Point Lobos State Reserve

About Point Lobos State Reserve

The area is dotted with headlands, bays and rolling meadows, and thousands of seabirds make the reserve their home. From December to May, sea lions, sea turtles, seals, whales and other marine mammals are part of the animal species. The offshore area borders the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Indian Ocean.

The name of the reserve is derived from the point where the sound of the sea lions is transmitted inland. The area was once home to a whaling bay in Carmel, where a small hut from that time still stands today. A trail follows the coast and leads into a hidden bay, and the area once housed a former whaling hut, Point Lobos Whaling Station.

Point Lobos offers many things to the millions of people who visit it each year, as well as to residents and visitors alike. The Point Lobo State Reserve borders the Pacific Ocean, Carmel Bay and the San Juan River.

Besides spectacular beauty, almost every aspect of this resource is of scientific interest. There are endangered archaeological sites, such as Point Lobos National Wildlife Refuge and San Juan River National Monument.

Climbing is absolutely forbidden, so stay away from rocky cliffs, respect the power of the ocean and stay away from the lines and signposted paths. To avoid disasters, help by keeping a safe distance, staying away from pipes, signposted paths or the nature of this natural resource.

Diving is permitted, but only for whales and bluefin fish in the bay, and diving requires prior written registration. Guided walking tours throughout the month are available at the entrance and the museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Permission to dive is granted upon entry to the reserve and no proof of diving permit is required, but reservations for the Museum and Point Lobos State Reservation Museum at the entrance to the park are recommended.

If you are a diver and visit the underwater world off the coast, half of the reserve is there for you, whether you come from underwater or from all over the world or just along the coasts. Point Lobos State Reservation, one of California's richest marine habitats, is home to more than 1,000 species of marine life, and all animals and plants are protected from disturbance by state laws.

Divers explore a realm of beauty that has been accessible to only a handful of pioneers for centuries. The backbone of the animals and their plant roots create a world of bright colors, and the deep sea life of Point Lobos State Reservation will make your heart leap.

The entrance is located on the west side of the Point Lobos State Reservation, just off the coast of Santa Cruz, California.