Valencia Peak Loop

This 6.2-mile route simply extends the adventure from the trip up to Valencia Peak from Spooner’s Cove by taking the Oats Peak Trail on the return journey. This is a fantastic day hike in beautiful Montana de Oro State Park, just south of Morro Bay, California. The singletrack to the summit is well-graded and well-maintained, with a slightly steeper push near the top. As one climbs, magnificent views open up in all directions. The ocean of course is a pleasant sight, but it is also hard not to appreciate the lack of human-made development as one looks toward the east and toward the south. For those looking for extra adventure, there are a plethora of ways to extend this trip, most popularly by continuing on to Oats Peak, or for the more adventuresome, going on all the way to Alan Peak. There is no water along the way, and this route is certainly exposed, so be prepared for the elements! This is an excellent area to explore in the early spring, or between rains in the winter. There is ample parking near Spooner’s Cove but it can certainly fill up on busy weekends.