Morro Bay State Park | |
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Location | San Luis Obispo County, California, United States |
Nearest city | Morro Bay |
Coordinates | 35°20′50″N120°49′33″W / 35.34734°N 120.82592°W /35.34734; -120.82592 |
Established | 1934 |
Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Morro Bay State Park is astate park on theMorro Bay lagoon, in westernSan Luis Obispo County, on theCentral Coast ofCalifornia. On the lagoon's northeastern and eastern edges in the park, there are saltwater andbrackish marshes that support thriving bird populations.[1]
There are opportunities for sailing, fishing, hiking, andbird watching. The park'sMorro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History has exhibits covering natural features, cultural history, Native American life, geology, andoceanography. The park also has a marina and a public golf course.
Two of theNine Sisters chain of volcanic peaks,Black Hill andCerro Cabrillo, are within the park. Black Hill has a trail through theMonterey Pine (Pinus radiata) trees in Flemings Forest.
Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area and Morro Bay State Marine Reserve aremarine protected areas offshore from Morro Bay. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.
The first settlers of the local area were of theMillingstone Horizon culture, earlyChumashNative American peoples. These peoples relied partially on the harvesting of fish andshellfish fromMorro Bay. One of the closest local settlements of Chumash to Morro Bay State Park is the Back Bay site, a large Chumasharchaeological site on a stabilizedsand dune in Los Osos dating to at least as early as 800 to 1200AD.[2]Cabrillo first encountered the Chumash in the year 1542.[3]
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