Point Lobos: Crown Jewel of State Parks

With turquoise waves crashing onto pristine sandy beaches, sunlight cascading through towering cypress trees, and beautiful flora and fauna surrounding you, it’s hard not to fall in love with Point Lobos.  Located just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Point Lobos is named for a rock formation called Punta de los Lobos Marinos, or Point of the Sea Wolves.  It is considered the “crown jewel” of the state park system.  Whenever I have visitors from out of town, this is one of the first places I take them.

One of the first things you may notice when you enter Point Lobos is the wonderful olfactory experience.  If you could bottle this fresh, piney, ocean scent, I’m sure it would outsell Tom Ford.  If you have sinus problems or a headache I think you should come here and just inhale the clean, sweet air.  I swear it is that powerful.  I love the scent, the scenery, and the flexibility of the trails here.  It doesn’t matter if you are wheelchair bound or have scaled Half Dome at Yosemite, there are trails here for everyone.

Multiple movies have been filmed here, including Treasure Island, Lassie Come Home, The Sandpiper, The Graduate, and Turner and Hooch.

History buffs may enjoy the Whaler’s Cabin and museum filled with interesting artifacts relating to the history of the area.  Whales were widely hunted here  (I know, it makes me sad too) for their oil.  Apparently, whale oil was quite the commodity until the early 1880s.  It was used primarily for lamp fuel until it was replaced by cheaper petroleum products.  Abalone was another industry at Point Lobos.

Over time, Point Lobos evolved from the whale and abalone industry to an area to simply enjoy nature, thanks to the efforts of Alexander MacMillan Allan, who began purchasing the land in 1898 in an attempt to preserve it, and the State Parks Commission who in turn purchased it from him in 1933.  Thanks to the forethought and dedication of Mr. Allan, we are able to enjoy this pristine beauty today.

My favorite trail here is the North Shore Trail which leads you along the ocean’s edge with breathtaking views of the forest and sea.  This time of year, harbor seals are giving birth and you may see areas cordoned off to protect the mothers and their pups.  Be aware that on this particular trail you may have to squeeze by or climb over boulders and/or navigate large tree roots and rocky, uneven terrain.  The trail ends in a large meadow which leads to a parking lot.  You can continue to follow the trail on the right side of the parking lot to view exquisite overlooks of the beach.

Point Lobos offers poetry walks on Wednesday afternoons.  Apparently, these are led by a docent with sojourns to various spots to contemplate the area’s beauty and write poems.  While I love poetry I will refrain from attempting to entertain you with one of my own concoctions.  I recommend that they also host Plein Air wine & paint sessions, I would definitely sign up for that!

I think that if you only have time to do one hike in the Monterey area, this is it.  It has trails for all levels and it has spectacular, unparalleled views.  I would personally rate Point Lobos a 10 and also give it summa cum laude honors.  You will not be disappointed!

Point Lobos is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.  For more information, see Point Lobos.

HELPFUL HINTS:

• Park alongside Highway 1 just south of Monastery Beach for free and follow the path to the entrance as inside parking is usually full.
• I recommend coming during the week as weekends can be crazy busy!
• Dogs & Horses are not allowed.
• Smoking is forbidden.  (Although when I was there, a girl was quite flauntaciously smoking whilst hiking.  I made that word up, by the way; it is a combination of flaunt and ostentatious.  Basically, she was being  a stinker doodle.)
• Bicycles are not allowed on the trails.
• Fishing is not allowed.
• Restrooms are available at the parking lots at both the beginning and end of the North Shore Trail.
•  Kayaking and Scuba diving are allowed.  Bring your own stuff, because no equipment rentals are provided.   A popular scuba diving area is at Whaler’s Cove.  You can make reservations up to three months in advance.  For more information see scuba diving.
• Binoculars may be checked out from the information station to view sea otters, seals, whales, and birds.
• Wear layers of clothing as it can be chilly and windy at times.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!