Point Estero Shipwreck
Do you ever dream of shipwrecks, pirates, or venturing the high seas? Those who know me well know I originally moved to California to work for a department head on the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise. So of course I’m excited to share a local shipwreck spot with you today! I shot my Here Be Dragons post at this location, and I was asked for the details…so below I’m sharing all I know about it! 😉
The Facts
On July 28, 2017 a commercial fishing vessel, named the Point Estero, was returning to the Morro Bay harbor after fishing for slime eels when it mysteriously ran aground. No one was injured, and the owner relinquished possession of the boat. Within 48 hours the U.S. Coast Guard, California State Parks, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife cleared the boat of all hazardous materials and pollutants. However, due to jurisdiction and funding issues, the ship has been left to sit in its original resting place among the rocks deteriorating for over two years. You can find more information about the wreck here.
The Location
There have been discrepancies on the exact location of the shipwreck, in part due to the vessel’s name. The boat, which is named the Point Estero, ran aground 4 miles south of the Cambria landmark Point Estero. Many people mistakenly search here for the ship with no luck finding it. If you look closely on a clear day, you can still see the mast of the ship from Highway 1. To get to the ship, enter the small dirt lot at the corner of Highway 1 and N. Ocean Ave. For an overhead view of the ship, simply walk 500 feet down the main path from the parking lot. If you want a close up view, you can scramble down the small ravine to the left, but only plan this extra hike during low tide…unless you want to try swimming out to the ship. 😉
Know before you go:
• Check the tides before visiting. The shipwreck is only accessible during low tides. Much of the ship is covered by water during high tide.
• The shipwreck is located at the south end of Estero Bluffs State Park, which is open from 6 AM till sunset daily
• Tides pools surround the ship, so enjoy and take care not to disturb them.
• Dogs are allowed here as long as they remind leashed under their owner’s control at all times.
• There is no water or restrooms here.
• The ship has deteriorated quite a bit over the past two years, so explore with caution.
In Summary & Behind the Blog Video
Thanks for joining me in exploring this unique California shipwreck. For more information, see my Behind the Blog video below. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
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