Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a state park in Monterey County, California, 3 miles from Carmel. Day use costs $10.00 per vehicle. Hours: Day Use Area: 8:00 a.m to 7 p.m last entry at 6:30pm.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve map
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
Common questions
- Entry to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve costs $10.00 per vehicle. Hours: Day Use Area: 8:00 a.m to 7 p.m last entry at 6:30pm.
- No, day use at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve does not need a reservation; pay the entry fee on arrival.
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is 3 miles from Carmel. It is 3 miles from Carmel.
- No, dogs are not allowed at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
- No, drones and other remote-controlled aircraft are not allowed at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
Before you go
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is 3 miles from Carmel. It is 3 miles from Carmel.
Day use needs no reservation; pay the entry fee on arrival.
Trails
- Cypress Grove Trail Old-growth cypress grove
- Sea Lion Point Trail Paved loop to cove views
- Bird Island Trail Views of China Cove and Bird Island
- Granite Point Trail Whalers Cove bluff via Carmelo Meadow
- Lace Lichen Trail Links entrance to Information Station area
What to see
- Historic site Whalers Cabin Museum Open when staffed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Feature Underwater Park SCUBA at Whalers and Bluefish coves; dive reservations required
- Feature Bird Island Harbor seal rookery viewed from Bird Island Trail
Public lands next to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- BLM unitPoint Lobos State Natural Reserve borders California Coastal National Monument.
- State parkPoint Lobos State Natural Reserve borders Carmel River State Beach, a state park.
- State parkGarrapata State Park is 0.5 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- State parkHatton Canyon Prop, a state park, is 1.2 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=571 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_California_state_parks (accessed 2026-09-28)
- https://www.parks.ca.gov/AccessibleFeatures/Details/571 (accessed 2026-09-29)