Valencia Peak

The route up to Valencia Peak is a 4.41-mile out and back in the 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 continuing on to Oats Peak, or simply by taking a different way back via New Oats Peak Trail. 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.