Point Lobos State Natural Reserve might not capture the heart of every single person immediately, but the views should help it come pretty darned close.
Point Lobos views are everywhere
We were expecting grand views as when we planned our October 2022 road trip. Point Lobos was just one of many stops we looked forward to. We arrived at the reserve not knowing where we should go first. A helpful ranger at the entrance told us about the Cypress Grove Trail. It was a good place for first-timers, he told us. Big views. Easy walk. Parking and rest rooms. He had me at ‘big views,’ but rest rooms sealed the deal.
The normally overflowing parking lot was almost empty. Following the trail signs, we came to a fork in the dirt path. Left hugged the coastline. Right turned inland slightly. We took the left fork.
The above view was just the first of many. With cypress trees clinging to the rocky shores, blue water line with white lines of surf, and clear skies, this was a visitor’s dream. Who knows if we’ll have such a perfect day the next time we visit, but it’s certainly worth a try.
Whalers Cove through the trees
Scuba divers come to Whalers Cove, the large bay beyond this little cove, because it’s an amazing dive area. It’s one of only two allowed dive spots in the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. At the diver’s entry point, there’s a building called the Cabin. It was built for Chinese Fishermen long ago. Today, it’s been restored and converted to a cultural history museum.
Guano, guano, everywhere
Where there are shorebirds, there’s poop. And looking around at the rocks along the shore, there are a LOT of shorebirds! This little colony is near the entry point for scuba divers. As you can see, the birds make themselves at home wherever they want.
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