Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove Beach

Located in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove is a small rocky beach with some sandy parts. The beach is located below rugged and steep bluffs. The water near this beautiful beach has a rich variety of marine biodiversity. 

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except walking trails, so plan your trip accordingly. 

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, and hiking. Recreational aquatic activities including swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving are generally not allowed in the water near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove as they might disturb the aquatic animals living here. The water near the beach is home to a variety of animals including seals, sea lions, otters, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). The beach and the shoreline around it is also home to a large array of aquatic birds including oystercatcher, gulls, cormorants, ospreys, and herons. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is often referred to as "the crown jewel" of California’s state park system and has been described by renowned landscape artist Francis McComas as the "greatest meeting of land and water in the world." The reserve has a beautiful and stunning landscape that includes Monterey cypress forests (the reserve has one of the only two remaining naturally growing groves of Monterey cypress trees on earth), coastal scrub, rocky headlands, and tidepools. In addition, many interesting animals are also found here including gophers, foxes, bobcats, deer, squirrels, lizards, snakes, raccoons, and skunks. You can explore the vibrant flora and fauna and the unique topography here via hiking trails present throughout the reserve. If you like diving, there are many scuba diving sites present in and near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve that offer a unique way to explore the amazing underwater topography and biodiversity present in the water near the reserve. You can find more information on the permits required for scuba diving in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve on the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve website. The reserve also has the Whalers Cabin which was built by Chinese immigrants in the 19th century and is a part of the United States National Register of Historic Places. This cabin is now home to a museum that has interesting exhibits on the rich cultural history of the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve’s beauty has also been a source of inspiration for many local artists and photographers. In addition, many movies have also been shot in or near the reserve including the 1989 Tom Hanks movie Turner and Hooch and the 1967 Dustin Hoffman movie The Graduate. The Point Lobos Foundation also organizes guided tours around the reserve. If you want to be a part of a guided tour, you can look for more information by visiting Point Lobos Foundation Website. The reserve also hosts the Point Lobos Summer Adventure Program for kids aged between 8 -12 which includes many fun and informative activities including hiking and wildlife watching excursions.

Getting to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove is easy - the entrance to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is located near 62 California State Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway. From this entrance, you need to drive straight west to get to the nearest paid parking lot for Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove. From the parking lot you can either take the Sea Lion Point Trail or Cypress Grove Trail which lead to the blufftop area above the beach. However, getting down to the beach from this blufftop area can be extremely hard as the bluff sides near this beach are rocky and steep, so we recommend being careful. In addition, we recommend visiting this beach during low tide as during high tide this small and narrow beach can get completely submerged.

There are many attractions near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove. Piccadilly Park was designed by landscape architect Walter Guthrie and has some unique plant species rarely found anywhere else in California. The park also has restrooms, a fountain, and benches. If you like shopping, Carmel’s Ocean Avenue has a variety of interesting shops including jewelers, antique shops, and artisan stores. In addition, it also has many interesting restaurants and hotels. If you are looking for another attraction near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Carmel Art Association has one of the oldest art galleries in the city of Carmel and also organizes many exciting events including lectures, concerts, and art demonstrations.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove. Seventh & Dolores is an upscale steakhouse that offers excellent steaks and seafood. Dametra Cafe offers excellent Mediterranean dishes including kebabs, baba ganoush, seafood pasta, and baklava that are served in generous portions. In addition, the restaurant has also been praised by the MICHELIN Guide. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove, the modestly priced Tommy's Wok is an Asian restaurant that offers delicious Hunan, Szechuan, and Mandarin cuisine.

If you are looking for a hotel near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove, there are many great options. The 4-Star Pine Inn offers many amenities including a restaurant and complimentary breakfast. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Comfort Inn Carmel By The Sea which offers complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Headland Cove, the modestly priced 2-Star Carmel Resort Inn offers many amenities including a garden and barbecue facilities.