At the beginning of the reserve's trail, traffic noise from the busy road dominates. Penetrating deeper into the park, these sounds diminish, giving way to birds singing, water trickling in Los Osos Creek, and wind rustling through the oaks. Trails traverse through the variety of plant communities, and the trail is alternately in bright sunlight or dappled shade. A word of caution: one of the predominant undergrowth plants in the area is poison oak. A sign at the entrance helps visitors identify and stay away from this pesky plant. Staying on the trails helps to avoid contact.

One of the trails goes through remnants of an old Chumash Indian midden (trash dump) site. Fragments of clam and abalone shells the Chumash consumed long ago are found here. The nomadic Chumash had temporary encampments all over the Morro Bay watershed area, and this is just one reminder that many other people have come before us.

There is a variety of wildlife in the park. Visitors can spot a shy plain titmouse, or see a California valley quail rustling through the underbrush. Visitors may also see a brush rabbit darting across the trail, or encounter the home of a nocturnal dusky-footed wood rat.

The Reserve is also the home of several species of lichen that can be found nowhere else. Visitors should look for wisps of lichens and mosses dangling from oak branches throughout the reserve.

The reserve is located on Los Osos Valley Road in the Los Osos Valley, just outside the town of Los Osos, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.