• MEETING PLANNERS
• 
• TOUR & TRAVEL
• 
• MEMBERS
• 
• MEDIA

• Lodging
  • 

    Lodging

    Where to stay? The choices are as varied as Monterey County's landscape. Quaint, decadent, understated, austere - which beckons you? From historic mansions...more
  • • Full Service Hotels and Resorts
    • Hotels and Motels
    • Bed & Breakfasts and Inns
    • Campgrounds and RV Parks
    • Vacation Rentals and Retreat Properties
    • Pet Friendly Hotels
• Things to Do
  • 

    Things to Do

    Monterey County is a mecca for all things active. By paddle, pedal, foot or golf cart, you're going to have ample opportunity to move and do. Only here,...more
  • • Attractions
    • Itineraries
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Animals and Wildlife
    • Parks
    • Beaches
    • Arts and Culture
    • Family Adventures
    • Golf
  • • Farmers' Markets
    • Guided Tours
    • Historic Attractions
    • Literary Sites
    • Romance
    • Shopping
    • Spas
    • Sporting Events
    • Weddings
• Events
  • 

    Events

    From world class racing to art and music festivals, top tier golf tournaments to food & wine events, there is always something fun happening in Monterey....more
  • • Music Festivals
    • Sporting Events
    • Food & Wine Events
    • Art Festivals
    • Community Events
    • Submit an Event
• Food & Wine
  • 

    Food & Wine

    Gastronomic stimulation is a hallmark of any memorable travel experience. And here again, Monterey County does not disappoint. The diversity of culinary...more
  • • Restaurants
    • Food Features
    • Wineries
    • Farm Stands
    • Farmers' Markets
    • Food and Wine Events
• Resources
  • 

    Resources

    We've got everything you need to plan a wonderfully memorable Monterey experience. Find out how to get here from wherever you are and be sure to check on...more
  • • Getting Here
    • Maps
    • Special Offers
    • Photos & Videos
    • Visitors Center
    • Webcams
    • eNewsletter Sign Up
    • Desktop Wallpapers
    • Free Travel Guide
  • • Visitor Services
    • Transportation Services
    • Contact Us
    • Travel Alerts
• Destinations
  • 

    Destinations

    You would never tire of driving the 99 miles of Monterey County coastline in either direction. But as hard as it might be to take your eyes or mind off the...more
  • • Monterey
    • Big Sur
    • Pebble Beach
    • Carmel-by-the-Sea
    • Pacific Grove
    • Moss Landing
    • Carmel Valley
    • Seaside
    • Salinas Valley
  • • Salinas
    • Marina
    • Del Rey Oaks
    • Sand City
    • Soledad
    • Castroville
    • Parkfield
    • Spreckels

Point Lobos State Reserve

Point Lobos has been called "the greatest meeting of land and sea in the world" and "the crown jewel of the state park system." It has diving unmatched on the California coast, great hiking, perfect picnic spots, vistas and wildlife well-suited for painting or photography, and even an old whaler's cabin. In the winter, migrating gray whales are visible from the shore.

Enjoy Monterey County's State Parks With a Monterey State Parks Pass

Explore all of the California State Parks in Monterey County with a three-day Monterey State Parks pass, exclusively available on SeeMonterey.com! The three-day State Parks pass gives visitors three days of in-and-out privileges at every California State Park in Monterey County, including Point Lobos, Pfeiffer Big Sur, Andrew Molera State Park and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Purchase the pass on its own, or combine it with a hotel stay and other outdoor activities!

Wildlife

The ocean at Point Lobos is home to sea lions, harbor seals, elephant seals, sea otters, and is a year-round stopping point for orcas. Visitors can even whale-watch without leaving dry land; gray whales migrate past this area from December to April, and can be easily seen from the coast.

There are even more animals on land at Point Lobos than there are in the ocean. Though many of them, such as the gray foxes, raccoons, coyotes, striped skunks, opossums, and mountain lions, are primarily nocturnal, you may still see them during the day. You may also catch sight of weasels, deer, badgers, bobcats and rabbits.

While Pacific Grove is known for its Monarch butterfly sanctuary, not many people realize that Point Lobos also provides an important wintering-over spot for these flying jewels.

Birding

Point Lobos is a birders' paradise! Birders can check a number of feathered friends off their lists after just one visit. Smaller birds include the chestnut-backed chickadee, the pygmy nuthatch, Anna's hummingbird, the spotted towhee, the dark-eyed junco, scrub jays, wrentits, the white-crowned sparrow, and the California quail. Turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, and the American kestrel can also be spotted. Seabirds regularly seen at Point Lobos include the brown pelican, the rock pigeon, the black oystercatcher, Brandt's cormorant, the western gull, the killdeer, the great and snowy egrets, and the great blue and black-crowned night herons.

Hiking

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has a number of excellent hiking trails that range from easy to challenging. Refer to the second item on our list of Top Ten Day Hikes in Monterey County for detailed information on these hikes, including online Point Lobos trail maps.

Diving

If you stick to land, you'll miss the most awe-inspiring part of Point Lobos - the part that lies underwater. As part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the undisturbed aquatic life in Point Lobos is one of the most varied in the world. The incredible array of marine diversity and towering kelp forests make Point Lobos a preferred diving spot; call ahead at 831-624-8413 to make a reservation. The Point Lobos State Reserve website has Point Lobos maps and dive site videos.

Whalers Cabin Museum

While whales passing by Point Lobos are now considered a thing of natural beauty, in the 1800s they were considered a natural resource. The building known as the Whalers Cabin was inhabited by Japanese and Chinese fishermen beginning in the 1850s. The cabin has been restored to look as it did in the 1800s; the former garage for the building now presents a history of the shore whaling industry on the Monterey Peninsula.

Point Lobos Map

This majestic spot for hiking and diving is easily accessible; just drive south on Highway 1 three miles from Carmel.

View Larger Map