Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove

Located in the northern part of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove is a very narrow and popular beach with light brown sand. The water near the beach has unique underwater topography and a large number of kelp forests that are home to a variety of marine flora and fauna. The shoreline around the beach is rocky. 

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove does not have lifeguards, but it has restrooms, a boat launch, and walking trails. 

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove offers many fun activities including paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, canoeing, boating, swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, wildlife watching, and hiking. The water near the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove is a popular diving spot - it has vast kelp forests that are home to many marine animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, rockfish, otters, and migrating whales (between December and April). There is another popular diving spot to the north of Point Lobos Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove called "The Pit" that has three underwater caverns which are home to many unique invertebrates including sea slugs, nudibranchs, and sea slugs. Scuba diving in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve – Whalers Cove requires a special permit. If you want to get a driving permit, you can visit the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more information. In addition, if you are planning to engage in any recreational activity like paddle boarding, kayaking, or boating in the water here, you need to pay a fee to the reserve authorities. Monterey Bay Kayaks also offers guided kayak tours of the water near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove. However, if you are planning to go in the water near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve – Whalers Cove, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have rip currents. As an interesting fact, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove was a popular whaling spot during the 19th century, as whales caught in the water near the beach were brought up here for further processing. The Whalers Cabin is also present near the beach - it 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 reserve. 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 hiking trails present throughout the 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 on this link - https://pointlobos.org/plan-your-visit/guided-tours. 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 - Whalers Cove is easy - the entrance to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is located near 62 California State Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway. The paid parking lot for Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove is located a short drive north of this entrance. The beach is a short walk away from this parking lot. 

There are many attractions near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove. If you like shopping, Carmel Plaza offers many shopping stores, restaurants, and wine-tasting rooms. 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 are looking for another attraction near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove, the Carmel Shell Mural is a public artwork that commemorates Carmel’s artistic heritage and offers some excellent Instagram-worthy photos.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove. Anton & Michel Restaurant has an airy ambiance and offers a wide array of gourmet dishes. In addition, the restaurant also has a kids menu and serves amazing lamb dishes. PortaBella Restaurant offers excellent Mediterranean dishes including seafood pastas, crab bisque soup, croquettes, and steamed mussels au vin blanc. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove, the modestly priced Sarita’s The Original offers excellent Mexican dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Overlooking Big Sur Coast & Highlands Inn, A Hyatt Residence Club offers many amenities including a restaurant, a pool, three hot tubs, and a fitness center that is open 24 hours. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star The Colonial Terrace that offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, a guest lounge that offers coffee, fruits, and evening cookies, a brick patio with fireplace and umbrella tables, and loaner service for beach chairs, towels, and flashlights for evening treks. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Whalers Cove, the modestly priced 2-Star Carmel River Inn offers many amenities including a pool and a garden with walking paths.