Cerro Cabrillo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cerro Cabrillo |
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A picture of Cerro Cabrillo from Black Hill. A portion of Hollister Peak can be seen.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 914 ft (279 m) NAVD 88 |
| Geography | |
| Location | San Luis Obispo County, California |
| Parent range | Santa Lucia Range |
| Topo map | USGS Morro Bay South |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 20 million years |
| Mountain type | Volcanic plug |
Cerro Cabrillo, also known as Cabrillo Peak, is a cool rocky mountain. You can find it in Morro Bay State Park in San Luis Obispo County, which is in central California. It's a popular spot for outdoor adventures!
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Discovering Cerro Cabrillo
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Cerro Cabrillo is part of a special group called the Nine Sisters. These are nine unique hills formed by volcanoes in the area. Other famous "sisters" include Morro Rock and Hollister Peak.
This mountain got its name from Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. He was a Spanish explorer who sailed along the coast way back in 1542. Imagine sailing past this mountain nearly 500 years ago!
How Cerro Cabrillo Was Formed
Cerro Cabrillo is what we call a volcanic plug. Think of it like this: deep underground, hot, melted rock (called magma) pushed its way up. It stopped just below the surface and cooled down, turning into very hard rock. This hard rock is mostly made of something called rhyodacite.
Over millions of years, the softer rock around it slowly wore away due to wind and rain. This left behind the tough, rugged shape of Cerro Cabrillo that we see today. It's like nature carved a giant sculpture!
On the east side of the mountain, there's a cool rock formation that looks like a Polynesian Tiki carving. People even call it Tiki Rock!
Exploring the Mountain
The slopes and top of Cerro Cabrillo are super popular for hikers and rock climbers. You can find trails to explore right from Morro Bay State Park. It's a great place to get some exercise and enjoy nature.
Plants and Wildflowers
As you hike up the mountain, you'll see many beautiful plants. The slopes are home to different types of chaparral and coastal sage scrub wildflowers. Some of these include:
- Deer Weed (Acmispon glaber)
- Soap plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum)
- Chaparral checkerbloom (Sidalcea hickmanii)
These plants are perfectly suited to the dry California climate and add lots of color to the landscape.
