Point Lobos couldn’t be any more beautiful. This nature reserve sits just off Highway 1 on California’s Central Coast – near Big Sur – with miles of hiking trails, tide pools, coves, cliffs and Pacific Ocean views for miles. A lot of people consider it to be the crown jewel of California’s state parks and we have to agree: this place is the definition of paradise.
See a map of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
Photo by Fred Moore on Flickr
$10 gets your car in for the day – but to avoid the entrance fee (or if parking is full) you can also park on the street and walk down. Once in the park, you can hike to your heart’s desire – there are miles of trails that lead down to the beach and picture perfect viewpoints.
Photo by Flickr/Alex Europa
The park is huge with several highlights – including: Gibson Beach, Whalers Cove and China Cove (just to name a few). It’s easy to spend a few hours wandering to see everything.
Photo by Flickr/Deon Debold
Many fascinating types of wildlife call Point Lobos home. Otters and whales are frequently seen around here, as well as sea lions, harbor seals, dolphins and various bird species.
Photo by Fred Moore/Flickr
Bring your camera – there are photo ops around every corner. You can capture everything from ocean waves to wildlife, cypress trees and the bright turquoise water of China Cove:
Photo by CaliforniaBeaches.com
These photos are gorgeous but they just don’t do Point Lobos justice – you’ve got to swing by sometime to experience this coastal landscape in person. For a sneak peek, check out this amazing short footage of different areas in the park from Youtube:
Point Lobos is so lovely. Have you visited before? Let us know in the comments.