Overview
Avila Sea Caves is located south of Avril Beach and is a wonderful place to park your van and spend the day exploring Pirates Beach and the sea caves. The parking area is called ‘Pirates Cove Parking” and is located on a beautiful bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From the parking lot, head down the main trail that leads to Pirates Cove Beach and follow the signs to Avila Caves.
Adventure
Avila Sea Caves makes a wonderful adventure for any van or RV nomad looking to spend some quality time on the beach. The pirate’s cove parking lot provides stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding beaches.
A few trails lead down to Pirates Cove Beach and Smugglers Cave. Look for the trail sign and follow the trail down toward the ocean; once on the trail, look for another sign that directs you to Pirate’s Cove Beach or Smugglers Cave.
Pirates Cove Beach is beautiful but beware; it is also a nude beach. Leave your swimsuit in your van if you dare.
Hiking
You can also hike around the area using either the Sycamore Crest Trail and/or the Ontario Ridge Trail. The Ontario Ridge Trails leads you from the parking lot to the top of the bluff. From there, you can continue onto the Sycamore Crest Trail to Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort or continue along the ridge to the 101Fwy. This makes for a great addition to exploring the beach and caves.
Town of Avila Beach
The town of Avila is about 2 miles away and is a good place to grab a bit to ear, hang on the beach, or explore the area. The town has some great restaurants and a pier for you to enjoy.
Parking
The parking at the Sea Caves is called Pirate Cove Parking. It is a dirt parking lot that has plenty of space for your van or RV. There are plenty of nomads parked here you can make some new friends.
Directions:
Take Avila Beach Drive to Cave Landing Road. Proceed on Cave Landing Road for 1/4 mile until you reach the Pirates Cove Parking lot.
References and Other Adventures:
- Address: 1717 Cave Landing Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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Oceano Dunes SVRA
Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve is located 3 miles south of Pismo Beach and is one of the most expansive coastal dunes left in California. The preserve offers the opportunity to camp directly on the beach, go horseback riding and traverse the dunes in a doom buggy. You have the ability to drive your van and camp right on the beach which is a real treat in California.
