Wide open space, sunsets with Morro Rock as the back drop, plus all the amazing aspects of a beach ride make Morro Strand State Beach a popular SLO County trail ride.
Getting There, Parking and Where You Can Go at Morro Strand State Beach
Getting there is easy! Drop down from North County to Morro Bay via scenic Hwy 41 going straight at the stop sign or take the Hwy 41 Exit off the 101. Turn away from Hwy 41 onto Atascadero Road and continue under the Highway 1 overpass. Keep going straight past Morro Bay High School and you will soon see a large turnout perfect for parking your rig. *** Head’s up *** Summer of 2021 construction materials take up most of the area where the horse trailers park limiting available space. It’s not impossible to park there, just very limited.
The beach access is just a few hundred feet to the west of the parking area. The sand is deep through the access area, but soon firms up as you mosey onto the wide-open expanse of Morro Strand State Beach.
To your left Morro Rock rises out of the ocean reaching towards to sky.
To your right the shoreline leads you to the sleepy coastal town of Cayucos.
In front of you is a great expanse of firm yet resilient sand, with ocean waves continually crashing and seasonal flocks of birds – like the Marbled Godwit who enjoy eating crustaceans just under the sand’s surface – surrounding you. A bonus here is no beach vehicle traffic. Additional bonuses are a cool ocean breeze is always present and it’s a great place to get out when it’s wet out.
You Have Several Options Before You:
Enjoy the Wide Open Space
Take a leisurely stroll, or brisk jaunt to the first outcropping of rocks, stay and work in this open space or make the trek all the way to Cayucos.
Three ladies out for a morning ride stopped for a photo shoot and talked about what brings them to this beach for a ride:
Sarah Kroll, riding Masters Nu Fox a Quarter Horse mare owned by Lindsey James, explained, “There is so much to introduce horses to here – the waves, surfers, open space and sometimes even tents and kites! It’s a great place for horses to work out in the open.”
Sara Kroll : “I’m a full-time mom and graphic designer/ illustrator at Topline Design, and ride whenever I have time! My husband and I live in Los Osos with our 1.5 year old daughter.”
Katie Kopensky, riding her horse Landonaire a WT warmblood gelding, says, “We haul down here in the winter when we get a lot of rain and are dealing with mud. We can easily work our horses here.”
Katie Kopensky : “I work for western show clothing designer Lindsey James and manage Coastal Equine Ranch in San Luis Obispo. When I’m not working, I enjoy riding and showing my horses with Dana Andersen Equestrian. I’m a Cal Poly animal science graduate.”
Morgan Nicodemus, riding Clanfair Francesca a Welsh pony mare, remarked, “I like it when it is quiet here.” We then contrasted this beach experience with Pismo Natural Preserve where vehicles are always part of the experience.
Morgan Nicodemus: “I graduated from Cal Poly last June with a bachelors in Agribusiness and started working for Lindsey James show clothing & Coastal Equine Ranch. Spending time outdoors is my favorite pastime whether it be riding horses or hiking mountains, I’m always happy out adventuring!”
Make A Trek to Cayucos
It is possible to ride all the way to Cayucos (5 miles one way) and enjoy lunch or a quick bite from a street front restaurant, but there are several conditions you must be aware of.
First – It must be low tide
There are two places where big rocks can only be negotiated during the time around the lowest low tide. You will have to account for the change in tide levels on the return trip. You can consult a Morro Bay Tide Chart < by clicking this link to make the best plan for your ride.
If the tide is too high, the first (closest to Morro Rock) outcropping can be crossed on a rather technical trail which hugs the base of the hillside. It will involve rock scrambling. This would be best left for the experienced trail horse and rider. Rider discretion is highly advised here, cross at your own risk.
Second – Barefoot Horses Beware
Lots of smaller rocks in the sand make up the footing coming up to the last rock outcropping around the bend from the town of Cayucos. Your horse will not be able to negotiate around these smaller rocks so barefoot horses beware.
Third – No Obvious Place to Tie Horses in Cayucos
Looking for lunch or a quick snack (or a bathroom) once you get to Cayucos? There are several great food options, however there is no obvious place to tie your horses up in Cayucos. So, someone in your party would need to be the holder, or you will have to find a place that is suitable and safe for your horses to tie.
Keep in mind that tourists will find the novelty of a horse on the beach an attraction and you will probably need to remove any manure your horse(s) deposit at your chosen tie location.
A few more notes will help you enjoy your time exploring Morro Strand State Beach on horseback.
- Always plan for wind and expect it to be chilly.
- You will encounter many possible “bugaboos” for your horse such as: fisherman, tourists, dogs, surfers with their boards, tents and kites.
- Dogs may not be allowed on certain sections of the beach, and loose dogs are quite common on other sections.
- Total ride length from Morro Rock to Cayucos is 5 miles one-way. A round trip could take 2-4 hours.
- Check the sunset time < by clicking this link, and experience a beautiful evening beach ride.
Photo credit: Sharon Jantzen Photos
Get Going! Explore the wonder and beauty of the SLO County trails from the best place on earth, the back of a horse. To keep this info at your fingertips we have developed a FREE Hot Sheet that will direct you to these these stories. We’ll continue to add trail ride stories to our website. You can stay up-to-date by becoming a SLO Horse News herd member. Get your Riding the SLO County Trails Hot Sheet here >.
