Cerro Cabrillo
Morro Bay State Park (the Morros) · near Morro Bay · Central Coast
Rock Climbing
At a glance
- Skill level
- beginner
- Grade range
- ~5.6–5.11 (mostly moderate)
- Best season
- Year-round thanks to coastal moderation; best fall–spring, summer afternoons hot and windy
Permits and booking
- Permit
- Free (day-use lot; no climbing fee) within Morro Bay State Park. Peregrine falcon activity in the Morros means possible seasonal closures — heed signage. This is the sanctioned climbing peak of the Morros — do not confuse it with off-limits neighbors (Morro Rock, Cerro Romualdo, Hollister and Chumash peaks are closed or private).
Worth knowing
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
Rock Climbing detail
- Climb types
- top-rope · sport · trad
- Rock type
- Dacite volcanic — same Nine Sisters/Morros chain as Bishop Peak
- Route count
- ~42 routes (~14 trad, ~17 sport, ~30 top-rope)
- Signature routes
- Brown Smoothies · Tiki Rock top-ropes · Estuary-view moderates
- Intl tip
- Pair it with Bishop Peak for a two-crag day — Cabrillo in the cool morning, Bishop later. Bring your own rope and rack; there's no rental at the trailhead, and it's the only Morro that's legal to climb.
The guide
Set inside Morro Bay State Park with sweeping views over the estuary, sandspit and neighboring Morros, Cerro Cabrillo is the re…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Cerro Cabrillo — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 35.3465, -120.8252