Toro Creek Beach(Dog Beach)

Located between the town of Cayucos and the city of Morro Bay, Toro Creek Beach - also known as Dog Beach - is a wide beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated between two halves of a separate state-protected beach known as the Morro Strand State Beach. The beach is one mile long and has sparse vegetation. The beach can be rocky during winters as it loses a significant amount of sand during winter storms. Toro Creek also flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. Toro Creek Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. The beach allows dogs off-leash. 

Toro Creek Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, wildlife watching, fishing, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, boogie boarding, bodysurfing, kayaking, canoeing, and boating. If you are planning to go into the water near Toro Creek Beach, be careful as the water here is known to have rip currents. The water near the beach is home to many animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). If you like birdwatching, you can see many shorebirds near the beach between mid-summer and early spring. In addition, between March and September, parts of the beach and its surrounding areas are also the nesting spot of the western snowy plover, which is listed as an endangered species under the 1973 federal Endangered Species Act. Toro Creek Beach is a popular beach among pet lovers as it allows pets off-leash. There is a well-trodden hiking path present in the sand dunes near the beach which offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, Morro Rock, and the San Luis Obispo County shoreline. Morro Strand State Beach, which is present near Toro Creek Beach, offers many interesting activities including picnicking, tidepooling, and camping. 

Getting to Toro Creek Beach is easy - the beach is located near the intersection of Toro Creek Road and Cabrillo Highway / Pacific Coast Highway, where there is also a free parking lot. However, we recommend wearing appropriate footwear while visiting the beach as it is known to have seaweed.

There are many attractions near Toro Creek Beach. Whale Rock Reservoir is a 38,967-acre reservoir that was formed by the construction of an earthen dam on Old Creek. The reservoir and the area around it is a popular recreational area and offers many fun activities including hiking, fishing, and birdwatching. Hardie Park is a four-acre park that has many amenities including a covered picnic area, horseshoe courts, a children’s playground, and two tennis courts. The park also has a handicapped-accessible swimming pool with changing rooms and showers, and a pool for toddlers, which are open during summers. If you are looking for another attraction near Toro Creek Beach, Morro Bay Maritime Museum has interesting exhibits on local maritime history and maritime science and technology. In addition, the museum also has many decommissioned sea vessels on display including a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle, a San Francisco tugboat, and a Coast Guard rescue boat.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near Toro Creek Beach. The upscale Blue Heron Restaurant has nautical-themed decor and serves excellent gourmet dishes. In addition, the restaurant has also been praised by the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Cafe Della Via is an Italian restaurant that offers fantastic pizzas, pasta, and risotto. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Toro Creek Beach, the modestly priced Luna Coffee Bar offers amazing breakfast dishes including sandwiches, burritos, quesadillas, and desserts.

If you are looking for a hotel near Toro Creek Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Pier View Suites offers many amenities including two restaurants, a creamery, a bar, a spa, and a salon, barbecue spots, and gardens. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Ascot Suites that offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, evening wine tasting sessions, and a rooftop garden. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Toro Creek Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Shoreline Inn offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, afternoon cookies, an outdoor shower, and picnic areas with barbecue facilities. If you like camping, the campground at Morro Strand State Beach accommodates both RVs and tents and offers many amenities including restrooms, fire rings, and hook-ups for RVs. Campers staying on this campground can use showers available at the nearby Morro Bay State Park with proof of registration.