Shell Beach Panoramic Walk, Pismo Beach

Shell Beach neighborhood, in Pismo Beach, is one of the most beautiful spots on earth! You can walk for over three miles (1.7 miles each way) along the top of the cliffs looking down at the blue-green sea and stunning sea stacks. Start at Dinosaur Caves Park, where there is plenty of parking. Head west through the park, stopping at each overlook, until you get to Margo Dodd Park. Here there is greenest grass and views on all sides. Continue walking along the sidewalk, on the cliffs, past more sea stacks, listening to the waves pound in the caves below. Once you reach Windward Ave, you can't go any further, so turn around and head east, past Dinosaur Caves Park again. You will follow a lovely wide trail on top of the cliffs. It goes uphill past ice plant to Price Street where you must walk the main road just for a minute, with views of the cliffs and sea. Then you reach a gorgeous dark wood gazebo beside a cypress tree, at Inn at the Cove. You must cross a hair-raising pedestrian bridge to get to it. Wow the views! You can see all the caves, cliffs, sea arches, and sea stacks along Dinosaur Caves Park. Continue walking along the cliffs at the hotel, past swinging chairs, boulders, flowers, and benches. The trail connects with Price Street, the main road, where you can walk the sidewalk until you get to the parking lot for the clay tennis courts. Continue in the parking lot, past Ventana Grill, which is a great place to eat, warm inside but with views of the sea and pelicans. Their appetizer Quesabirria Tacos are affordable and delicious as a meal. Past Ventana Grill, you are on the grounds of the Shore Cliff Hotel. A path leads down a grassy lawn to a wedding gazebo. On the righthand side of you are sea stacks jutting out of the blue-green sea- so memorable! On the lefthand side of you, the waves roll into Pismo Beach past its lively pier. Shore Cliff Lodge is probably one of the nicest places one could get married and almost every time I've been here there's been white chairs set out for a wedding (the air is cold though).  Continue walking and you come to another gazebo, with wonderful views of the sea below and the sound of sea gulls calling out. As you walk along you look down at steep rock cliffs where pelicans stand on ledges. The ocean crashes and swirls against the rock walls. It is mesmerizing. Flowers dot the path. Continue on a pedestrian bridge, to Mystery Stairs (labeled on google maps). Here you can take the stairs down to the amazing Pismo Caves below. Or you can continue to the Seacrest Vista Point, where there are also stairs going down. Then head back to Dinosaur Caves Park. 
If you're hungry, there are pleasant restaurants in hotels with ocean views all along Price Street. You can also check out the cafes in Pismo town- these are more of the fish fry variety, with a few upscale ones.

Directions

Park at Dinosaur Caves Park, which is in the center of the walk and has plenty of parking in its large lot. The address is 2701 Price St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449.

Click on map for interactive view