Montaña de Oro State Park, Natural park along Pacific coast in San Luis Obispo County, US.

Montaña de Oro is a natural park along the Pacific coast in San Luis Obispo County, California, that spreads across cliffs, beaches, dunes and hills. The Valencia Peak rises above the ocean and offers a wide view of the coast and the waves below.

In 1842 Governor Juan B. Alvarado granted Victor Linares the Rancho Cañada de los Osos; in 1845 James Scott and John Wilson combined it with Rancho Pecho y Islay into a 32,431-acre grant. Alden B. Spooner, Jr. leased and then bought land around Islay Creek in 1892, raising dairy cattle and building a ranch house, barns, a creamery and a waterwheel. The state bought the property in 1965 and dedicated it as a park on April 24, 1965, keeping the name Irene McAllister had given it.

The name "Montaña de Oro" (Mountain of Gold) comes from the golden wildflowers of the park, according to the Arabic-language source. The name was kept when the state bought the land in 1965: it was the name Irene McAllister had given the property. The Chumash and Salinan peoples lived here before Europeans arrived; Spanish explorers in 1542 recorded them paddling out in canoes to greet the ships.

The trails are mostly unpaved and run over uneven ground, so sturdy shoes are recommended. Early morning hours work well for visits, as afternoon winds often pick up and fog can reduce visibility.

The tide pools along the shore hold sea anemones, starfish and small crabs that become visible at low tide. During winter months, gray whales can be seen from the cliffs as they pass by on their migration south.