Harmony Headlands State Park trail, Cayucos

Harmony Headlands State Park has a two mile dirt trail that starts inland at Highway 1, leads over a steep hill, and ends at a rocky shoreline. This is barren land, with tall grasses and shrubs, and hills on either side of you. Once you reach the coast, a narrow path takes you for half a mile north on cliffs over the sea. The views of bright yellow cliffs, dark pebbly beaches, and colorful water are pretty. High winds funnel into this area making the hike unpleasant on windy afternoons. Generally this coastline is less windy in the morning, though you might get fog in the morning. The best time to go out is generally 10am or 11am along this coast, after the fog and before the wind.

Kingsnakes, coyotes, barn owls, squirrels, and Northern harrier hawks live here. Since a pesticide that caused the eggs of brown pelicans to break was banned, these birds have returned in good number. Because this area is a seasonal wetland, during rainy times you might see frogs, lizards, dragonflies, and birds that enjoy the pond.
Harmony Headlands was a working ranch until the late 1960s. Developers bought it in order to build houses, but in 2003 sold it to the state.
This hike is fairly flat, with 8% grade at most. One tiny part is 12% grade at the very end of the coastal cliffs part, but you can skip it. It is one of the gentle incline hikes in SLO county.
After your hike, visit the town of Harmony to have an ice cream or Moroccan stew, view glass blowing, check out the sweet chapel, and enjoy its sunny sheltered location. It is a five minute drive north.
Or walk the streets, shoreline, and pier of Cayucos town. It has Luna Coffee, tucked back in a courtyard, a candy and ice cream shop at the pier, and Bijou Bakery, in a little house near the pier, with seating in a garden pavilion.
Estero Bluffs Trail is on the way to Cayucos town, and offers a view of a shipwreck!

Harmony Headlands State Park trail, Cayucos

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