Point Lobos
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Home to a rich marine habitat, this nature reserve is popular for both whale-watching (in winter) and spotting sea lions (all year round). With amazing natural landscapes, it's great for hiking along the ocean or simply strolling around and taking in the magnificent rocky coastline lined with rare Monterey cypress trees. If you’re into water activities, go kayaking or even scuba diving among 70-foot-high kelp forests and diverse marine life. Parking spaces are limited, so get there in the early morning to grab a spot. Otherwise, sign up for a guided tour that will take you straight into the reserve. – Tripadvisor
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What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

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  • D D
    26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome views
    Always a treat! Great place to walk and see the ocean. Bring binoculars and wear long pants. It has lots of poison oak. We know all the places to see otters and sea lions. Parking can get tricky so it's best to go on a weekday.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 7, 2023
  • Emily B
    London, United Kingdom13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful spot with lots of different wildlife
    Such a great spot, we followed a good trail around a large area and saw all sorts of wild life. Several different seals, sea otters, dolphins, a deer. There were some park guides at one spot who had telescopes we could look through too. Parking a little tricky but we were lucky and got a spot on the road pretty close to the entrance as the park itself was full.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 1, 2023
  • Stellan D
    Bromma, Sweden561 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful costal area
    This is a beautiful part of the coast south of Carmel. Lots of bird activity at Bird Island to the south, caves and tunnels in the rocks near there as well as cypress trees to the North. Be aware that there is limited parking spaces in the park and during week-ends a lot of people end up parking along Hwy 1 and walk into the park.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 19, 2023
  • Timothy K
    Chicago, Illinois297 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful coast line
    WE went to see the sea lions and stayed to watch the sea and he rocks and the varied coastline. It i beautiful there. the Sea Lions were pretty far out on n island that you could tel they were there but not see individuals. there are nice walks out to the coastline, up on the cliffs, and you should probably buy a map if going off on some as it is not clear how the return from just the signage. .There is admission per car.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 23, 2024
  • Jaskel08
    California355 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An amazing place to visit!
    This is such an amazing place. The views are completely breathtaking! We spent almost four hours hiking and I wish we had more time. The trails are not difficult. I think What I loved! The colors of the water were so rich and diverse…. All kinds of shades of white, turquoise to dark blue. The ecosystem is so unique and diverse from one section of the park to the other. For example, experiencing lichens then pine forests, then cypress forests, then cedar groves etc. And of course, the views of the shoreline, bay, and the water crashing against the rocks. Parking. Parking is limited. We arrived at 9am on a Sunday morning. The Cypress Information Center parking lot was full, but there was room in the Point Lobos Parking Lot overflow. Not a big deal, gave us an excuse to hike a little more than expected. When we left at 12:30pm, the lots were ¾ full. Alternative Parking. One thing I noticed is a lot people park on Highway 1, then hike in. This is free as opposed to the entrance fee which is $10. The advantage of hiking from Highway 1 is that you get to experience more of the park. Amenities. There were public bathrooms. I didn’t see anywhere to purchase food. I believe there were a few drinking fountains at Cypress Information Center. But either way, bring plenty of food and water. Anyways, if in the area, this place is a must stop.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written February 19, 2024
  • LeeA
    Santa Cruz, California85 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    April is an amazing time to visit with new born seals
    I’m a local but wow…Point Lobos is special and mind blowing every time. Every viewpoint is amazing. Great easy hike …about 6 miles but you can drive to different view points. Wonderful docents along the way to give you helpful tips and even let you use their binoculars. On this special visit, there was a partial eclipse and we witnessed the birth of a harbor seal! Blessed!
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 20, 2024
  • Bart C
    Foster City, California486 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Always gorgeous, but watch for poison oak!
    Point Lobos is one of the world's beauty spots, and if you've never even been, you very likely have already seen iconic photos of its features. Gorgeous scenery, cliffs, rocks, caves, sculptural trees, wildflowers, birds, seals, and ocean waters of many saturated colors. Bring your camera or your paints, because this place warrants it. The hiking isn't really hard, but despite some trails supposedly accessible, I did witness a wheelchair mishap. They do charge for entry and parking is extremely limited, while many people want to get in here. Just be VERY aware of all the poison oak and stay on the paths, not just to preserve nature in so popular a spot, but to avoid the noxious plant!
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 9, 2024
  • John S
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Magical
    Holy moly this place felt like Narnia or some magical fairy tale land. We saw so many adorable marine mammals. Lots of sea otters and my absolute favorite the newborn harbor seals. Lots of poison oak and the crowds started to form mid day. Bring water and nice shoes
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 20, 2024
  • Designer-at-Large
    288 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Popular State Park minutes south of Carmel by the Sea
    Dramatic shoreline, easy to slightly challenging hiking within rugged natural park. Meadows and small hills, picnic tables scattered and vista view benches. Historical whalers cove exhibit is worth a visit. Several early movies were filmed here back in the heyday, including silent films. A thriving abalone industry, fished to beat extinction. Pt Lobos is a favorite for photographers and painters. Ansel Adams photographed the unique rocks.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 31, 2024
  • Katherine R
    Allentown, Pennsylvania10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Can’t miss this amazing place
    A must if in the area. We came in the morning when the parking lot was open. It fills up so if you do not get there first thing then you can park on the highway and. Entrance was $10 for parking was well worth it, all day. We started our morning and spent 2 1/2 hours, To see it again, we spent 3 1/2 more hours in the afternoon. The scenery is breathtaking and the wildlife is unbelievable.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 14, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles4,900 reviews
Excellent
4,391
Very good
424
Average
54
Poor
18
Terrible
13

Chartreuse
San Francisco, CA1,417 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
It costs $10 to drive your vehicle into this state park, $9 for seniors 62 and over. Parking is limited and during peak hours, folks end up parking outside and hiking in.
There are only 2 outhouses at the entrance of the parking lot where volunteer guides answer questions at a nearby kiosk and selling limited supply of souvenirs.
The outhouse was gross, nearly filled to the rim as if its not been emptied in awhile. We found out later after one hike, that behind the kiosk are 2 bathrooms with real flushing toilets.

We went on a trail we’ve not been before that loops around which takes under an hour to finish but part of it was under repair so we went on another trail.
You can pay $2 for a paper map at the entrance or just take a photo shot of the posted map at the inside kiosk so you can view from your phone. The views are gorgeous but we couldn’t see any whales but heard they’re out there starting their migration south.

We didn’t have enough time to finish the 3rd trail headed North but more inland and walked about 10 mins into it before turning back, it was nicely maintained.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

notperfectalas2
california376 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
The vehicle entry fee is $9 (seniors) or $10, and allows vehicle access and parking at at least 5 scenic places in the park. For anyone but the avid hikers, this seems an easy choice. The walk from the gate to the first beach trail is over one mile, and going to the other scenic trails and spots will add another four to five miles (my guess), and when you return to your vehicle parked outside the park on the shoulder of the state highway, you may find it ticketed. Not totally sure about the latter, but I did see patrol cars and officers looking like they were ticketing vehicles. The park itself, as others have wrote, offers a few trails to reach scenic points with awesome views. Definitely not wheelchair accessible, a person with a cane can walk it tho some areas require a bit of nimble footwork to get up or down the rocky steps. There are guide ropes so no risk of falling over the side, but still need to be careful. Trails are easy for mountain goats and those under 30 to 40, and depending on health, maybe even 50 plus. Definitely worth the admission fee to experience this wonderous joining of sea, earth and sky. (But, for ust earth and sky, nothing beats Muir Woods.)
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rhileec
Richmond, CA88 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Go, but be responsible and please be aware that people go here to observe the natural beauty. This isn’t a instagram photo shoot, or a place to walk the trails to loudly complain about the problems in your privileged life. Although, given the area, this might be inevitable 😊
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PinkShoeAddict
Darien, IL100 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
We went here in June on a weekday and got there shortly after it opened at 8am. They only allow 75 cars into the park at once and others can park on the side of the road to walk in, but even that parking is limited. If you have someone with fairly limited mobility, it is best to ensure you can get into the park to be able to see the highlights without having to walk as much. The walks themselves are pretty easy. We did the Sea Lion Point and Bird Island trails, both of which offer great animal viewing options. When we were on our way out a little after 10am, the preserve was closed to cars and all of the parking on the side of the road was also filled.
Written June 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lmv
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Couples
Beautiful!!! Great way to see beautiful vistas and enjoy picnic areas and nice trails. No need to risk safety by stopping along highway 1 for photos. Worth the $10 entrance fee or else you can walk-in about a mile.
Written March 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

irishtea3
San Francisco267 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
I find that any age can do these trails. There is ones by the ocean and ones slight inland will less people. You are guaranteed to see animals. This time I say so many pelicans.Really wonderful. Sea otter and harbor seals. Last time I went more seals and less birds I guess it depends on the wind, feeding, time of year, weather.... Arrived by 0935 on a weekend and with $10 had a parking space towards the ned. I spent about 4 hours there with hiking and picture taking. I noted when leaving many people had to park off the highway and walk about a mile in to the shore. It opens up at 08 so if you want to get parking arrive early enough on a weekend.
Written July 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Travel the World
San Francisco, CA1,403 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
Wow! What a wonderful way to spend a day. Every where you look is God's beautiful creation. The flowers were blooming, the baby seals were swimming, the birds were nesting and the hiking trails gave you a front row seat to see all of the beauty of the ocean. This was our first visit to the park and we LOVED it. The trails are well maintained which makes it easy to maneuver. Everyone wore masks and kept their social distance. I would highly recommend trying to visit this location on a weekday. I understand the weekends are very busy and they have limited parking so arrive early. It cost $10 a carload ($9 Seniors) to get into the park. If you are feeling energetic you can park your car outside the entrance (limited spaces) and walk in for free. It is about a 2 to 3 mile walk to the beach from the entrance. They have several volunteers to answer any of your questions.
Written April 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mini
Fremont, CA212,249 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We enjoyed a return trip to Point Lobos over Valentine's week-end. This area is beautiful. Its a perfect place for hiking, picnics, and for those who love diving. Its a Marine Sanctuary. The woods with moss are pretty as well.

We used our state park pass to enter the park. This time of year (February) the park closes at 5:00.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scott
San Francisco, CA6,658 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Solo
Geology is amazing. Fantastic place to hike. Every type of hiking trail from simple virtually paved to simple but somewhat steep. Views are fantastic. Perfect place for a family picnic. Plenty of parking around the park. Good interpretive signs.

Before visiting Point lobos, be sure to read up on the geology. Point lobos is a combination of two types of geology. On the northern side it is granite that was born a couple of hundred miles to the South before drifting up to the north on the San Andreas fault. on top of the granite, and on the southern half of the peninsula is sandstone. Walking on this sandstone is walking on the bottom of a deep under sea canyon 55 million years ago. In this sandstone you can see intricate details of underwater landslides.
Written August 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John S
Selbyville, DE99 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
This state park was awesome; providing dramatic costal views; rock crashing waves; hiking options and an abundance of Harbor Seal activity during our mid-Feb visit for viewing pleasures. I was fortunate enough to see a migrating Gray Whale spouting from the very first parking area that we visited. Docent [a new term for me - voluntary guides] there were extremely knowledgeable and those encountered loved their “trade” and were eager to enlighten those interested.

A plus - we learned that a daily entrance fee to Ca’s parks is good within their park system for admittance THAT day so see a few if you can.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Point Lobos - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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