Point Lobos State Park

Created August 28, 1999 Last Modified: August 28, 1999

Point Lobos is one of my most favorite places in the world to visit. Point Lobos is located just south of Carmel on Highway 1 in California. Point Lobos is a California State Park (link to virtual parks?)

Xx miles of trails (suggested path)

There is a great diversity of scenery, from the redwood forest areas, to the white sand beach of China Cove, to the craggy rocks and cypress trees of Cypress Cove. There are tidal areas where you can explore at low tide, and watch the waves crashing on the rocks in from of you, and Mountainous overlooks.

Near the southern end of the Park is Bird Island, and small rock ridge just o short way off shore. The ridge is usually covered with various seabirds, sunning themselves, and drying their wings.

You have an opportunity at Point Lobos to get up close and personal with a variety of wildlife. The place is crawling with friendly squirrels, scurrying around and begging for food. There are a variety of coastal birds all over the area, Seagulls, Oystercatchers, Pelicans, Cormorants and more.

The waters are usually occupied by a number of sea otters, playing or wrapping themselves in seaweed to steady themselves from the tides. There are usually a number of seals basking on the rocks near Sea Lion Point or swimming around in Whalers Cove. Occasionally you may even see a Sea Lion or an Elephant Seal.

There are even a couple of spots along the trail near the Allan Memorial Grove overlooking Headland Cove where Deer can often be seen. On my last visit we even saw a Gray Whale just a short way off shore.

Protected area.

There is a small visitor's center and museum at Whaler's Cove, filled with artifacts and pictures from the area in the 1800's. There is a small kiosk near one of the Parking Lots near the Sea Lion Point Trail where there is usually a docent stationed. You can see and feel samples of seal and otter fur. In addition, you can buy a beautiful poster of a Point Lobos sunset there.

If you like nature, if you like seascapes and beautiful coastal scenery, and you are anywhere near the Monterey Bay Area, then definitely consider visiting Point Lobos State Park.

To quote:

"The gray whale is a very important part of the park because whales migrate past within easy viewing distance from shore. It also is the site of one of the earliest whaling stations on the west coast."

"Point Lobos State Park, founded in 1933 with 750 acres of underwater reserve added in 1960 is only 3 miles to the south of Carmel. Its hiking trails & beaches from which the playful sea otters can frequently be seen is one of natures most beautiful. Big Sur with its many picturesque features is only 23 miles down the coast."

To quote:

Point Lobos State Park is a reserve named after a group of rocks located offshore at Punta de los Lobos ("point of the sea lions," where the friendly sound of sea lions travels inland). The park also has been dubbed "the crown jewel of the state park system," and with good reason. More than 250 animal and bird species and more than 350 plant species have been spotted here. In addition to hiking and jogging, visitors come here to take nature photography, to enjoy an outdoor picnic in a beautiful setting, to scuba dive, paint, or merely watch the natural world go by. Nature lovers will find rare plant species at the park, in addition to endangered archeological sites, unusual geological formations, and wide variety of flora and fauna, both of the land and sea varieties.

To quote:

At the Northern tail end of Big Sur lies Point Lobos State Park, one of the best spots along the coast to see an incredible landscape (Edward Weston, Ansel Adams and many other famous photographers have worked there) as well as marine mammals. During the winter months gray whales migrate close to the shore past the Cape, which led to the initial use of the coves of Pt. Lobos by European whalers. Before that Indians had used the sheltered bays and coves for fishing, to which an abundance of oyster shells on the land surrounding the bay still testifies. Other mammals you can expect to see are Sea Otters, Sea Lions and Harbor Seals, aside from that, there are plenty of herons and egrets, and other birds.

LINK:

I could spend a long time trying to make a great page about Point Lobos, and it would still not be as good as this one.

http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/

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