The birding is good in any season. The areas of pines are perhaps the most interesting. Pygmy Nuthatches are common there, along with Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, and a variety of Woodpeckers. Wilson's Warblers, Swainson's Thrushes, and Western Flycatchers breed in the willow area.

Directions to parking lot: About 2 miles north of the last traffic light in Cambria, just before the San Simeon Creek bridge, take a right (east) into the paved parking lot a the Washburn Day Use Area, which has restrooms View Map

The San Simeon SP Trail (aka San Simeon Trail, San Simeon Creek Trail, Washburn Campground Trail) starts on the boardwalk going inland (east). The boardwalk ends in about 200 yards at the Washburn Campground Road, where a dirt trail starts to the right of the paved road. The trail loop is about 3.5 miles long and goes up and down several slopes and has several rather high steps. Dogs are not permitted.

You can explore the old San Simeon Ranch while passing through marshes, open grasslands, oak and pine forests, and riparian and coastal scrub habitats. During spring an abundance of wildflowers can be found growing along this trail. 

Going west from the Washburn Day Use parking lot towards the ocean provides access to the San Simeon Creek Mouth/Beach Hotspot.