300. Welcome to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Welcome to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve!Point Lobos is a special place where you can enjoy, appreciate and feel connected to the natural world. We hope your visit will inspire you to learn more about its natural and human history, and to support conservation efforts to preserve our wild and natural places.The place we know today as Point Lobos lies within the ancestral homeland of the Native Esselen and Rumsen people. Their ancestors lived here for thousands of years prior to European arrival and today it is considered a sacred place.Often called the “crown jewel” of the California state park system, this Reserve is a protected environment. Please treat Point Lobos as if you are at a museum: nothing should be collected, removed, or disturbed from the land or the marine environments. Take only pictures, leave only with memories.The Lace Lichen Trail will connect you to Sea Lion Point and the Information Station. Use the Carmelo Meadow trail, on the right side near the entrance, to go a short distance to Whalers Cove.USE THE FREE APPTo access ALL the tour stops please download the free App: “California State Parks OnCell.” The web version is available at “CASTATEPARKS.STQRY.APP” or you may dial in using the phone number on the tour signs.To learn even more about Point Lobos, a free App for tablets can be found by searching for “Discover Point Lobos.”Enjoy your day!http://www.pointlobos.org/
301. Point Lobos: Rules/COVID-19 NOTICE
ENJOY THE RESERVE - KNOW THE RULES (301)COVID-19 STATE PARK RULES Be COVID-19 Safe – State Parks continues to follow guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health: Fully Vaccinated Persons: Face coverings are not required in public outdoor settings. For indoor public settings, such as museums and visitor centers, all vaccinated individuals are to self-attest that they are in compliance prior to entry. Unvaccinated Persons: Face coverings are required in indoor public settings such as museums and visitor centers.To make your visit enjoyable and to protect this unique natural environment, we ask that you observe the rules that apply to this Natural Reserve.Unlike a State Park, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has special rules that protect both its unspoiled beauty and wildlife; and provide for the safety of our visitors. There are no places within the Reserve for sport activities. Drones are also prohibited.FIRES, SMOKING AND BBQsFires, barbecues and the use of stoves are not allowed. All type of Smoking is prohibited within the Reserve.PICNICKING -Eating is allowed only on tables in the picnic areas at Whalers Cove, Piney Woods and Bird Island parking lots, or in your vehicle. Please do not eat snacks along the trails, or on benches.WILDLIFE -All the animals within the Reserve are wild. Do not feed them; protect their health and your safety.COLLECTING -You may not collect, remove, or disturb any natural objects. This includes flowers, mushrooms, wood, rocks, shells, and all tide pool life, and kelp along the shore.DOGS –No dogs are allowed in the Reserve. Only Service animals are permitted, and properly-tagged service animals in training. Please check in with the entrance kiosk.MARINE RESERVE -The 750 acres of coastal water surrounding Point Lobos is a protected marine reserve. Fishing is prohibited in the Reserve waters, and scuba-diving is by permit only. Diving regulations are available at the Entrance Station. Swimming is allowed only at Gibson Beach, the only sandy beach in the Reserve.POISON OAK AND TICKS - are abundant in the Reserve. However, if you stay on the marked trails you can avoid both. Poison oak brush can give you a rash, and ticks can transmit disease.RESPECT THE SEA –Along the South Shore, keep a safe distance from waves, and stay back from the rocky cliffs and shoreline. Do not walk on areas marked as environmentally sensitive, or closed for restoration.Pedestrians should avoid paved roads. Remain on trails and within wire guides, except where shoreline access is indicated by stairs or is directly adjacent to a trail. The trees in the Reserve are there for their natural beauty, please do not climb on them. Rock climbing is also not allowed.The Vehicle SPEED LIMIT is a very slow 15 mph. This is to help you watch for wildlife or pedestrians crossing the road. Bicycles are allowed on paved roads only, and may not be ridden or walked on any trails.http://www.pointlobos.org/
302. Point Lobos: Lace Lichen Trail
Lace Lichen Trail (302)“The greatest meeting of land and water in the world.”Landscape artist Francis McComas’ bold but justified claim for Point Lobos remains unchallenged. All who come here agree that the beauty of this tree-clad headland is unequaled. Walk gently. Breathe deeply. Reflect. Discover its spirit for yourself.The Lace Lichen Trail is the main trail from the entrance to Sea Lion Point, Cypress Grove Trail and the Information Station. Please do not use the paved roadway. This trail is designed for easy walking and accommodates strollers. This trail begins just past the Entrance Station, on the left, and parallels the main road through pine trees and coastal scrub. (¾ mile, 18 minutes)The land mammals of the Reserve most likely to be seen during daylight hours are black-tailed mule deer in the woods or at the edge of meadows, where bobcats may also sometimes show themselves; bushy-tailed western gray squirrels in the pines, California ground squirrels near shoreline vegetation and rocks, and white-tailed brush rabbits in the open but never far from protective shrubs.The best places to watch whales are Sea Lion Point and the headland on Cypress Grove Trail. Between December and May, migrating gray whales surface and dive offshore at Point Lobos. Look for a spout of mist.The Point Lobos landscape, a mosaic of bold headlands, irregular coves and rolling meadows, was produced over millions of years through interaction between land and sea. Rocks that formed below the earth’s surface were uplifted, exposed and then shaped by waves and weather into a variety of forms.Granodiorite, a coarse-grained, igneous rock that formed about 80 million years ago, makes up the craggy landscape of much of the north shore, while the terrain of Sea Lion Point, the south shore, and Whalers and Moss Coves are comprised of the Carmelo Formation, a sedimentary rock at least 55 million years old.Grassy meadows are sprinkled with many delicate wildflowers. White clusters of small, six-pointed flowers of Fremont’s star lily signal “spring” in February. Other species create a changing palette throughout the year.Discover the treasures of Point Lobos as you walk the trails within this natural reserve.http://www.pointlobos.org/
309. Point Lobos: Habitat Panel / Info Station
One of the coolest things about Point Lobos is the variety of habitats you will find here. A habitat is the natural home environment for plants and animals, and each feels a little different when you walk through and observe them. The display at the rear of the Information Station depicts the various habitats within Point Lobos.Do you like sea spray and tide pools? Then the rocky South Shore is for you. Some of the most exotic animals in the Reserve live there, like bat stars, anemones, purple sea urchins and hermit crabs. Check the tide chart for the best low tide times to explore the Intertidal Habitats at Weston Beach and Moss Cove.In the cool shade of the Forest Habitat, Monterey pine and Cypress forests provide habitat for squirrels, birds and deer. This is an especially fun place to look for “creature clues” like the stick houses built by wood rats, burrows, and gnawed pine cones left by hungry gray squirrels.Look down from the cliffs above the sea and you’ll see floating on the surface the “blades” that are the tops of kelp, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for sea otters, harbor seals, herons, and egrets that make the State Marine Reserve their home.Point Lobos has an abundance of wild flowers that bloom from early spring into late summer. The species of plants in the Reserve have adapted to survive harsh sun, salty air and little water in the Coastal Scrub and Prairie Habitats. You'll find most flowering plants on the sunny trails that follow the perimeter of the land. Look for brush rabbits, lizards and other small creatures that hide in these places.Time to go explore!
310. Point Lobos: Info Station / General Trail Background
Information Station / General Trail background (310)Between the forest and the ocean, dense, head-high stands of evergreen shrubs create an interplay of texture, color and fragrance. The sticky monkey flower, with its apricot-colored blossoms, is in bloom year-round. Lizard-tail bears dense heads of bright tiny yellow daisies that seem to glow in the subdued light of summer fog.Below the cliffs, in and beyond the surf, brown broad leafed algae, know as kelp, anchor to the sea floor rocks by means of a special structure called a holdfast. Bull kelp has rounded, gas-filled floats; these can be up to six inches in diameter making them easy to mistake for a sea otter’s head.The Monterey cypress is the Reserve’s most celebrated tree. Gnarled, buttressed trunks and contorted branches reveal how it has adapted to survive on these outermost and windy cliffs. Notice that its tiny, overlapping, scaly leaves and walnut-sized cones distinguish it from the pine.The Monterey pine forest in Point Lobos is one of only three native stands of this tree. The seedlings survive, by receiving most of their water in this arid climate, with the help of year-long fog-drip. It has needles in bundles of three and lopsided, pear-shapedOne of the most plentiful shrubs in the Reserve, poison oak, drops its red fall foliage to bare winter stems. Pinkish, pale green spring leaves turn bright green in summer. The leaflets grow in groups of three and have a waxy sheen. Be careful, as in any season, the oils of this plant can cause a red, blistery rash if you touch it.The gray stringy lace lichen, which hangs from trees is a combination of a fungus and green algae (the food producer). It does not harm the trees and in fact helps collect water from the passing fog that it drips onto the soil.On the outer edges of the reserve is a striking bright orange-looking alga that grows on Monterey cypress and rocks. It provides a rusty-looking radiant blanket of life for the Cypress trees and gathers moisture from the passing mist. The vibrant color is a result of the production of an orange carotenoid pigment during photosynthesis. It feels like soft felt and looks like a magical frosting on the rocks and trees that a wizard may have created from fairy dust. It is called Trentepohlia.Several trails begin at the Information Station. Ask the docent on duty in the green jacket for more information.http://www.pointlobos.org/
311. Point Lobos: Cypress Grove
Cypress Grove Trail (311)Begins at the Sea Lion Point parking area near the Information Station. Take the left path at the junction near the restrooms through the coastal scrub to the most iconic and perhaps the most diverse experience at the Reserve -- with high cliffs and dramatic ocean views. The trail is a less than one mile loop (1.3 kilometers) and takes about 30 minutes to walk.Most interpretive docent led walks start at this trailhead. Check with the Information Station or the website, pointlobos.org for today’s schedule.Along this trail, amid the dense shrubbery, you may spot several igloo shaped dusky-footed wood rat nests made of twigs fashioned from poison oak and coyote brush. These nocturnal pack-rats live in these houses for generations.The Cypress Grove Trail winds through one of only two naturally growing stands of Monterey cypress trees remaining on Earth. The outermost trees mirror the forces of nature and time; they have the ability to survive the salt spray and wind, with their roots seeking nourishment in the cracks and crevices of the steep cliffs of granodiorite.Take the trail to the right at the “Y” and then take the spur down to Cypress Cove, a favorite of the Southern Sea Otter. You may find Black-tailed mule deer grazing in the grasses under the cypress canopy.When you reach Pinnacle Point you will find yourself transported to a most spectacular meeting of land and sea - watch for whale and dolphin spouts, and the playful sea lions near the outer rocks.Look for the orange, velvety growth on the cypress limbs and rocks. This is a rare species of airborne algae called trentepohlia, that helps the trees gather moisture from the passing mist.Take time here to enjoy nature’s array of wildflowers clinging in the granodiorite walls and along the path.As always, remember that you may not disturb or collect anything you may find at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, and please stay on the marked pathways.http://www.pointlobos.org/
321. Point Lobos: Sea Lion Point
Sea Lion Point and Sand Hill Cove Trail (321)This trail takes you through one of nature’s seaside gardens to a magnificent ocean view. On the way, ground squirrels and brush rabbits scurry and sparrows perch on the bushes to sing. On the north side of the trail in Headland Cove, look for sea otters in the kelp and harbor seals that often bask on the beach or on the rocks across the cove at the water’s edge.In Sea Lion Cove look for hauled-out harbor seals and sea lions, cormorants on the rocks and Brown Pelicans soaring overhead. Barking California sea lions are also seen farther out on the offshore rocks. The rock conglomerate here is known as the Carmelo Formation and is about 55 million years old.The Devils Cauldron between Sea Lion Point and Sea Lion Rocks is often a churning display of ocean power. This is Punta De Los Lobos Marinos or Point of the Sea Wolves in Spanish and is where Point Lobos gets its name.This is a loop trail and from the Sea Lion Point Parking area is about six-tenths of a mile, and will you take about 30 Min. depending on how much time you spend enjoying the cove overlooks and view of Sea Lion Rocks offshore. The Sea Lion Point/Sand Hill Trail is Wheelchair, walker, and stroller-accessible.http://www.pointlobos.org/
351.Point Lobos: South Shore Trail
South Shore Trail (351)The South Shore Trail follows along dramatic ocean cliffs, fantastic rock formations, grassy meadows and pebbly beaches for one mile -- between Sea Lion Point and the Bird Island parking area.Along this trail, you will navigate a stairway, some uneven rock surfaces, and portions of the trail where there are no guide wires. Walk carefully, and be aware of ocean waves and slippery rocks.Remember to never turn your back on the ocean.Be alert, and you may see harbor seals hauled out on offshore rocks at Sand Hill Cove, Black-tailed deer grazing at Mound Meadow, and Black Oyster Catchers foraging for mussels at Weston Beach, named after world-renowned photographer Edward Weston.As you walk, respect the fragility of the bluff plants and tide pool creatures. Each plant, animal, piece of driftwood, empty shell, stone, or clump of washed up seaweed is an important part of nature’s cycle at Point Lobos. Protect these; take nothing but photographs and memories.http://www.pointlobos.org/
352. Point Lobos: Tide Pools
The tide pools at Point Lobos are found along the south shore where the fascinating shapes of the sedimentary rocks and the conglomerate known as the Carmelo Formation allow access to the ocean shore and also at Moss Cove on the north side of the Reserve. All the marine life, and plants, including the rocks are to be left in place where you find them. Nothing in this marine protected area should be removed, or collected.Check with the information station for the high and low tide levels for the day and ask for a free tide pool brochure to help identify the marine life.Do not venture into the tide pools if the waves are rough, and always keep a close watch on the tides as you discover the many critters that live in the inter-tidal zones.
322. Point Lobos: Southern Sea Otter
SOUTHERN SEA OTTER (322)Possibly the most popular and certainly the most endearing animal at Point Lobos is the southern sea otter. Look for them floating “belly up” in the kelp beds where they spend much of their time. Some also have a habit of wrapping themselves in a “security blanket” of kelp while taking a nap.Sea otters are smaller than harbor seals generally measuring about 4 ½ feet in length. Females are about 45 pounds and males are about 65 pounds. Unlike most other marine mammals, the sea otter does not have an insulating layer of fat. Instead they have thick fur that traps air bubbles next to their skin and a rapid metabolism to help them stay warm in the chilly ocean water. With a metabolic rate about two to three times higher than a land-based mammal of similar size, the adult sea otter will eat close to 25% of its body weight every day. Most otters tend to eat early in the morning and late in the afternoon, with each feeding lasting about 2-3 hours. They usually groom themselves following a meal, then rest in the kelp beds during the middle of the day in groups or “rafts” usually consisting of 2 to 12 otters.While female sea otters can give birth any time of year, most pups are born between August and October. Weighing in at 3-5 pounds at birth, the pups have light brown fur which is very fluffy and keeps them floating like a cork on the water’s surface. During the 5 to 8 month period the mother sea otter cares of her baby, the two are rarely separated and the pup spends most of its time riding on the mother’s belly.http://www.pointlobos.org/
331. Point Lobos: Bird Island
Bird Island Trail (331)As you ascend Bird Island Trail, be prepared for some of the most spectacular sights in Point Lobos. On the way to the Bird Island overlook at Pelican Point, you pass between woods and sea, high above two white, sandy beaches–China Cove and Gibson Beach. China Cove’s sparkling, jade-green waters are framed by hanging, cliff-side gardens, and becomes a harbor seal birthing beach each spring. Gibson Beach, where swimming and wading is allowed, is accessible via a long staircase.Into these cliffs the ocean surges, cutting through the tiny cracks and faults in the rock, and in time creating caves that slowly become archways. These eventually collapse–forming islands like Bird Island.As you walk the loop on Pelican Point you pass wildflower displays that change seasonally. Here you overlook Bird Island, which becomes a large sea bird colony in spring and summer. Hundreds of Brandt’s Cormorants nest on the flat part of the island. Upon closer inspection, you may spot nesting Black-crowned Night Herons, Western Gulls, and Pelagic Cormorants. Watch for sea otters resting in kelp offshore and for basking harbor seals hauled out on rocks. With luck, you may catch a glimpse of resident Peregrine Falcons.The Trail is accessed via the wheelchair accessible ramp or the stairway at the south end of the parking lot. A round trip to and from the parking lot is approximately eight tenths of a mile and will take you 30 minutes, depending on the time you spend enjoying the scenery and wildlife on display. Just before the bridge overlooking Gibson Beach, you can also access the South Plateau Trail, either to descend the stairs to Gibson Beach, or to return to the Entrance Kiosk.http://www.pointlobos.org/
305. Point Lobos: Whalers Cove
Whalers Cove (Picnic Area) and Granite Point Trail (305)Long before Point Lobos became a State Reserve, Whalers Cove was a center of human activity. For centuries the Native American Rumsien, and later the Spanish and Mexican colonists, used the wealth of resources found here. In the 1850ʼs Chinese fishermen, the first people known to live full-time at Point Lobos, built the Whalers Cabin.Now a museum of cultural history, the cabin houses displays that showcase the ethnic diversity and varied enterprises of early settlers from Asia, Europe, and the U.S. The Whaling Station museum beside the cabin features the whalersʼ lives and work.A brochure with more information is available in the cabin where you will meet a volunteer docent who can answer your questions.To reach Whalers Cove on foot take the Carmelo Meadow Trail which starts at the entrance on the right. This wheelchair- and stroller-accessible trail winds through a pine forest and crosses over seasonal streams to Whalers Cove and the Granite Point Trail, where, by turning right, you can continue to Granite Point and Moss Cove through pine woods to Coal Chute Point, a good overlook for observing harbor seals and sea otters. Returning on the Granite Point Trail, continue along Whalers Cove to the Whalers Cabin Museum, or turn left when you first arrive at Whalers Cove from the Carmelo Meadow Trail.Whalers Cabin is reached by car on the road which turns north from the entrance road a very short distance west of the entrance kiosk. Pass the cabin to park in the lot below, and take a short walk back up the hill.At the parking (and picnic) area, two outdoor exhibits describe sub-tidal life and climatic conditions, while a 3D model allows non-divers to visualize the underwater topography. This is a good spot from which to survey the cove and locate various birds, rafting sea otters, or basking harbor seals which frequent the area.http://www.pointlobos.org/
306. Point Lobos: Whales! Whalers Cabin
“Will I see a whale?” is a frequently asked question at Point Lobos. Looking for spouts is the most common way to sight whales at Point Lobos. Whales are the largest of all mammals and all whales must surface to breath air and the spout is caused by hot air from the whale’s lungs mixing with the cold ocean air.The typical whales off the coast of Point Lobos are Grays, Humpbacks and Blue Whales. They are all baleen whales.Outside the Whaling Station Museum there is an excellent example of baleen in the glass display case, the stiff, broom-like jaw attachment that replaces teeth in three of the most often seen whales at Point Lobos.The Whaling Station is the small building next to the Whalers Cabin Museum at Whalers Cove and is the only on-site whaling museum on the west coast. It documents the historic whaling activities at Point Lobos with displays of historic whaling equipment and exhibit panels describing the lives of the whalers and their families. Next to the museum, you can see two of the old try pots used to boil whale blubber and view parts of a Fin whale skeleton that are over 100 years old.Portuguese whalers from the Azore Islands arrived at Point Lobos in 1861 and set up living quarters in the meadow at the southeast end of Whalers Cove. Early industrial societies used whale oil widely in oil lamps and to make soap. With the commercial development of substitutes such as kerosene and vegetable oils, the use of whale oils declined considerably in the 20th century.With most countries having banned whaling, the sale and use of whale oil has practically ceased.Whales are a unique resource of great aesthetic and scientific interest to mankind and are a vital part of the marine ecosystem;whales have been overexploited by man for many years, severely reducing several species and endangering others;the United States has extended its authority and responsibility to conserve and protect all marine mammals, including whales, out to a two hundred nautical mile limit.
362. Point Lobos: Whaling Station - Whale Bones
Long before Point Lobos became a State Reserve, Whalers Cove was a center of human activity. For centuries, the Native American Rumsien, and later the Spanish, used the wealth of resources found here. In the 1850ʼs Chinese fishermen, the first people known to live full-time at Point Lobos, most likely built the Whalers Cabin.Now a museum of cultural history, the cabin houses displays that showcase the ethnic diversity and varied enterprises of early settlers from Asia, Europe, and the U.S. The Whaling Station museum beside the cabin features the whalersʼ lives and work and some surprising facts about whales.The bones you see in the surrounding outside area are from different species of whales. Some whales are known as baleen whales including blue, humpback and gray whales. This refers to the fact that they have special bristle-like structures in their mouths, called baleen, that strains food from the water. Other whales, such as beluga or sperm whales, have teeth.Take a look around! A brochure with more information is available in the cabin where you will meet a volunteer docent who can answer your questions.
363. Point Lobos: Cypress Trees
The Monterey Cypress is the Reserve’s most picturesque tree. The stands at Point Lobos are one of only two naturally occurring locations remaining on earth. Gnarled elliptical shaped trunks and twisted branches reveal how this tree has adapted to survive the salty spray air and wind. Their roots seek nourishment in the cracks and crevices of the granodiorite cliffs. Look closely and you can see its small walnut-sized round cones and tiny scale-like leaves designed to minimize moisture loss. Point Lobos was originally acquired to protect these wonderfully gnarled trees. The trees in this grove are more than 150 years old. Please resist the temptation to climb on their old and sloping limbs.
308. Point Lobos: Harbor Seal Pupping
Harbor Seal PuppingHarbor seals at Point Lobos give birth and nurse their pups on several of our beaches in the spring from late March to mid-May. Best places to see moms and pups are from overlooks at Whalers Cove and China Cove, especially at low tide.You may see actual births and the delightful antics of the moms and their pups in these nurseries. Occasionally, you may hear a pup calling for its mother while she is out feeding.Harbor seals are vulnerable during pupping season and easily disturbed by abrupt noises and movements. Please be very quiet and still while you observe the natural behaviors of these beautiful creatures. All marine mammals in the Reserve are protected by Federal law year-round.
364. Point Lobos: Whalers Cove parking area / Quarry
At the parking area, two outdoor exhibits describe sub-tidal life and climatic conditions, while a 3D Marine Reserve Underwater model allows non-divers to visualize the underwater topography, which has been described as the best place to scuba along the west coast. This is a good spot from which to survey the cove and locate various birds, rafting sea otters, or basking harbor seals which frequent the area. The large granite cliff above the restroom was a rock quarry that furnished granite to the SF Bay area in the early 20th century. The parking area was the former location of an Abalone Cannery during the early 1900’s, (see below photo), when the otter population was diminished, allowing the otter’s favorite food, abalone to flourish. What’s an abalone? A snail-like mollusk with a beautiful interior mother of pearl shell. Check them out when you are in the Whalers Cabin.
307. Point Lobos: North Shore Trail
North Shore Trail (307)Between Whalers Cove and Sea Lion Point parking area is a ¾ mile moderately challenging walk through pine forests with open views of coves below. Much of this trail requires walking over rocky ground, tree roots, or stairs but this trail is well worth the effort for hardy walkers.For a short loop, take the Whalers Cabin trail back to the Cabin. Stops #362, 364, 367 and 368 have more information about this portion of the trail.At the eastern end, Cannery Point offers good views across Carmel Bay and Whalers Cove. In spring and summer, one can see nesting western gulls, pigeon guillemots, and both Brandt's and pelagic cormorants on Guillemot Island. Two side trails lead up from the midsection of this trail to Whalers Knoll.Exposed to prevailing northwesterly winds and seas, this rugged headland, of sheer-walled coves and changing plant communities, offers surprises at every turn. Note the dramatic cliffs of granodiorite, slowly carved through the ages by the pummeling of the relentless surf. The trail affords views into several coves including Bluefish Cove – often with seals, otters, and egrets.Near the western end, a short side trail (Old Veteran Trail) leads to the spectacular views of the much-photographed Old Veteran Cypress. It stands alone, gnarled, and clinging to the rock wall of Cypress Cove. This trail from the Sea Lion Point parking lot to the Old Veteran Cypress is wheelchair accessible.http://www.pointlobos.org/
365. Point Lobos: No. Shore Trail / Cannery Point
While Point Lobos is most famous for its incredible scenic beauty and diversity of natural history, it is also rich in cultural history having seen a virtual parade of human activity. One such activity was coal mining. From this vantage point, you can look across the cove to Coal Chute Point where ships would tie up to hooks in the rock and a chute was lowered onto ships to load a low quality form of coal called lignite that was mined from nearby Mal Paso Canyon. The deep water in the cove allowed coastal steamships close access to land.Look for southern sea otters in the kelp beds below. They may be diving for food they find at the bottom of the kelp, where abalone, crabs, mussels and sea urchins are found. There only about 3,000 southern sea otters in the world and Point Lobos has about 70 residents.
367. Point Lobos: No. Shore Trail Overlook Whalers Covel
You are high above Whalers Cove, on the North Shore Trail, with a good view of the Monterey Pine Forest along the eastern shore line. A good vantage point to visualize all the activities that took place before Point Lobos became a Natural Reserve of the California State Parks System.Point Lobos State Natural Reserve contains not only the land you are on, but the surrounding 750 acres of State Marine Reserve, where it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource. In other words, you can look and touch, but don’t remove anything in the Reserve.Along the trail you may notice the many shell fragments shinning in the sunlight. These are mostly the remains of the mussels and abalone that were harvested by the Ohlone native peoples. The meat was taken back to the village while the shells were discarded and left in what we now call middens. You will generally find middens in picturesque areas where picnics were held over the past thousand years. All eating must be done only at the three picnic areas in the Reserve now-a-days.
368. Point Lobos: North Shore Trail Overlook Blue Fish Cove
Looking across Blue Fish Cove below, farther out you may be able to see whale spouts in Carmel Bay, or passing dolphins. The large rock at the far end of the cove is Guillemot Island, home to many species of nesting birds, especially the Guillemot Pigeon. Unlike birds that incubate their young in carefully built nests, sea-loving guillemots lay their eggs in rather precarious places — on rock ledges and exposed cliffs. The bottom-heavy shape of guillemot eggs prevents them from tumbling off cliffs: When the eggs get knocked over, they spin in a tight circle.Erosion has caused the granite cliffs to separate from the mainland over time, and has created over 450 islands surrounding Point Lobos, which provide nesting opportunities for Black Oyster Catchers, Cormorants, Western Gulls and Black-crowned Night Herons, where their chicks are safe from territorial predators. In the Spring, you will see many wildflowers along the trail, especially the large Ceanothus bush with its bight blue flowers, and the gray-green lace lichen hanging from the branches of the Monterey Pines. Stay away from the poison oak along the trail with its shinny clustered leaves of three.
