The drive in was paved and passed a small shack where payment was made. The park is a day use facility that is only open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (18:00). The day use fee was $US 5.00 per vehicle per day ($US 4.00 for seniors. Because of nesting birds and raccoons, no dogs were allowed.

As the sign says:

Oceano Dunes
State Vehicular Recreation Area
Oso Flaco Lake

A gate prevented all but official vehicle access to the lake. The path was marked by signs that prohibited equestrians and dogs. The only restrooms available were portable ones without sinks and without disinfectants.

A sign warned of:

POISON OAK

The shiny leaves of this shrub
grow in groups of three on smooth
stems. They are green until fall when
they turn various shades of red and
orange. Do not touch the stems or
leaves. For the oil of this plant is
toxic to humans and may cause a
severe rash or blisters. Sometimes
poison oak will grow as a vine in
the trees.

The path into the lake was bordered by many trees and bushes, among which were many patches of poison oak located just off the path.

The tangle of trees bordering the path were covered in moss.

The lake was actually two lakes. The one shown here was protected and there were no paths available to explore it.

The lake with the path through it had two warning signs. The top one spoke of Mountain Lions, and the bottom one spoke of Raccoons.

An elevated path ran through the lake, connecting the path in with the beach and dune areas beyond.

A raccoon explored the lake's edge at midday.

One of several benches found along the elevated path. They provided places to sit and rest and to enjoy the quiet and the surrounding birds.

The long leg of the elevated path appeared to lead back into land.

The elevated path ended at a wooden path that continued off through low shrub covered land.

The wooden path was paralleled by low shrubs, many of which had flowers about to bloom.

Several differently colored bushes surrounded the path as it wound off toward the beach.

Some of the bushes appeared totally dried out.

Some of the bushes had dried rust-red seed-pods that, when in front of a grey backdrop appeared almost pink.

The wooden path leading to the beach turned out to be further than expected. Note the hawk in the distance.

A large group of school kids approached from the beach. They were headed back to the parking lot and the school bus parked there.

A rope fence appeared alongside the path as it neared the beach.

The beach and dunes found at the end of the trail.

Plants covered the dunes as seen looking north from the trail.

An up close shot of the plants covering the dunes. Note the animal tracks in the sand.

One the way back this pipe was discovered. It appeared to connect the two lakes together so that they could maintain equal water levels.