Playa Morro Blanco & Punta Ballena, Bahía San Rafael

Just west of San Francisquito is an unmapped trail north to a secluded sandy beach on Bahía San Rafael known as Playa Morro Blanco. The entrance is marked by a dilapidated lots-for-sale sign. See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   28.3913, -112.9237 

Road to Playa Morro Blanco and Punta Ballena on Bahía San Rafael - Fallen Sign: Lots for Sale Road to Playa Morro Blanco and Punta Ballena on Bahía San Rafael - Fallen Sign: Lots for Sale Road to Playa Morro Blanco and Punta Ballena on Bahía San Rafael - Fallen Sign: Punta Ballena Road to Playa Morro Blanco and Punta Ballena on Bahía San Rafael - Fallen Signs - Sportsmobile Road to Playa Morro Blanco and Punta Ballena on Bahía San Rafael Road to Playa Morro Blanco and Punta Ballena on Bahía San Rafael

I spent the next 24 hours exploring the area.

Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Sportsmobile Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelicans Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Flower Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Dumped Shells

Hearing an engine sound, I looked up and saw the strangest thing: what looked like some kind of experimental airplane or UFO being towed by a helicopter! It was too far away to clearly make out what it was, but I was to run into it again later....

Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Helicopter Towing UFO

I also visited an old mine in the area, where the rocks are loaded with fossil shells. See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   28.4412, -112.9694 

Mine with Shell Fossils near Playa Morro Blanco, Bahía San Rafael Mine with Shell Fossils near Playa Morro Blanco, Bahía San Rafael Mine with Shell Fossils near Playa Morro Blanco, Bahía San Rafael Mine with Shell Fossils near Playa Morro Blanco, Bahía San Rafael Mine with Shell Fossils near Playa Morro Blanco, Bahía San Rafael Mine with Shell Fossils near Playa Morro Blanco, Bahía San Rafael Mine with Shell Fossils near Playa Morro Blanco, Bahía San Rafael

Then I wandered down a very rough trail the most westerly accessible part of the beach, and camped for the night. There were few tire tracks, but many animals! See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   28.4550, -112.9897 

Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - End of Trail down to Beach - Sportsmobile Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Sportsmobile Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Sportsmobile Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Booby

There was a dead (baby?) whale on the beach that attracted many visitors, including this coyote and many turkey vultures.

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It was also fascinating to watch the pelicans soaring, then suddenly dive for fish.

Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelicans Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelican Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelican Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelicans Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelican Diving Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelican Diving Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelican Diving Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelican Diving Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelican Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelicans

There were crabs crawling on the rocky cliffs. Like the nearby mining area, these cliffs were also encrusted with ancient shells.

Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Cliffs Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Crabs Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Fossils in Rocks Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Shell Fossils in Rock

Hiking up behind the cliffs, to see elephant trees, and a lagoon to the east.

Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Lagoon Elephant Tree

The next day, I left to explore as far east as I could go along the shore of Bahía San Rafael — towards Punta Ballena.

Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Trail - Sportsmobile Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Lagoon Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Trail - Sportsmobile Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Pelicans Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Sign, "Playa Hermosa" - Sportsmobile Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Sandy Trail - Sportsmobile Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Turtle Shell - Beach Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Mud Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Bones

Walking east along the beach, past a colorful lagoon, to the end: Punta Ballena. See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   28.4748, -112.9035 

Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Lagoon Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Lagoon Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Lagoon - Bird Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Lagoon Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Beach - Bones Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Punta Ballena - Beach - Fishing Shack Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Punta Ballena - Pelicans Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Rock with Corals Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Ocotillo Flowers Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Cactus

Just before I left the area, I saw the helicopter towing the UFO again!

Helicopter Towing UFO Punta Ballena on Playa Morro Blanco - Bahía San Rafael - Sandy Trail - Cactus - Sportsmobile