Welcome to the Los Osos Elfin Forest

The El Moro Elfin Forest in Los Osos, adjacent to the Morro Bay estuary, is a 90-acre natural area belonging to San Luis Obispo County Parks and California State Parks. Its plant communities include coastal brackish marsh, riparian woodland fringe, pygmy oak woodland, maritime chaparral, coastal dune scrub, and oak and manzanita complex. The Elfin Forest supports more than 200 species of plants, as well as 110 kinds of birds, 22 species of mammals and 13 species of reptiles and amphibians. It is home to rare plants, butterflies, snails and birds. Chumash middens occur throughout the park.

A four fifths of a mile boardwalk loop, constructed in 1999, provides wheelchair access, and protects the Forest's sensitive habitat. The Los Osos / Morro Bay Chapter of Small Wilderness Area Preservation (SWAP), after being the prime mover in securing the lands, "adopted" the Forest in 1994.

Beginning the first of 2020 the Chapter changed its name to Friends of El Moro Elfin Forest (FEMEF)

Our mission: to preserve and maintain the El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area; to inform and educate about the natural history of the Elfin Forest and the Morro Bay Estuary; and to promote and support scientific research in the Forest.

Newsletter Read the current copy of Oakleaves.

What's Coming Up in the Elfin Forest-"Recent reports" of animals and plants.

Annual Celebration FEMEF 2020 Virtual Meeting.