Romantic Carmel Coast

This Romantic Carmel coast reserve was named after the offshore rocks where seal lions cavort and bark orders to each other and is often referred to as "The crown jewel of the California Park system".

Point Lobos State Reserve is a fantastic location for an up close and intimate experience with nature.

You could easily spend a couple of days here. If the weather is right, this might be a great destination for much of your day.

Perfect Escape Destination To See Carmel's Natural Beauty

I suggest that after your Whalers Cove exploration, you venture on until the road begins an abrupt and sharp curve. Park here and take in the Cypress Grove trail. Here is only one of two in the world naturally growing collections of Cypress trees any where in the world. These narled trees were the reason efforts were made to protect this pristine area of the coast. Here you will find a information station and docents who can answer questions and show their collections of animal fur and other remnants.

Explore On Your Own or Ask A Docent

As you stroll about this Romantic Carmel coast trail, you will find cypress trees over three hundred years old.

Docents suggest there are about three hundred of them, and will take you on a private tour to help recall the history of this magnificent location.

Here there are many other scenic trails along the beach where you can explore tidepools,watch the seal lions and sea otters play and if you time your trip just right ...even grey whales in December thru early May who with their babies, swim right up to within twenty feet of the rocky bluffs to protect their young from killer whales.

These magnificant creatures are about fourty five long and have left Baja Mexico after the birth of their young and are attracted by the six hundred foot deep waters just off the shoreline...heading back up the ten thousand mile journey to Canada.

The best place to watch for these giant creatures is right off Sea Lion Point. If you don't have binoculars, see if the docents will check one out for you.As you stroll about the reserve, you will find cypress trees over three hundred years old and who are indigenous to only two areas in the world.Docents suggest there are about three hundred of them, and will take you on a private tour to help recall the history of this magnificent location.

While your here look for the wild blue heron, and the american kestrel who put on quite a show with a display of aerial aeobatics. Should you choose the hikes at Whalers Cove, you might even be lucky enough to see white egrets.

If your a scuba diver or kayacker, you can dive or paddle in protected water and see fields of giant underwater kelp and the almost erie world that lies just off shore.

A proposal for a larger general plan that would extend this part of the Romantic Carmel coast across Highway One for additional parking and hiking trails and that would also include the Carmel River Beach and Monestary Beach areas as well is under review.

Parking $10 or you can park outside the gate and walk the mile or so to the cliffs.

Route 1 Carmel Ca 831 624 4909