Oso Flaco Lake Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fishing · Lake · Views · Wildlife

There are restrooms in the parking lot and picnic area.

You hike down a closed road from the parking lot to reach the boardwalk. The boardwalk crosses the lake and meanders all the way to the ocean. The bridge across the lake provides multiple benches and vistas to view all of the birds in the area. Not too far after the bridge there is a well laid out picnic area with four tables and a fifth in the distance. The trail ends at an elevated platform above the ocean with extensive views on a clear day. Just before the end the trail splits and a ramp allows access to the ocean a short distance away. The entire boardwalk is relatively flat but is warped by the underlying sand dunes.

Expect lots of birds. Thankfully the poison oak is trimmed away from the trail.