California’s central coast is blessed with some of the best camping locations and the most beautiful beaches. A great way to experience both of these central coast glories is by visiting Hearst San Simeon State Park. It was established in 1950, making it one of the oldest state parks in the California system. At the campgrounds and day-use area, you can enjoy picnics, junior ranger program activities and various trails. There are fire pits and firewood available for purchase to enjoy a nice evening campfire with s’mores. At the beaches, you can explore the tide pools, look out for elephant seals, or take an adventure by kayak. Beaches plus camping is the perfect duo and Hearst San Simeon has it all. It can be broken into three preserves; Santa Rosa Creek Natural Preserve, San Simeon Natural Preserve, and the Pa-nu Cultural Preserve. Each of these preserves holds its own unique displays and deserves a visit. Hearst San Simeon State Park stretches far along highway one, covering land for over 20 miles. For reference, the map pulled from the California State Park website, highlights in blue/green all the areas established as a part of the state park.
The two campgrounds you can stay at are San Simeon Creek Campground and Washburn Campground. San Simeon Creek Campground has over one-hundred sites available for both tents and RVs. This is a great camping option with toilets, fire rings, coin-operated showers. It offers great views and a child-friendly experience. There is a nearby trail, San Simeon Creek Trail, that winds through a unique wetland habitat. The smaller of the two campgrounds is Washburn Campground. Washburn has a more primitive camping style and also includes a day-use area nearby. The campsite offers a beautiful hilltop view of both the Santa Lucia mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Along highway one, there are many locations with beach access as part of Hearst San Simeon State Park. Moonstone beach is notable for the polished stones that are said to twinkle in the moonlight. William R. Hearst Memorial State Beach is a popular destination for swimming and surfing. It also has barbecue grills and restrooms available. A bit further north is Piedra Blancas Elephant Seal Beaches with a pier for great elephant seal viewing. From small creatures hidden in the tide pools, to the larger marine life like sea lions, otters, and seals, the Hearst San Simeon beaches feature a rich diversity of wildlife. Another notable beach spot, north of the campgrounds, is San Simeon Point. It includes a 2.5-mile trail along the coastline, a historic pier and a few historical buildings.
The history of Hearst San Simeon State Park is particularly rich. Hearst San Simeon gets its name from the Hearst Family who first arrived in the 1850s. The most well known of the Hearst family is William Randolf Hearst, estate owner of Hearst Castle and famed newspaper publisher. The castle is now a state historical monument that lies in the middle of Hearst San Simeon State Park and is open for tours. William Hearst loved the area dearly, and once told his mother he loved “the mountains and the hollows in the hills and the shady places in the creeks and the fine old oaks and even the hot brushy hillsides.” Hopefully you too can experience this beautiful area of present-day Hearst San Simeon State Park that William Randolf Hearst praised.
