San Luis Obispo County, CA

At the southern end of San Luis Obispo County, the Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area offers a quiet preserve for flora and fauna. With a river, freshwater lake, dunes, and sweeping ocean views, this harmonious natural area is part of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA).

San Luis Obispo County, CA

The name “Oso Flaco” originates with a story about the expedition of Gaspar de Portola in 1769. As Portola travelled up the Pacific coastline, his ship stopped in the area now known as Oso Flaco. A group of Portola’s men hunted a skinny bear here and ate what little meat they could glean from it. In Spanish, oso flaco means “skinny bear.”

Oso Flaco Lake Road

Nipomo, California, United States

As part of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, Oso Flaco offers visitors a serene place to watch wildlife and explore native plants. Bird watchers enjoy seeing terns, swallows, ducks, double-crested cormorants, pelicans, herons, and the western snowy plover. Other wildlife include several species of fish in the freshwater lake, as well as frogs, snakes, lizards, and both the desert cottontail and black-tailed jackrabbit. Indigenous plants like lupine, deer weed, coyote bush, and dunes paintbrush.

San Luis Obispo County, CA

This shallow freshwater lake is an oasis in the dunes: an ever-changing landscape of windswept sand hills and vegetation. Covering an area of 75 acres, the lake serves as a refuge for local and migrating birds. Neon green-colored algae collects on the surface of the lake, while tules and cattails line its edge.

Oso Flaco Lake Road

Nipomo, California, United States

At 2 miles, round-trip, the Oso Flaco Trail isn’t long, but it is well-designed and comfortable. From Oceano, head south on Highway 1 for 6.5 miles. At Oso Flaco Lake Road, turn right and follow until the road dead ends at the trailhead. (Parking is $5 per car.)