Hidden Lake in the Dunes

Hiking to Oso Flaco Lake in the Oceano Dunes

It sounds preposterous: a lake in the dunes? That’s exactly why Oso Flaco Lake, in the Oceano Dunes south of Pismo Beach, is so cool. The 75-acre freshwater lake is surrounded by miles of dunes to the north and south, and a narrow barrier of dunes between the lake and the roaring Pacific to the west. Yes, a lake in the sand sounds unlikely. But once you’re there, you give yourself over to it and enjoy an amazing abundance of birds, wildflowers, and even a whiff of history on an easy 2.5-mile (round-trip) out-and-back hike.

The trail to Oso Flaco (Spanish for “skinny bear”) begins in a dense thicket of willows and wax myrtles where you’ll hear intriguing birdsong and rustling, though spotting those birds can be a challenge. After a quarter-mile, you’ll reach the lake itself and the chance to walk on water. Well, over water, actually, on a mile-long boardwalk that spans the lake, offering great views of the entire setting: the placid water fringed with cattails and willows, the dunes rising high above, and a variety show of bird life. No two days are the same here, but you may spot ruddy ducks and pied-billed grebes on the water, great egrets and black-crowned night herons on the fringes, northern harriers and ospreys hunting from on high, and barn swallows scooting about everywhere. If you see humans fishing, they’re going for bass and bluegill.

An extension of the boardwalk leads you across the dunes. From there, you can admire showy dune life like sand verbena and evening primrose on your way to the beach, where shorebirds steal the show—sanderlings, curlews, and endangered snowy plovers. Walk as far as you wish along the wild ocean shore before you return to Skinny Bear.

TIPS: The dunes that surround Oso Flaco were home to a utopian colony of sand lovers called the Dunites back in the mid-20th century. The dunes were also the site of a “lost city”—the elaborate set built for Cecil B. DeMille’s silent epic, _The Ten Commandments. _You’ll find exhibits on both, plus movie artifacts, in the Dunes Center—3 miles south on Hwy. 1 in Guadalupe. The little town is also home to several great Mexican restaurants; our nod goes to the family-run La Simpatia.

From US-101 in Nipomo, take the Willow Rd. exit and go west 4.6 miles. Turn left on CA-1, go 2.7 miles, and turn right on Oso Flaco Rd. Continue 3.5 miles to the end of the road. Parking is $5. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View