Oceano Dunes Remains Open to Off-Roading After Court Decision

A California Court of Appeals has sided with off-road vehicle recreationists in a long-running legal battle over access to Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, ruling that the California Coastal Commission overstepped its authority in attempting to restrict OHV use at the popular San Luis Obispo County riding area.

The decision marks a significant chapter in a decades-long dispute over the future of Oceano Dunes — the last remaining beach in California where vehicles are permitted to drive on the sand. The roughly 1,500-acre park, located just south of Pismo Beach, draws hundreds of thousands of off-road enthusiasts annually and is one of the most iconic OHV destinations in the state.

The conflict centers on competing visions for the dunes. California State Parks, which manages the SVRA, has operated the site for off-highway vehicle recreation since the 1980s. The Coastal Commission, tasked with protecting coastal resources, has pushed for years to reduce and eventually phase out vehicle use on the beach, citing concerns about air quality, habitat disturbance to sensitive species including the Western snowy plover, and dust impacts on the nearby Nipomo Mesa community.

In its ruling, the Court of Appeal found that the Coastal Commission exceeded its regulatory authority in its efforts to curtail OHV activity at the park. The California Four Wheel Drive Association, which has been actively involved in defending off-road access at Oceano Dunes, called the decision a major victory for the off-road community.

Environmental and community groups have long argued that vehicle activity on the dunes contributes to particulate matter pollution affecting downwind residents and degrades sensitive coastal habitat. The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District has also raised concerns about dust generated by OHV use on the open sand.

State Parks has undertaken dust mitigation efforts in recent years, including installing vegetation plots and wind fencing, and has reduced the riding area in phases. In 2021, the agency released a draft plan to eventually close the vehicular recreation area and transition it to a non-motorized public beach preserve — a proposal that drew sharp opposition from off-road groups and some local businesses that depend on OHV tourism revenue.

For now, Oceano Dunes SVRA remains open to off-highway vehicles, and this ruling reinforces that access in the near term. Visitors should be aware that the park operates under specific rules including designated riding areas, speed limits, and seasonal closures to protect nesting shorebirds.

The decision could still face further legal challenges, and the broader political debate over the dunes’ future is far from settled. Both sides are expected to continue pressing their case in Sacramento and in the courts.