Oso Flaco Lake and Dunes

Absolutely beautiful trail and views of the lake and beach.
It gets pretty busy on the weekends.
Easy 1 mile to the beach and 1 mile back to parking area.

Beautiful!!! One mile one-​way exactly according to my running app. Paved road, then wood bridge and boardwalk across the lake and dunes. You could take bikes or strollers (assuming they allow bikes). You can hear the crashing waves from the lake which is really awesome. It looks like a good place for a walk with a friend, or a two mile run. Or if you want to make it a longer trek, you could run north on the beach as far as you want (potentially to Pismo Beach, which I think would be about 6 or so miles.

This place is great and I have to say the advice to park outside the Park gate to avoid the $ 5 park fee is not to be heeded. Pay the $ 5– it goes to the California State Park system, whose responsibility is to maintain these places for the public to enjoy — that’s you and me. Why should some who use the park avoid sharing in its upkeep while the rest of us chip in? Shame on anyone who skates on his/​her civic responsibility.

Oso Flaco, shares some of the same features as does Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park, but adds a nice lake, but takes away the grand vistas… and replaces them with tall ugly fences & signs.
The walk to the lake is not too far & worth a visit, but the very long walk to the Ocean is not worth a 3 mile hike.
It takes a good 40 – 60 minutes to hike back & forth.
There are also some quite annoying bugs & a crappy restroom along the way.
As you approach the Ocean, the fences & restrictions really constrict both your view & where you can walk. You are totally prohibited from walking north.
Even though you pay for parking in the dirt lot (an honor system– $ 5 for most, $ 2.50 for handicapped), the very long walkway, there were no Rangers visible.
On the other hand, RGDC Park had very helpful Rangers present, who provided both info. & help, if there
was an emergency. There park also had better maintained restrooms & parking lot.
While I understand that this is also a nature preserve, it appears that SLO County relies on huge fences, rather than Rangers, like Santa Barbara County does.
Oso Flaco is worth a visit, but I favor the more open RGDC Park.

An oasis in the sand and the promise of a long walk along a deserted coastline lured me to the Oso Flaco Day Use Area, north of Guadalupe. Here, I hoped to explore a secluded beach, view some local wildlife, and cross a freshwater lake nestled amidst the coastal dunes.
Oso Flaco Lake was named by Portola in 1769 for the «skinny bear» that was poisoned near here by the Chumash Indians, and eaten by his men, two of whom died of toxins in the bear meat. The 1.5 mile level hike to the beach followed a wooden walkway that bridged the sizeable lake surrounded by sand.
From the boardwalk, I followed three white pelicans that looked like swans as they floated poetically across the smooth lake surface. Further along, I visited with an expert bird-​watcher, who had his viewing scope focused on an attractive Rallidae species.
At the beach, I met a local fishermen casting his line into the surf. But, being in the mood for a little solitude, I took off barefoot down the beach to the south. Although I did not see another soul, I was never alone.
I admired flocks of playful western snowy plovers feeding at the waterline, and primeval brown pelicans breezing in formation along the blue-​green wave crests. A pod of dolphins swam slowly by, their triangular dorsal fins gently rising and falling beyond the breakers.
At the end of the day, the Oso Flaco Day Use Area kept its promise as the entrance to a solitary stretch of shoreline, wildlife viewing locale, and freshwater oasis in the sand.

I’m in love with this place!
A beautiful ride through some farming fields takes you to a parking lot and a hike takes you to a boardwalk over a lake, dunes and the ocean! Love the diversity!
Park outside the gate to avoid paying the $ 5.
It’s also an easy and flat hike for kids and strollers (no dogs — but I did see a few). There were signs that said bears were sighted in the area — crazy.

Given the trail is really short, but it’s worth a walk. Peaceful & quite beautiful on the way and at the beach. Ohhhh the dunes are gorgeous. Lake isn’t even smelly.
I suggest you go to the restroom first before taking a stroll. Gate thing is there, but no need to pay $ 5 since no one is there. I took the chance and lots of locals did too. Continue to drive down oso flaco lake road all the way even if it says dead end :)
Enjoy the view & stroll.

Just an awesome place to go with your family. Easy enough that a preschooler can walk with you (or for you to keep walking while holding her when she gets tired). So much for kids to see. Wonderful boardwalk over the lake. Boardwalk (now without rails) continues through natural area until you reach the beach (or the beach overlook). (Boardwalk was covered with sand in the last stretch before the beach.) If you’re hurrying back to your car, just be aware of groups photographing birds and (temporarily) blocking your way on the boardwalk! A great outing. The ranger in the station in the parking lot was extremely nice, too, finding a freebie packet to give our child on our way out.

Great little hike out to the beautiful beach. Boarwalk goes through many habitats and over Oso Flaco, good birding. Also access to Guadalpe National Wildlife Refuge to the south.

I have been on this easy hike many times and it is always fun. It is usually windy and brisk but it is invigorating. Watch out on super windy days, the sand can get in your eyes.
NO DOGS ALLOWED!

Beautful anytime of year! Short walk to the lake or a bit longer to the beach! EITHER way one of my favorite walks!

This is a sweet and easy hike/​walk (~2.5 mi in and out) that winds you through small lakes and hills and depending on your trail, takes you to Oso Flaco Lake.
My sister’s in laws took us here on a brisk Sunday morning — fresh morning dew with light sprinkling with overcast clouds.
You can spy fisherman dig for worms for bait or catch fish.
Or follow a camouflaged bunny hop along the path.
Take off your sandals as you walk onto the shores of Oso Flaco…
enjoy the cool water at your feet… =)
The landscape is just beautiful.
Be forewarned of the poison oak (though the path is mainly clear) and of the pesky little gnats that fly around you.
If you park in their lot (which is pass the guard station) — you pay $ 5, but if park outside and walk in, it’s free.
Also, you’re not allowed to bring dogs or horses. Fishing is discouraged but we saw several enthusiasts do it anyway!
Several areas are roped off to preserve the landscape and the inhabitants like the plover bird, but it does not detract from the beauty of this area. =)