Fiscalini Ranch Preserve 
Cambria, San Luis Obispo County, California
October 9, 2018

I've been working near the central coast town of Cambria in San Luis Obispo County lately and had some unexpected free time so I decided to go look for Monterey pine (Pinus radiata). I knew that the southernmost native stands of Monterey pine where located in Cambria but wasn't quite sure where to best see them. After a quick internet search I found the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, a 437-acre open space preserve which encompasses a variety of habitats including riparian, tidal, coastal prairie, freshwater marsh, coastal scrub, and Monterey pine forest. I chose to hike the 1.2-mile Forest Loop trail because my time was limited and it sounded like the most likely place to see Monterey pine. Based on the trail map I picked up at the trailhead off of Tipton Street, it looks like there are about 70 acres of Monterey pine forest in the preserve. As soon as I entered the preserve I was surrounded by Monterey pine. It was birdy too with California towhees, Steller's jay, and Nuttall's woodpecker present as well as a large flock of colorful Townsend's warblers chattering as they hop-scotched from tree to tree.  

The Forest Loop trail
was a pleasure to hike. 

The hike was quick and fun. The Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve have done a great job maintaining the trails and doing Monterey pine forest restoration. It was early, foggy, and drizzly, which might be the best way to experience Monterey pine but resulted in bad lighting in photos. I didn't quite get the picture I wanted, I'll have to add some better photos when I get a chance.

Pine forest restoration work on the preserve.  

5. Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)
Monterey pine has bright green needles in bundles of three. Needles are relatively long, up to 6 inches long. Cones are medium sized, up to 10 inches in length, and not prickly. The cones are persistent on the tree, which is distinctive. The bark is grey-brown and somewhat furrowed. Monterey pines that grow in open canopy stands tend to have thicker trunks and a rounded full crown. Within closed canopy stands they have a short crown atop a long unbranched trunk. From a distance, the closed canopy stand trees have a wise and distinctive gangly look. 

Monterey pine has bright green needles in bundles
of three and persistent cones that are not prickly.

The gray-brown furrowed bark of mature 
closed canopy stand Monterey pine. 

Noticeably green needles and persistent cones are
distinctive of Monterey pine.

Silhouette of unbranched trees with short crowns
within a closed canopy Monterey pine stand. 

     

Silhouette of branched full canopy of
open canopy Monterey pine.