San Simeon State Park
Encyclopedia
San Simeon State Park is one of the oldest units of the California State Park System. The coastal bluffs and promontories of the scenic park offer unobstructed views of the ocean and rocky shore. The park includes the Santa Rosa Creek Natural Preserve, the San Simeon Natural Preserve and the Pa-nu Cultural Preserve which were established in 1990.
A 3.3 miles (5.3 km) trail runs through parts of the San Simeon Natural Preserve and the Washburn Campground. The trail includes scenic overlooks, rest-stop benches and interpretive panels with information on wildlife and habitat. A portion of the trail along the seasonal wetland is wheelchair accessible.
Santa Rosa Creek Preserve is an area which includes valuable riparian forests and coastal wetland
s, that provide habitat for endangered Tidewater Goby.
San Simeon Natural Preserve consists of vast wetlands, riparian areas, and several undisturbed native plant communities including unique mima mound
topography. The Preserve is also the wintering site for monarch butterfly populations.
Prehistorically this entire general area of the central coast was inhabited by the Chumash people, who settled the coast
al San Luis Obispo area approximately 10,000 to 11,000 BC, including a large village to the south at Morro Creek
.
as part of a deficit reduction program.
and White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area are marine protected areas offshore from San Simeon State Park. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.
A 3.3 miles (5.3 km) trail runs through parts of the San Simeon Natural Preserve and the Washburn Campground. The trail includes scenic overlooks, rest-stop benches and interpretive panels with information on wildlife and habitat. A portion of the trail along the seasonal wetland is wheelchair accessible.
Santa Rosa Creek Preserve is an area which includes valuable riparian forests and coastal wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s, that provide habitat for endangered Tidewater Goby.
San Simeon Natural Preserve consists of vast wetlands, riparian areas, and several undisturbed native plant communities including unique mima mound
Mima Mounds
Mima mounds is a term used for low, flattened, circular to oval, domelike, natural mounds found in the northwestern United States, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, that are composed of loose, unstratified, often gravelly sediment that is an overthickened A Horizon...
topography. The Preserve is also the wintering site for monarch butterfly populations.
Prehistory
The 13.7 acres (55,442 m²) Pa-nu Cultural Preserve contains the most significant archeological site within San Simeon State Park. The site has been dated to 5850 years before the present, and it contains significant evidence documenting prehistoric technology, subsistence practices and social organization over the course of several centuries.Prehistorically this entire general area of the central coast was inhabited by the Chumash people, who settled the coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
al San Luis Obispo area approximately 10,000 to 11,000 BC, including a large village to the south at Morro Creek
Morro Creek
Morro Creek is a coastal stream in San Luis Obispo County, California, USA. This watercourse discharges to the Pacific Ocean at the city of Morro Bay.-Natural history:...
.
Proposed for closure
San Simeon State Park is one of the 48 California state parks proposed for closure in January 2008 by California's Governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
as part of a deficit reduction program.
Marine Protected Areas
Cambria State Marine Conservation AreaCambria State Marine Conservation Area
Cambria State Marine Conservation Area is a marine protected area located off the coast of the city of Cambria, California on California’s central coast in San Luis Obispo County, California. The marine protected area covers...
and White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area are marine protected areas offshore from San Simeon State Park. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.