El Moro Elfin Forest — Attraction in Morro Bay

BEAUTIFUL. Peaceful. Very zen. Another location in Los Osos area to relax and take in the scenery. It is a short hike that offers a variety of nature and wildlife, including blue waters, water foul like ducks, cormorants, and egrets, an oak park with tinseled moss.

Elfin Forest Natural Preserve (also known as Los Osos Elfin Forest and El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area) is 1 mile of boardwalk that circles the 90-acre preserve. You can pick up a trail guide map rom several different points along the boardwalk, which also provides information about vegetation in the park that corresponds to numbered markers along the loop.

Across the bay, there is a long dune of white sand which protects the bay from ocean waves. To the northwest, you’ll have a great view of Moro Rock, an iconic mass jutting into the sea just beyond the mouth of the bay.

Siena’s View offers a good look at estuary wildlife, showing the inland side of the bay where the most birds play. Above the bay to the northeast is Cerro Cabrillo, the highest point in Morro...

A pleasant little diversion as you explore the Bayview & Los Osos area. The term Elfin Forest is really a euphemism for the tiny dwarf Oaks that live here....so load up on Sun Screen. The walk is easy, but is not ADA friendly off the boardwalk. You do need to walk over a couple hundred feet of sand on approaches from the side streets. Parking is limited to 1-2 spots in some areas & can disturb the residents. Your will find few tourists & lots of dog walking locals here. The boardwalk is fantastically well made with pseudo-wood, looks great, but is limited in length. The view of Morro Rock & the surround water is serene & quiet. It is a good diversion for about 1/2 hour. The does not seem to be any facilities here. You need to go into nearby Baywood for eats...or check out the "next door" bakery that is in...

I'm most curious who developed the idea to rename scab brush as "Elfin Forest", and in what setting this occurred. It has all the earmarks of a Chamber of Commerce function that was fueled by too much wine over too much time. Having grown up amongst this coastal scrub vegetation, I have a very difficult time accepting it as anything but coastal scrub vegetation. But then again, even California's own State Parks system refers to the epic sand dunes that stretch from the harbor entrance of Morro Bay into Montana de Oro State Park as a "sand pile," and not as World Class Sand Dunes. Now back to Elfin Forest.... I suppose it conforms more easily to merchandising than scrub brush. That said, don't look too hard for the Elfin Forest when you're in it, as it's possible those wily elves may only reveal their forest to...