Dinosaur Caves - Pismo Beach, CA
Pismo Beach is known for its beautiful (newly renovated) pier plaza and miles of pristine sand dunes. Today we’re venturing down the rugged bluffs to a place almost lost in time. Let’s head out to explore the local Dinosaur Caves.
History
Technically Pismo’s “dinosaur” caves are long gone and washed away. The area’s name found its origin when H. Douglas Brown built a giant metal and concrete brontosaurus into the side of the natural sea stack caves here in the 1940s. Visitors originally paid $0.25 to tour the dinosaur and the caves which extended nearly 230 feet, making them some of the largest sea caves in California at one time. Decades ago the man-made cave deteriorated and collapsed into the ocean…however some of the natural caves still remain.
Location
One of the best landmarks to help find the caves is the aptly named Dinosaur Caves Park. This 11 acre park sits on the property that once belonged to Mr. Brown. The beautiful park boasts a unique dinosaur themed playground area, restrooms, amphitheater, and four ocean overlooks. A one minute walk north will lead to Margo Dodd Park, a small park marked by a single gazebo and a few ocean facing benches (perfect for sunset birdwatching along the bluff top). Just past the gazebo area at the corner of Pier Ave and Ocean Blvd is a staircase that will lead you down to ocean access.
Exploring
When you reach the rocky shoreline you can venture north or south to explore (some of the most easily accessible sea cave formations are located just to the south of the staircase). Kayaking, snorkeling, and tide pooling are all popular activities here. Make sure to wear appropriate footwear as this rocky area is wet and can be very slick. Always double check the tide charts if you want to head down to the beach…the ocean access gets completely cut off during high tide and it would be dangerous to venture out as the tide comes in cutting off a safe path back to staircase.
Know Before You Go
• Please be sensitive when exploring the great outdoors and consider the Leave No Trace principles to help keep this special spot pristine, so that others may enjoy it for years to come.
• Consider booking a kayak tour to explore all the caves up close.
• If you’d like to explore the sea caves down the staircase, make sure to plan your visit during low tide by checking the charts here.
• The terrain down by the water is uneven and can be extremely slippery, so plan footwear accordingly and be extra careful.
Pismo Beach Nearby Points of Interest
• Pismo Beach Pier
• Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve
• Morro Bay
In Summary & Behind the Blog Video
Thanks for joining me today in Pismo Beach. For a virtual visit, enjoy my Behind the Blog video below. Until next week I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
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