispo take Highway 1 north to the Los Osos - Baywood Park off
ramp. Turn left, go about 1 mile and turn right into the state park.
From the South, take Hhighway 101 northbound to the Los Osos - Baywood Park off
ramp. Turn left toward Los Osos and travel about 10 miles to South Bay Blvd.,
then turn right and go about 3 miles to the state park entrance.
The closest launch site is right across the street at the boat ramp in the
marina. This area is suitable for beginners who know how to read and use tide
tables and are strong enough to buck high winds or smart enough to avoid them.
Try not to get stuck in the mud or swept out the bay mouth and drown.
Montana De Oro State Park
The park is six miles southwest of Morro bay; seven miles south of Los Osos on Pecho Road.
The launch site is at Spooners Cove right across from the campground. The launch can be deceptively easy. and Spooners cove is usually fairly calm. Intermediates should be ok in the cove, maybe even beginners under guidance of an intermediate paddler.
Once you exit the cove, however, conditions change dramatically, and are only suitable for advanced paddlers or possibly intermediates lead by an advanced paddler if conditions are not too bad. You can paddle up to the bay to the north, but the most fun is the rock gardens to the south. Try not to get killed as there are several ways that could happen in this area.
