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Hike Valencia Peak, Coon Creek, Bluff Trail Loop in Montaña de Oro State Park, California - Stav is Lost

Hike Valencia Peak, Coon Creek, Bluff Trail Loop Montaña de Oro State Park, CA

Class 1 10.4 miles 2300 gain 4-6 hrs Loop
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May 21, 2019 — Montaña de Oro State Park sits on the coast near San Luis Obispo, and it's really quite a spectacular little spot. I was hoping to do one big hike in the area to see some of the highlights, and I think it was a success. This route hits Valencia Peak, Oats Peak, Coon Creek, and the Bluffs Trail. I'd say the highlight was the traverse from Valencia Peak to Oats Peak. Everything was incredibly colorful.

Starting from the Valencia Peak Trailhead, I hiked up the well marked and popular trail to Valencia Peak, the Pacific Ocean behind me. Near the summit, the ridgeline had some spectacular views. From the top, I went back a a short way and took a lesser-visited trail that hugged Valencia Peak's northern slope. This somewhat brushy trail led down to the Oats Peak Trail, which I followed through some gorgeous scenery to Oats Peak. Looking back at Valencia Peak really struck me for some reason. From Oats Peak, I continued down the Coon Creek Trail, heading south down a ridge from Oats Peak. A pretty jaunt down this ridge and I got to a trail junction at Coon Creek, where the trail became a bit deteriorated and I got a few ticks and a couple of stinging nettle hits. I continued west along Coon Creek, which overall was nothing particularly interesting, but it did serve as a nice way to make this hike into a loop. Eventually, I got to the Coon Creek Trailhead, and rather than walk back along the main park road to my car, I took a detour along the Bluff Trail, passing some nice views of the ocean and the eroding cliffs.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Valencia Peak
1347 ft
507 rise
2
Oats Peak
1373 ft
173 rise

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photo protector Starting up the Valencia Peak Trail.
Starting up the Valencia Peak Trail.
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photo protector Valencia Peak peeking out on the right.
Valencia Peak peeking out on the right.
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photo protector Nice views of the ocean on the way up the Valencia Peak Trail.
Nice views of the ocean on the way up the Valencia Peak Trail.
photo protector The Valencia Peak trail heads up the peak's west ridge. The summit is visible on the right.
The Valencia Peak trail heads up the peak's west ridge. The summit is visible on the right.
photo protector Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
photo protector Close-up of the ridge.
Close-up of the ridge.
photo protector Valencia Peak ahead. There's a trail junction at the top of this ridge before the trail cuts to the right - that junction is where I went to get to Oats Peak after getting to the top of Valencia.
Valencia Peak ahead. There's a trail junction at the top of this ridge before the trail cuts to the right - that junction is where I went to get to Oats Peak after getting to the top of Valencia.
photo protector Looking back down Valencia Peak's west ridge.
Looking back down Valencia Peak's west ridge.
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photo protector Nice views along Valencia Peak's west face, the ridge I just came up visible on the right.
Nice views along Valencia Peak's west face, the ridge I just came up visible on the right.
photo protector Close-up of the ridge.
Close-up of the ridge.
photo protector View north as I head up to Valencia Peak.
View north as I head up to Valencia Peak.
photo protector Another shot of the ocean. Great views.
Another shot of the ocean. Great views.
photo protector Just below the Valencia Peak summit, view west. The ridge I came up on visible on the right.
Just below the Valencia Peak summit, view west. The ridge I came up on visible on the right.
photo protector Valencia Peak summit, view east toward Oats Peak (far right).
Valencia Peak summit, view east toward Oats Peak (far right).
photo protector Back at the trail junction, headed to Oats Peak. The trail was a bit brushy. Oats Peak itself is hidden behind the false peak on the right.
Back at the trail junction, headed to Oats Peak. The trail was a bit brushy. Oats Peak itself is hidden behind the false peak on the right.
photo protector Working along the trail to Oats Peak.
Working along the trail to Oats Peak.
photo protector Looking back toward Valencia Peak.
Looking back toward Valencia Peak.
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photo protector I loved the views looking back toward Valencia Peak on the way to Oats Peak.
I loved the views looking back toward Valencia Peak on the way to Oats Peak.
photo protector Continuing up toward Oats Peak.
Continuing up toward Oats Peak.
photo protector You can see the trail in the center from where I came down from Valencia Peak.
You can see the trail in the center from where I came down from Valencia Peak.
photo protector Oats Peak false summit ahead.
Oats Peak false summit ahead.
photo protector Looking back toward Valencia Peak.
Looking back toward Valencia Peak.
photo protector Oats Peak visible on the right.
Oats Peak visible on the right.
photo protector Approaching Oats Peak summit.
Approaching Oats Peak summit.
photo protector Looking back toward the way I came on the Oats Peak summit.
Looking back toward the way I came on the Oats Peak summit.
photo protector Headed down the Coon Creek Trail.
Headed down the Coon Creek Trail.
photo protector Great ridgeline along the Coon Creek Trail.
Great ridgeline along the Coon Creek Trail.
photo protector Looking back up toward Oats Peak.
Looking back up toward Oats Peak.
photo protector The trail has a million tiny switchbacks the whole way down, keeping the trail's grade pretty moderate.
The trail has a million tiny switchbacks the whole way down, keeping the trail's grade pretty moderate.
photo protector A few nice forested sections along the Coon Creek Trail.
A few nice forested sections along the Coon Creek Trail.
photo protector Coon Creek visible on the left, the ridgeline I had been following on the right.
Coon Creek visible on the left, the ridgeline I had been following on the right.
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photo protector The Coon Creek Trail meets this junction. I headed west to follow the Coon Creek Trail back to the park road.
The Coon Creek Trail meets this junction. I headed west to follow the Coon Creek Trail back to the park road.
photo protector Overall not super eventful along the Coon Creek Trail.
Overall not super eventful along the Coon Creek Trail.
photo protector Bridges facilitating easy creek corssings.
Bridges facilitating easy creek corssings.
photo protector Fairly overgrown at points.
Fairly overgrown at points.
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photo protector Approaching the mouth of Coon Creek.
Approaching the mouth of Coon Creek.
photo protector Looking back into Coon Creek.
Looking back into Coon Creek.
photo protector Approaching the Coon Creek Trailhead.
Approaching the Coon Creek Trailhead.
photo protector Looking back from the Coon Creek Trailhead toward Coon Creek.
Looking back from the Coon Creek Trailhead toward Coon Creek.
photo protector Along the Bluff Trail, which started just across from the Coon Creek Trailhead.
Along the Bluff Trail, which started just across from the Coon Creek Trailhead.
photo protector Looking back toward Valencia Peak (left) and Coon Creek (right).
Looking back toward Valencia Peak (left) and Coon Creek (right).
photo protector Pretty eroded cliffs along the Bluff Trail.
Pretty eroded cliffs along the Bluff Trail.
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photo protector Looking down toward the Montana de Oro Tide Pools.
Looking down toward the Montana de Oro Tide Pools.
photo protector Close-up at an interesting natural bridge.
Close-up at an interesting natural bridge.

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