NATURE EVENTS

Connect • Learn • Volunteer • Explore

There’s always something happening in nature along the Central Coast!
From wildlife tours to native plant sales, guided hikes, clean ups and seasonal celebrations — there are endless ways to get outside!

Many are free and family-friendly... click on the links to learn more!

🗓️ Daily Offerings

California State Parks PORTS Program
Free 45-minute live educational videos with California Park Rangers — a new topic and park expert each day.
🔗 View Schedule

📅 Weekly Offerings

Pecho Coast Trail to Lighthouse – Port San Luis, Avila Beach
Docent-led hikes every Wednesday & Saturday at 8:45 AM.
Options include a 3.75-mile roundtrip hike to the Lighthouse or an 8-mile guided hike to Rattlesnake Canyon.
🔗 https://trails.pge.com/

Morro Bay Museum of Natural History – California State Parks
Most Saturdays, 10 AM – 5 PM. Experience State Parks through 360° virtual reality adventures.
🔗 https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31276

🦋 Welcome to Monarch Butterfly Season

Experience one of California’s most magical natural migrations! Thousands of monarch butterflies overwinter along the Central Coast each year from October to February. Explore these local viewing spots:

• Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove
A world-famous overwintering site featuring docent talks, walking paths, and accessible viewing areas beneath the eucalyptus trees.

• Hearst San Simeon State Park Monarch Butterfly Grove
Part of the scenic Highway 1 Monarch Trail — spot clusters of butterflies near the William R. Hearst Memorial Beach area.

• Monarch Dunes Butterfly Grove – Nipomo
A peaceful natural habitat surrounded by dunes and cypress trees — great for quiet observation and photography.

• San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
Visit native milkweed and pollinator-friendly gardens that support monarchs and other local species.

• Sweet Springs Nature Preserve – Los Osos
A serene coastal preserve known for monarch roosting among eucalyptus groves and scenic bay views.

🌳 November Events

Please note: Some events require advance registration or tickets — click on the event link for details and sign-up information.
Many are free and family-friendly, while others may have a small fee or age guidelines.

Nov 1 (9 AM) – Arbor Day Celebration
Santa Rosa Park, SLO. Family-friendly tree planting & refreshments.
🔗 https://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/community-development/urban-forestry/arbor-day

Nov 1 – Morro Bay Bird Festival Registration Opens
🔗 https://morrobaybirdfestival.org

Nov 1 (10 AM–2 PM) – Autumn Native Plant Sale
Pacific Beach High School, SLO. Hosted by CNPS.
🔗 https://www.cnps.org/

Nov 1 (9:30–11 AM) – City Farm SLO Community Tour
🔗 https://www.cityfarmslo.org/community-tours

Nov 1–2 – Working with Water Workshop
Applied watershed restoration at White Buffalo Land Trust, Lompoc.
🔗 https://www.whitebuffalolandtrust.org/attend-courses-events/watershed2025

Nov 7 (10–12 PM) – Guided Beach Walk at Morro Strand State Beach
🔗 https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31276

Nov 8 (10–12 PM) – SLO Beaver Brigade Beaver Pond Tour – Pismo Creek
🔗 https://www.slobeaverbrigade.com/come-to-a-beaver-pond/

Nov 8 (10–12 PM) – Earth Shine Cleanup – San Miguel Park
🔗 https://earthshineorg.com/

Nov 11 (1:30–3:30 PM) – CA State Parks: Monarch Pop-Up – San Simeon Pier
🔗 https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31276

Nov 14 (8 AM–5 PM) – CA Central Coast Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Symposium
🔗 https://wildlife.org/cali-centralcoast/events/

Nov 15 (9 AM–2 PM) – Cal Poly Marine Science Pier Open House
🔗 https://marine.calpoly.edu/pier-open-house

Nov 15 (9 AM–12 PM) – EcoSLO Tree Planting – San Luis Obispo
🔗 https://www.ecoslo.com/events

Nov 15 (9–11:30 AM) – SLO Beaver Brigade Salinas River Cleanup (Paso Robles)
🔗 https://www.slobeaverbrigade.com/events/

Nov 15 (10–12 PM) – Earth Shine Cleanup – River Walk, Paso Robles
🔗 https://earthshineorg.com/

Nov 17 (7 PM) – Saving Birds from Window Collisions (Zoom Program, Morro Coast Audubon)
🔗 https://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/search/label/Programs

Nov 19 (10 AM) – SLO County Parks Interpretive Hike – Bob Jones Trail, Avila Beach

Nov 21 (12–3 PM) – Lower SLO Creek Cleanup – Land Conservancy
🔗 https://lcslo.org/events/

Nov 21 (5–8 PM) – Nature Lights Celebration Opening Night – SLO Botanical Garden
🔗 https://slobg.org/calendar-of-events/

Nov 21 (10–12 PM) – Guided Beach Walk – Morro Strand State Beach
🔗 https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31276

Nov 21 (6:30–7:30 PM) – Stars Over San Simeon – Hearst Memorial Beach
🔗 https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31276

Nov 22 (9 AM–12 PM) – EcoSLO Buchon Street Tree Planting
🔗 https://www.ecoslo.com/events

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🎄 December Events

Dec 3 (2–4 PM) – Pre-King Tides Tide-Pooling & Solstice Sea-Star Search
Leffingwell Landing State Park, Cambria
🔗 https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31276

Dec 4 (5:30–7:30 PM) – EcoSLO Holiday Party
Timbre Winery Production + Tasting Room
🔗 https://www.ecoslo.com/events

Dec 5 (8:30–9:30 PM) – King Tides Community Science Pop-Up
Morro Bay Museum of Natural History
🔗 https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31276

Dec 6 (9:30–11 AM) – City Farm SLO Community Tour
🔗 https://www.cityfarmslo.org/community-tours

Dec 6 (9 AM–12 PM) – EcoSLO Tree Planting – Nipomo High School
🔗 https://www.ecoslo.com/events

Dec 6 (9 AM–12 PM) – SLO Beaver Brigade Salinas River Cleanup (Paso Robles)
🔗 https://www.slobeaverbrigade.com/events

Dec 13 (9 AM–12 PM) – EcoSLO Tree Planting – Johnson Ranch Open Space
🔗 https://www.ecoslo.com/events

Dec 13 (10–12 PM) – Earth Shine Cleanup – Shandon
🔗 https://earthshineorg.com/

Dec 14 – Morro Bay Christmas Bird Count
All-day event with Morro Coast Audubon Society. Register by Dec 1.
🔗 https://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/

Dec 20 (10–12 PM) – Earth Shine Cleanup – River Walk, Paso Robles
🔗 https://earthshineorg.com/