Point Lobos: The Greatest Meeting of Land and Water?

Isn’t it funny how we can miss something wonderful that is practically right under our noses? That is what happened to me on several trips to Monterey Bay and Big Sur on the coast of California: I was so close to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (I had even driven by a few times!), yet I never went. At first, I didn’t even know it existed, and then last year somebody told me that it was a place I absolutely couldn’t miss.

When I read that Point Lobos has been called “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world,” I knew I had to see it for myself. I finally got there this past January. Is it really the greatest meeting of land and water? There are so many beautiful places where land and sea meet all over the world, but Point Lobos really is special…

Why visit Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

The area of Point Lobos is a marine preserve, a sanctuary where fish and ocean life can actually thrive instead of disappear (as they do in the world’s oceans today). This is a place where you can see sea otters; in fact, these waters are the very place where a few sea otters survived after they were thought to be extinct due to hunting in the early 20th century.

There is also a huge kelp forest that you can explore if you like to dive. Seals are all over in the waters and sometimes on the beaches. The forests are home to deer, bobcats, and mountain lions. Migrating monarch butterflies stop here in winter on their way down to Mexico. The headlands are also home to “rare plant communities” and “endangered archaeological sites,” according to the Point Lobos Foundation.

Besides being an important sanctuary for animals and sea life, Point Lobos is also a headland with dramatic cliffs and rocks that create pools of water that are so blue, even shades of green and turquoise.

There are many hikes–some follow open paths along the water…

We didn’t see any sea otters on this day, but we did see whales spouting in the distance and a few seals playing in the waters right below us.

Point Lobos Hikes

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has miles of hiking trails. They are all so beautiful that you really can’t go wrong on any of them.

You may want to start at the parking lot closest to China Cove and make your way to the farthest southern point where there are a couple of secluded beaches, a hiking trail out to Bird Island, and even this little cave. The water here was a striking shade of green. In the spring, look for baby seals on the beach here.

After that you can walk along most of central trails of Point Lobos, which take you along the shore for many striking vistas.

And you can end with the Cypress Trail toward the northern side of Point Lobos. This trail goes up and down hills, through cypress groves, and along some pretty nerve-wracking steps on the sides of rocks. 

The Point Lobos Loop Trail

If you have a few hours and some food, I highly recommend hiking the whole Point Lobos loop trail. Around every corner is a different view, from the ocean to secluded coves, from cypress groves to inland hills covered in wildflowers in the spring. Picnic tables and other places to stop and rest are scattered around the reserve.

Tips for visiting Point Lobos

NO animals, not even in your car

There is a nominal entrance fee of $10 per vehicle

Get here early if possible to snag a parking spot inside the reserve. I recommend parking on the southern end to explore the China Cove area first.

The weather here can be changeable. If you’re in the area for a few days, try to time a visit to Point Lobos with a clear day because the views are spectacular on a sunny day.

Spring means wildflowers!

Spring also means baby seals, but be careful not to scare them. Use a quiet voice and never approach babies and their moms.

Will I be back to Point Lobos? Absolutely. I am planning to bring a lunch and spend the day there with time to explore the whole park since it’s actually pretty small. (Point Lobos State Reserve is located just 3 miles south of Carmel on the beautiful Highway 1).

Have you been to the coast of Central California? Tell me: what’s the most beautiful meeting of land and water that you have seen?