Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove

Located in the south-western part of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove has a small pebbly beach that is surrounded by a rocky shoreline. The water near this beach can occasionally have large waves and strong currents. The area around the beach has coastal scrub vegetation and interesting rock formations. 

The beach in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove does not have lifeguards, or any other amenities, so plan your visit accordingly. 

The beach in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove offers many fun activities including wildlife watching, sunbathing, and hiking. We recommend being careful while visiting this beach as large sneaker waves are common in this part of the reserve shoreline. In addition, aquatic recreational activities including swimming, surfing, and kayaking are not allowed in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove as they might disturb the marine wildlife here. The water near the beach is home to a large variety of marine mammals including seals, sea lions, otters, and migrating whales (between December and April). The beach and its surrounding areas are frequently visited by sea lions and seals, and a docent with a spotting scope is often present here to give you a closer look at these wonderful creatures. The rock conglomerate present around the beach in Point Lobos State Natural Preserve - Sea Lion Cove is a part of the Carmelo Formation. You can find an array of rock formations around the beach, which have been cut into interesting shapes by the ocean water through erosion. The Sea Lion Point, which is present near the beach, offers Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve shoreline and is a great spot for watching migrating grey whales usually between December and April. 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 natural 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 walking trails present throughout the reserve. If you like diving, there are many scuba diving sites present in Point Lobos State Natural Preserve that offer a unique way to explore the amazing underwater topography and biodiversity present in the water near the beach. You can find more information on the permits required for scuba diving in Point Lobos State Natural Preserve on the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s 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 natural 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. 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 along with participation in resource projects.

Getting to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove is easy - the entrance to Point Lobos State Natural reserve is located near 62 California State Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway. While the reserve has many paid parking lots, the nearest parking lot to the beach is in the western part of the reserve. From this parking lot, you need to walk on the Sea Lion Point Trail or the Sand Hill Trail to get to the beach. We recommend visiting this beach early as the parking lots in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve can get filled up quickly. It is also important to note that the beach in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove is closed during winter storms. 

There are many attractions near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove. The Sunset Center is a performing arts center which hosts many interesting events including musical performances, stand-up comedy acts, theatrical shows, and dance performances. In addition, the center, along with the Carmel Mission Basilica hosts the annual Carmel Bach Festival which sees a variety of exciting events being organized here including recitals, concerts, masterclasses, open rehearsals, and lectures. The Tor House and the Hawk Tower were built by the poet Robinson Jeffers for his family. The picturesque house and tower has Tudor-style architecture and has been visited by many eminent personalities including Charlie Chaplin and Sinclair Lewis. Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation offers docent-led tours of the estate on Fridays and Saturdays. If you want to reserve your spot for a tour, you can contact them at (831) 624-1813. If you are looking for another attraction near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove, the Center for Photographic Art organizes many interesting photography exhibitions, lectures, discussions, and workshops.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove. California Market at Pacific’s Edge is an upscale restaurant that offers delicious Californian cuisine and has glass panel walls that offer incredible views of the Big Sur coastline. Pangaea Grill offers excellent Western and Asian dishes including Korean short ribs, filet mignon, and kimchi fried rice. In addition, the restaurant also serves excellent seafood and breakfast dishes. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove, the modestly priced La Bahia Mexican American Restaurant offers amazing Mexican dishes including flautas, enchiladas, and burritos.

If you are looking for a hotel near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Vagabond’s House offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and wine-and-cheese tasting sessions, a landscaped courtyard with a fountain and a fire pit, a spa, and a lounge with a fireplace and piano. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Carmel Mission Inn that offers many amenities including a restaurant offering live music performances on weekends, a pool, a hot tub, and a fitness center. If you are looking for a good and affordable hotel near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove, the modestly priced 2-Star Carmel River Inn offers many amenities including a pool and a garden with walking paths.