Morro Bay State Park is a state park

State park

State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...

 in Morro Bay

Morro Bay, California

Morro Bay is a waterfront city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,234, down from 10,350 at the 2000 census.- History :...

, in western San Luis Obispo County

San Luis Obispo County, California

San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census...

, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. On the bay’s northeastern edge, there is a saltwater marsh

Marsh

In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....

 that supports a thriving bird population.

Recreation

There are opportunities for sailing, fishing, hiking, and bird watching. There is also a park museum with exhibits covering natural features, cultural history, Native American life, geology, and oceanography

Oceanography

Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...

. The park also has a marina and a public golf course.

Two of the Nine Sisters

Nine Sisters

The Nine Sisters or the Morros are a chain of nine volcanic peaks and hills between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo, California. They are popular with photographers and rock climbers. Their volcanic origin makes them of significant geological interest. They support a wide variety of plant, animal,...

, a chain of volcanic peaks, Black Hill and Cabrillo Peak

Cabrillo Peak

Cerro Cabrillo, also known locally as Cabrillo Peak, is a rocky butte in Morro Bay State Park, California. The rock outcrop, composed mostly of rhyodacite, is a volcanic plug formed when magma welled up underneath a layer of softer rock and solidified...

, are inside of the Park. Black Hill has a trail through the Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) trees in Flemings Forest.

Elephant seals

Northern Elephant Seal

The northern elephant seal is one of two species of elephant seal . It is a member of the family Phocidae . Elephant seals derive their name from their great size and from the male's large proboscis, which is used in making extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating...

 can be viewed at the park. There are about 20-25 bull seals on one beach normally, and several hundred females.

Marine Protected Areas

Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area and Morro Bay State Marine Reserve

Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area and Morro Bay State Marine Reserve

Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area and Morro Bay State Marine Reserve are two marine protected areas that provide protection for Morro Bay Estuary on California’s central coast. The two marine protected areas together encompass...

 are marine protected areas offshore from Morro Bay. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.

History

The first settlers of the local area were of the Millingstone Horizon

Millingstone Horizon

Millingstone Horizon is an archaeological period of Native American dominance denoting a period in California, USA involving extensive use of manos and other grinding technology. The interval is a subset of the Archaic Period; specifically Millingstone is usually applied to the period 6500 to...

 culture, early Chumash Native American

Native Americans in the United States

Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

 peoples. These peoples relied partially on the harvesting of fish and shellfish

Shellfish

Shellfish is a culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some kinds are found only in freshwater...

 from Morro Bay. One of the closest local settlements of Chumash to Morro Bay State Park is the Back Bay site, a large Chumash archaeological site on a stabilized sand dune in Los Osos dating to at least as early as 800 to 1200 AD. Cabrillo

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was a Portuguese explorer noted for his exploration of the west coast of North America on behalf of Spain. Cabrillo was the first European explorer to navigate the coast of present day California in the United States...

first encountered the Chumash in the year 1542.