Shell Beach Panoramic Walk, Pismo Beach

star star star star star
San Luis Obispo, CA
Shell Beach Panoramic Walk, Pismo Beach
pinit
13 likes
More Like This

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 Cliffs Park. You will follow a lovely wide trail on top of the cliffs until 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 swings 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 has a happy hour every day 4:30-6:30pm. Now you are on the grounds of the Shore Cliff Hotel. On one side of you are sea stacks jutting out of the blue-green sea. On the other side, the waves roll into Pismo Beach. There are two gazebos, both with wonderful views of the sea below and the sound of sea gulls calling out. This 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).  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 to the beach to explore 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 restaurants in hotels with ocean views all along Price Street. You can also check out the cafes in Pismo town.

Continue to directions...

The flower-covered hills to the north.

Jutting sea rocks over mirrored water in the early morning.

Sunset behind gazebo at Shore Cliff Hotel, and wedding ceremony chairs.

Tranquil nighttime view- wow!

Aaaaaah...California!

Pismo Beach at night, view to the east of our walk...

Magnificent shade of blue...the ocean and gazebo at Shore Cliff Hotel.

View from the gazebo.

I love to look down through trees at the sea!

The familiar rock you always see from the freeway is right by you!

View from a second gazebo on the grounds of the Shore Cliff Hotel, looking towards Pismo Beach.

Spring flowers by the sea.

Look down on swirling water crashing into rock coves below.

Pelicans hanging out on the rocks below.

View of Pismo Beach Pier through the trees.

The happy pelicans.

A funny way to sleep!

Pelican balancing on a tree stump.

The pelicans can't complain about the view!

Flowers and white picket fence with view of Pismo Beach.

The rocks below. I love this vantage point!

View of Pismo Caves from above.

Looking down at the wonderful sea.

Purple poppies and a view.

The gazebo, as seen from the beach below.

The cliffs, as seen from the beach below.

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.

map

Click on map for interactive view

Comments

Add your comments
star star star star star

adam

Wed, 10 Feb 2010

indescribable

star star star star star

Rosa

Wed, 07 Jul 2010

I know this view well. we lived in here for 5 years we spent many hours riding our bikes along the coast from here to Santa Barbara, but Shell Beach is our favorite, maybe someday we'll be back...

star star star star star

Kim

Tue, 21 Sep 2010

Perfect :)

star star star star star

Ana

Fri, 09 Oct 2009

Wow! Great rocks!

Last Updated: Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:13:12 GMT

Text and Image copyright: © 2006-2024 LotsaFunMaps.com.
Copying prohibited. Contact the editor | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
Blog | The Official Mug | Privacy Settings | About Us