Oso Flaco Lake

By Carol Babeli

October 2021

Western Tanager, Vol. 88 No. 2, Nov.-Dec. 2021

Oso Flaco Lake is sandwiched between the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge and the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area which undulates for 18 miles along California‘s Central Coast near San Luis Obispo

This unique coastal area is currently under contentious review, pitting fans of all-terrain vehicles against local environmental and conservation organizations. That’s a much bigger issue that I won’t get into here. If you’d like to read more about it, here is a recent article written by Louis Sahagun from the Los Angeles Times. "Off-road vehicles to be banned at Oceano Dunes within three years"

Oso Flaco Lake, legend has it, earned its name from an incident involving Gaspar de Portola in 1769 when his ship stopped in the area and a group of Portola’s men hunted a skinny bear and ate what little meat they could get from it. In Spanish oso flaco means skinny bear.

The area is one of the most scenic natural areas along the California central coast, a unique geological mix of a freshwater lake, wetlands, and coastal sage scrub habitat all located amid a dune system. According to eBird, it’s the hottest hotspot in San Luis Obispo County for birding with nearly 300 bird species reported, including western snowy plover, American peregrine falcon, California brown pelican, and California least tern.

My personal discovery of the area began on a recent road trip to Morro Bay when my husband and I took a detour. After stopping in Los Alamos at our favorite bakery, Bob’s Well Bread, we decided to continue north on Rt 135 instead of taking the 101. Rt 135 weaves through large plots of marijuana farms. You get a big whiff of skunk and on a closer look realize those plants are not destined for the farmers market! As you continue north, Rt 135 connects to Highway 1, and nearing the tiny town of Guadalupe, the landscape flattens out into dusty farmland. The road that leads to Oso Flaco Lake is lined with heavy agriculture activity and you wonder if there is any natural habitat out there, but finally you spot some trees ahead and arrive at the lake parking lot.

The trail is an easy and accessible 2 mile out-and-back which begins on pavement then becomes an impressive boardwalk that leads to the lake, crosses the lake, and up through a mind-blowing expanse of coastal sage scrub habitat. Once you reach the upper dune area you are rewarded with an ocean view and broader view of the entire landscape. It’s really spectacular. I highly recommend that you discover this hidden gem for yourselves!

Published by Los Angeles Audubon Society, Western Tanager, Vol. 88 No. 2, Nov-Dec 2021.