Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Awesome park with lots of well maintained trails. Enjoy easy to moderate walks to some trails w slight elevation. Some beautiful views w most trails under the shade of trees. Several picnic areas and plenty of parking. Get there first, we did, it did not take long for the line of cars to grow. Stop at Bruno’s or Safeway / Lucky markets and bring your picnic, enjoy the views! They also have flush toilets ( a plus 😉 )

Awesome network of hiking trails along the ocean and through the trees. Lovely scenery. Some shade, parking inside for $10 and restrooms along the way. My only con is that it's not dog friendly. Be ware if there's no inside parking and you park free on the road that it's a bit of a hike to get to the ocean. Could be too long for the young and elderly.

This is the prettiest stretch of coast I have seen in this country, and I get around! I have traveled the Pacific coast from the Olympic peninsula to San Diego, and this was the highlight. The water is beautiful, with many turquoise areas. There is also an abundance of wildlife. It's not nearly as impressive on a cloudy day. This park is popular, so you need a plan to avoid crowds. Arriving early won't help since both cars and pedestrians are locked out before opening hours.

This an amazing jewel of the State Park system. You can't take a bad picture as you walk along the coastal trails. This place has something for all levels of physical fitness. No one needs to miss it. Well maintained trails and quite a few docents to answer your questions. A few small parking lots for those that want a shorter hike.

Beautiful well kept trails with lots of wildlife. We ended up seeing otters, sea lions and whales breaching! You can rent binoculars in exchange for your car keys. Bathrooms looked clean and rangers were kind approachable and knowledgeable.There was a lot of people and we had to park on the side of the road quite a ways away which was the one downside.

We loved the hiking and the views. However parking can be a big issue. When we drive past on a Sunday afternoon the front entrance was blocked off stating the oarking was full. There were probably 30-40 cars parked along highway 1 (North and South of the entrance). We went back by 10am on Monday and had to go to the 3rd lot to find parking. As we like hiking we parked and hiked all around the park. Cypress groves, lots of coastline and even birds and seals were seen.

Spent a relaxing weekend wandering around Point Lobos and the Carmel area. The ocean breeze, the sound of the waves, and the natural scenery made the whole walk feel peaceful and refreshing. Everywhere I turned was a beautiful spot for photos. Such a simple and enjoyable way to unwind. — Wendy Jiang

Point Lobos was easy to find and entrance/parking had clear signage. We parked outside of the park as their lot was full. Free to park outside, just as long as you pay attention to the posted signs otherwise, expect a ticket. We appreciated the park rangers and volunteers sprinkled throughout the reserve offering information and direction. Easy to spend hours at the reserve as everything, whether it’s closer to the ocean or within the greenery, was absolutely stunning; beautiful and peaceful. Plenty of wildlife to observe as well. We will definitely come back. We spent only $5 for an area map.

Point Lobos is an absolutely wonderful state park and a must-visit if you're in the Monterey area. We visited with our 2.5-year-old, and she had the best time! What makes this park stand out are the kid-friendly hikes that are manageable even for toddlers. The highlight for us was the amazing tidepools--it was such a wonderful, hands-on experience for her to see the marine life up close. It's a beautiful, educational, and easy way to spend a morning with the family.

Wow... took some time this weekend to step out of my comfort zone and hit a few hikes -- and honestly, I probably shouldn't have, because now I'm hooked. This 4.5-mile trek along the coast and then through the woods was exactly what my soul needed. The kind of reset you don't realize you've been craving until you're standing there, breathing that ocean air and feeling everything settle. Parking is easy -- you've got plenty of spots along the highway where you can walk right in, or you can pay the state park fee and drive through the gate. And if you're a veteran like me and have your California State Parks pass, it's free. The trails are well maintained, easy, and clearly marked. Along the route I met some friendly people -- even walked most of the way with a couple of women before we split off toward different overlooks. That's part of the charm here... the environment, the people, the quiet moments that hit you when you least expect them. If you want breathtaking coastal views, great photo spots, and a place that resets your spirit, Point Lobos is the move. And now? On to the next hike -- Big Sur, here I come.

Great state park for hiking and sightseeing! Point Lobos is a short drive from Carmel by the Sea and Monterey and we came by a couple of hours before sunset to catch the last remaining couple hours of light. The coastline was so nice and walking around the tide pool, we were able to spot small crabs, hermit crabs, and mussels everywhere. It reminded me of being in Hawaii and it felt like we were transported out of the Bay Area. The park closes at 5pm but it seems like people do stay a bit longer as the exit gate was still open when we left about 15 min later. It's $10 per car to park inside.

One of the best hikes I've ever been on. We did the perimeter loop which was about 3-4 hours to complete (with many stops to take pictures of the breathtaking view). We saw plenty of birds on bird isle, sea lions, harbor seal, sea otters, and deer! There's also a cute little exhibit with some souvenirs and also real sea otter, sea lion pelts for you to feel. There's another museum at the cabin and a showing of whale vertebrae! There's also a telescope there that you can look into to see the harbor seal. Overall a wonderful state park with lovely staff. Can't wait to come back again

Very beautiful spot for a hike. Get there early because parking is limited and the trails can get packed. We saw lots of birds and even got to see some seals!

I love that there are many short trails to pick from! Connect one trail to another for more walking. Or just do as much as you want. Expect a lot of walking. Trails are clean and clear to understand. Docents stand at the entrance to provide info or answer questions, always a good starting point

Known as one of the richest marine habitats in California, this state park sits between the Carmel highlands and Big Sur. Parking access costs $10, but you can also park along Hwy 1 like we did and simply walk in for free (although donations are encouraged as it helps support our state parks). Dogs and bikes are not allowed here, so make sure not to bring your furry friend along. Although known for popular marine animal sightings such as whales, seals, sea lions and otters, we unfortunately did not spot any during our trip here. There are a variety of trails of varying difficulties that you can choose from. My wife's not much of a hiker so we opted for the Bird Island Trail as it was the shortest, had only a slight incline, and offered magnificent views of the coastal shore. Picnic tables and bathrooms can also be found on the trailhead along Point Lobos Rd.

Amazing views and absolutely beautiful foliage! Depending on the hiking trail you take, it can be hours to complete the park. The guides are very good at explaining the different trails and what you're interested in seeing or have time for. You can trade your car keys in at one of nature cabins with an employee for binoculars. Parking is $10 per vehicle. Once parking is full, you can park along Highway 1 and walk in.

Soooo pretty!! Just know that on weekends/ holidays it gets soo packed so some people have to park outside and walk in. It's soooo worth a visit though. The walks are not very challenging.

Beautiful place to nature walk / hike. Park opens at 8am come early -cooler -more available parking - less crowded. $10 for parking or can try parking along side the road if you don't want to pay $10 but be prepared to walk .5-1mile more minimum on top of what you want to do. When the amount of cars come that fill up all spots they close the front so you have to find outside parking. They shut off parking around 10:30 and when we were walking to are car about 10ish the trails when were a lot more busy to go through. We did the cabin trail to north shore trail to veterans trail, and then to cypress cove / grove trail then back to the car. Overall took about 2 1/2 hrs and finished half of the map. We could had have done more or finished quickly but we took an obscene amount of photos lol

Point Lobos was easy to find and entrance/parking had clear signage. We parked outside of the park as their lot was full. Free to park outside, just as long as you pay attention to the posted signs otherwise, expect a ticket. We appreciated the park rangers and volunteers sprinkled throughout the reserve offering information and direction. Easy to spend hours at the reserve as everything, whether it's closer to the ocean or within the greenery, was absolutely stunning; beautiful and peaceful. Plenty of wildlife to observe as well. We will definitely come back. We spent only $5 for an area map.

This review is for Lace Lichen, North Shore & Cannery Point Trail which was a ~3.1 miles round trip that took ~1 hours to complete. Point Lobos State Natural Preserve was extremely popular and crowded! Lace Lichen, North Shore & Cannery Point Trail was a combination of trails that takes you to the top half of the state preserve. Started the loop clockwise; trail was mostly flat with a little bit of incline on a narrow dirt path along with some stairs. Take a look at the map first; there were a few other trails within the state park and all are connected in some way. Make sure to download the GPX route. Free parking on the side of the streets on Highway 1 just before and after the entrance of Point Lobos. Don't park on the street if there are "No Parking" signs; rangers will write up a ticket. If you don't want to walk too much; the option is to pay the entrance fee to drive into the preserve and park at each scenic spot. Restrooms are available near the trailhead as well as the parking lots of each scenic spot. The whole preserve opens at 8am; rangers don't allow you to hike before 8am. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/s-1g8v4bNOU If you have the time, I would recommend doing the full loop which was ~6.3 miles and ~3.5 hours to complete. Short video of the hike for those interested: https://youtu.be/PVUJ-eIwt8M

Gorgeous! Entry for a car is $10 but there's street parking right outside. I would recommend coming early. There's a couple small parking lots around the park. The trails are wide and well paved, they even have some for accessibility. There's portable potties around the parking lots. It's perfect to go with older folks and children. There's a lot to see and the coast is beautiful. I love meandering around checking out all the viewpoints. We spent half a day here but you can easily spend a whole day here and more.

Entrance fee $10, you can park on street and walk. Lot of great trails and the visitor center is helpful. We only have two hours and she recommended me to walk the south plateau trail to see the bird island and china cove. Then we walked along the trail to hidden beach and Weston beach, and all the way to sea lion point trail and exit thru lace lichen trail. Total 1.45 hours. The views were incredible better than the 17 miles drive. I highly recommend this park.

Carmelo Meadow Trail in Point Lobos State Park is a peaceful, easy walk through beautiful coastal forest. It's perfect if you're looking for a gentle, less strenuous hike/walk with a big reward; the bay views at the end are stunning!!! This hike is perfect for people of all ages, fitness levels and perfect for families. This is a great way to soak in the beauty of Point Lobos without a strenuous hike.

Point Lobos is now my favorite place for hiking trails because of the beautiful scenery. I went there for the first time a few days ago and it was breathtaking. It is beginner friendly and there are many trails to choose from. We picked the right side to explore in the beginning and it was a short walk until we reached the ocean! Took lots of pictures and I could watch the ocean for hours because it's so relaxing and peaceful. After we were done with the area on the right side, we took a little break and went to the left side because we heard there are thousands of birds and it was true. The trail on the left side was slightly longer and steeper. Watch out for all the tree roots along the way because it's easy to trip on them! I recommend going as early as you can because finding parking can be hard. Instead of paying to park inside, you can park for free on the curb! We were able to find a spot on the side of the road, but we had to drive quite a distance for it because all other spots were taken. Even though there were tons of cars parked outside, we surprisingly didn't pass by that many people along the trails.

We truly love this coast line! So much so we brought our visiting relatives from PA to see how beautiful California is. One of our favorite hiking trails are the ones found at Point Lobos State Park. They were amazed by the scenic views as we are each time we come here. A must visit when you are in the Carmel area.

The natural habitat left untouched by man's intervention so ofcourse it feels surreal when visiting, a must when in Monterey Carmel Ca areas

Absolutely amazed I've been in Carmel numerous times & have never been to this state park. I love hiking & enjoy the coastal weather. Came here on the most perfect day during Memorial weekend. They have so many different trails, all fairly easy to walk, and considerably longer trails for those looking to get something steps in :) as I mentioned there are numerous trails to choose from and the beach just a few steps away. Neither trail is overly crowded and the area is full of amazing things to do. Its not too far from Pacific Grove, Monterey, and Big Sur. Only advice is to make sure to pack all the essentials: a great camera, portable charger, sunscreen and some snacks for the hike.

It was our first time here and it was a great experience! We paid $9 for parking (thanks Mom for the senior discount). Some parking areas were full but we parked in the South area. There are many trails to explore along the coast and in the meadow. We decided to do the Cypress Grove Trail (5/5) and the Bird Island Trail (5/5). The Cypress Trail is the most "iconic" per the ranger. It was beautiful! So many breathtaking views. The Bird Island Trail was cool. Just a little smelly when you get to where all the birds ( herons & pelicans) are. They had signs posted to be "quiet please" due to harbor seal birthing area. But we didn't see a baby seals. There are bathrooms available and areas for sitting. The trails are well marked and easy to follow. Overall, great place! We'll be back.

Beautiful national park with many trails and amazing views of the bay. Entrance is only $10 per car. You can see wildlife that lives in the area. Great place to enjoy nature!

IMHO If you're going to visit Carmel, take a short side trip to Point Lobos State Reserve, just a short 10-minute drive south. Pay a $10 day pass parking fee (or $9, if you're a senior). If you like easy hiking with amazing coastal views, this is your place. You may hear sea lions in the distance. Depending on the time of year, you may even see whales! Tip: Get there early for parking or go later in the afternoon. Don't forget binoculars.

breathtaking and fairly easy trail! got lucky and it was super sunny around carmel by the sea so it was beautiful! lov the colors of blue and green and some shades of brown :') if you're just going for the viewpoint it's better to just pay for state parking and then walk up hahaha but if you're hiking it's fine

You could spend a whole day here! We saw quite a bit of people parked outside when we first arrived in Point Lobos which was confusing because we weren't sure if there were any trails nearby. We ultimately decided to turn inside which was the right move as there was quite a stretch of road before you approach any hiking trail. A day pass per vehicle is $10. Here are some of my favorite parts of Point Lobos: - I love how many different viewpoints you can get. We got to do the Sea Lion Loop where you get to see sea lions on a distant rock and the beautiful Carmel Highlands. The other trail we completed was the Cypress Grove Trail which had a lot of cypress trees as well as views on Monterey / Carmel. Just in a little area there is so much to see. - I love that each trail isn't very long so that you can enjoy the best views on the trail without being overly tired. - The Cypress Information Booth was also so cute as they had this area where you could touch the fur pelts of different animals such as seals and otters. It's interesting that seals of different kinds can have drastically different fur textures. I will definitely be coming back for longer to explore all there is to see in Point Lobos, hopefully on a clearer day too! I will also be bringing binoculars next time or borrowing it from the information booth to better see the spectacular views.

This place is breathtakingly beautiful, even when shrouded in a dense veil of heavy fog. The soft, gray mists gently embrace the landscape, creating an ethereal atmosphere that makes the scene feel almost magical. The silhouettes of old trees and distant rolling fog slowly move on the water, their shapes softened and filled with some kind of mystery. The air was cool and fresh, with the peaceful feeling of a quiet moment. The stillness surrounds the senses and encourages deep thought, turning this experience into a truly inspiring moment. I'm in love with this place and the quaint city, Carmel by the Sea.

Point Lobos is a stunning state park along the Monterey bay that is definitely worth a visit. I came on a Sunday morning, which is likely peak time for crowds but it wasn't terrible. There's a $10 fee to enter the park and parking lots around the perimeter. The hike we did was 6 miles and went allll around the park with beautiful ocean views and some woodsy sections too. There wasn't much elevation and there were lots of interesting stopping points along the way- even a museum! There are sections where you're on or close to the road, so it's not a secluded hike but worthwhile nonetheless. Bring binoculars if you have them for whale watching and seals!

We love the Carmel area and we go to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve any time we can. It's best to arrive early because by 10:00 am the park may be closed for cars and so you have to park on the 1 Hwy. This can be a considerable walk just to get to the trails and coast. It's 10$ a car and we try to arrive between 8-9. We go all the way in and park in the parking lot by the South Island Trail. We always find parking here even though the lots are crowded as you drive further in. From the point you can walk north or south with great views. We like to go south and take in China Grove to see Seals sunning and Gibson Beach. It's so restorative and well worth the time. There is also a nice restroom between the South Island Trail parking and China Grove. Do it at least once in your life!

Natural reserve with water, dirt, rocks, flowers, birds and nature. Went on a gloomy day unfortunately but the natural beauty still won out. I can imagine on a sunny day it is truly spectacular. Wound up walking over 8 miles. They have 14 designated hikes...Bird island where all birds convene was the stand-out and it is at the end. You have to pay $10 a car to enter or park outside which is already a hike. It is worth the $10. Parking can be tricky or tough to get...all dirt lot and first come first serve. Went on a week-day. Would go back!

We had been to Point Lobos before, many years ago. The tourist traffic there has expanded exponentially. The park opens at 8 am. We were in line with our car at 8:30 this morning (Sunday) and we must have been one of the last cars to get in. Parking is limited. People park on the road as much as a mile away and walk in. We were able to park out at the point and walk the Bird Island trail. It was fantastic. Go early, and not on the weekend, if you can manage it.

Point Lobos State Natural Park is considered the crown jewel of the California State Park System with a rich ecological recovery story. I was fortunate to be on site for a few days in 2020 with a local. My main camera met its demise unfortunately and I lost most every photo except and iPhone shot which was amazing! Features of the reserve boast a diverse and rich marine habitats, beautiful vistas, and magnificent animals. Activities guest can enjoy are sightseeing, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking, SCUBA diving, and a jogging trail. Point Lobos has several trails, including the Sand Hill and Sea Lion Point Trail, which is even wheelchair accessible trail. I spent time on both and neither are rigorous, but are beautiful! The reserve is open year-round with varying admission fees. It's a stunner! Don't miss it!

Beautiful, easy to access, loved exploring along the shore. Lots of birds, saw otters and seals. Several painters in the area creating beautiful canvasses. We packed lunch and ate watching the amazing nature show.

Such a great preserve with clean walking paths. Most of it isn't paved but it's clear of sharp debris so you shouldn't trip or get poked if you stay on the path. Beautiful views of the cove with lots of ocean breeze which isn't salty or smelly like some beaches I've been where the seaweed dries out and has that smell. Lush forest scape with sun peaking through. It's just so picture perfect stroll in the morning. They have a scuba launch point where divers do explore the cove with a topographic map of the surrounding sea floor. I don't have any gear, but it was cool to see, hopefully they have a set up where they can display some underwater pictures or set up a live feed underwater so those who don't have gear can also enjoy the view!

Wonderful (and very easy) hike! Perfect for a lazy weekend when you want to walk purse but not overly exert yourself. Very flat and significantly shady in the trees. Of course don't and hot when you walk ankle the weather. Perfectly blue and gorgeous water. Sea lions and birds. Pro tip: if you get there after 8:30am you might as well go straight to find street parking. It's an extra five minutes walking... so what??!

It's a must see spot along HWY 1 in the central coast. Very well maintained trails providing easy access for wildlife viewing. South Shore Trail will take you throughout the park to all major lookout spot. We saw hella "fake pelicans " at Pelican Point. According to my limited knowledge and GOOGLE search of native birds, I concluded the bird perch on Pelican Point was Guillemots or Cormorants; LOL. I'm a bird expert now. I saw marine mammals from my origin country. The family of native SeaLion must be Chinese as they gave birth to some young sea-lion pups in the in a place name after the mother land, China Cove. -If you're lucky enough to have slanted eyes (16x9) wide vision, star into the open ocean for whales and dolphins sightings. We caught a glimpse of a few whales while we were there. It's was overall a "Good Day." I would recommend visiting to hike along the coast line to get in touch with/nature.

Most beautiful views you have ever seen! I know a lot of people park on Hwy 1 and walk in, but I prefer to pay to enter the park. It guarantees parking, and it helps support the park. Not only that, it's quite a long walk to and from Hwy 1. If you have any mobility issues, you will definitely want to pay the fee and park in the parking lot inside the park! Heads up: no dogs allowed...

This place is awesome! This state park is very nicely kept. We only had to wait for parking once. But do try to get there early. Lots of nice trails that are very easy. The beaches have some nice tide pools where lots of urchins, hermit crabs, fish, anemones, and other wide life hang out. Also the waves that crash into the Rockies are quite magnificent and majestic and breathtaking. Even in early spring to late fall, the views are good all year round.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a great place to visit. There's multiple hiking trails, that are easy to moderate in terms of distance and difficulty. It's a very nice place to spend the day and you can see wildlife and wonderful views! I would recommend bringing a picnic lunch (or snacks and water). Just a note that parking can be limited on weekends, so arriving earlier would help. Definitely recommend visiting, if you're staying in Monterey or Carmel!

I went on a rainy day and had myself a peaceful hike. If you need to decompress from a hard work week and escape for a few hours, I would most definitely recommend coming to Point Lobos. When arriving you will need to pay $10 up front (cash, Apple Pay or card) but if you are looking to save $ there is street parking 15 minutes (walking distance) from the front sign. I parked at the Cypress Grove and Sea Lion Point Parking Lot which was the closest lot to the three hikes I went on. I got lucky since a group of folks were just leaving and let me have their spot. If I did not arrive at that exact moment, I would have had to park even further from my hiking point. Ranking the trails I went on: Best Trail: The Cypress Grove Trail had the best views out of the three. I stopped at each lookout and ocean viewpoint to take everything in. It is also the perfect trail for photos that contain foliage, the ocean, and sea stacks in the background. Challenging Trail: The Whaler's Knoll Lookout Trail contains a small amount of incline and stairs. This got me sweating even on a cold rainy day. When I went, two huge trees were blocking the trail so there was climbing involved in finishing the trail. You would need your hiking boots/shoes for this one as I nearly rolled my ankle several times while hiking in my Hokas. Easiest Trail: The Sea Lion Point Trail was a walk in the park in running shoes. It gives you a good view of the ocean and does not require you to trek through any incline/decline. Definitely a hike I would want to take my mom on. The great part is that each trail had a number of benches spread throughout different points of the hike so you can catch a break and finish your hike with easeeeee. A bonus was that there were rangers/guides stationed at the parking lot who had a booth full of educational items ranging from local animal skulls, furs, and info to help you learn more about the critters that occupy the area.

Super beautiful. Explored several trails with my friend who has never been and loved pointing out the different plants and animals with the pamphlets available at the start of the trail. There's restrooms available inside the park at several parking lots and plenty of people working on the reserve to talk about the species that live there and just to talk to. Admission per vehicle is $10 cash or card and then physical copies of the map are $2, but you can always just snap a photo of the map before you're on your way. We stayed inside the park for about 5.5-6 hours and had not gone through everything despite a good amount of time on the trails. These trails are not difficult either as I was able to get ~22,000 steps in with sore legs. We saw a bunch of rabbits, lizards, and deer that did not seem to be afraid of us. No sea lions sunbathing unlike the last time I visited, but the weather and scenery were still beautiful. The bottom most parking lot is good for picnics since there's a bunch of tables available, restrooms nearby, and a nice view of the ocean. Some of the parking lots on the way down have beautiful tide pools that were easy to climb and we were able to observe hermit crabs, crabs, sea urchins, etc. Just don't forget your sunscreen and lots of water!!

An amazing natural area teeming with birds, flowers and awe inspiring views. We had a free morning so on the recommendation of our hotel, headed over to the park which is only about 15 minutes from Carmel. After paying the $10 parking fee to drive in, we easily found parking in one of 4 small lots (park in the second one if you can). We arrived about 9 am on a foggy summer Friday so it wasn't crazy busy as I'm sure happens. As there's only one road-navigating by car is easy. There are several beautiful and well-maintained hiking paths-most flat but there are some steps in places-but overall easy for most anyone. Our favorite paths were the sandstone path along the sea and the big cypress path that goes through a bit of woods. We spent about 3 hours there taking in the amazing array of colorful wildflowers clinging to rocky out croppings as well as trying to spot wildlife. Pelicans and cormorants were abundant and we say some basking harbor seals on a beach by the bird island path. Although we could hear them barking, the sea lions were obscured by the fog. This is a must do for anyone interested in nature and scenic walks.

First time going today! It was so beautiful and well worth the drive from San Jose. Parking is a bit hard on weekends so be mindful you may need to park on the street and walk alot. Parking is the only downside because the actual parking lots get full. Definitely great for the family if you have children over 6. Such beautiful views!

Why didn't anyone tell me Point Lobos Nature Reserve is the Crown Jewel of Carmel?? When I say it's a thing of beauty, it doesn't do it justice. You absolutely have to go see for yourself. We got there around 9:00 AM and the parking lots were already filling up. By the time we left (around noon) they had closed the main entrance and weren't letting driving through. (You had to park down the road and walk up) Also, beware, there is tons of poison ivy. So stay on the trail, wear long layers, or just be smart and avoid those leaves of three.

so worth the travel. stopped by on a wednesday around 1. There wasnt a long line. you can park outside or pay for parking inside. Normally $10 love that they have a $9 senior discount. The people in the booth were amazing super knowledgeable and helpful. The map is $2 or you can take a picture. The trails we're pretty easy to follow. My favorite is the bird island trail and cypress. The views are just amazing and absolutely breathtaking. It is windy so I suggest a jacket.

Quite literally one of my favorite places. Coastal trails with beautiful blue water, tide pools, coastal forests. The trails are easy to navigate and well kept. The docents have tables set up throughout the park to educate and have animal displays. There are guided nature walks with park employees as well. Parking fills up super fast so go early, have patience to circle the park for parking spots, or prepare to park up to a half mile out on the road to walk in. But make sure to heed the no parking areas! On the day we went, we saw every car parked between the no parking signs being ticketed.

gorgeous!! a wonderful and accessible hike for those who have never gone on one before. really wonderful to see the ocean, but my favorite parts were in the wooded areas. beautiful weather and really lovely and fresh outdoor scents.

We walked to the bird island area china cove and the whalers cove , free parking outside of the premises and gorgeous scenes

Cannot believe it was our first time here. I usually like to hike to get a workout in, but I never did it to enjoy the beautiful scenery. I never went hiking to get away from everything. I saw posts from my friend's IG, so I asked her if the trails were kid-friendly. Once she confirmed there are tons of trails that Gavin can do, it was settled. Gavin and I left the house shortly before 8AM. It was fairly easy because I had Waze the entire time. I did take a little detour to pull out cash for parking. Little did I know that they accept cards now. So convenient. No pets! I cannot believe I still see people and their pets. I do not understand why people cannot respect the rules. This place exists because of the rules in place. To preserve what little we have of our natural mini wonders. Go early to get food parking. As many have mentioned, you can find parking to save $10, but I opted to park inside because it was my first time. The pamphlet you receive once you pay your parking fee is not the map of the different trails, so take a picture of it. While some trails are kid-friendly and stroller-friendly, but the last one we were on were difficult. I felt bad for the family that had strollers. There are picnic tables for you to refuel. We brought dim sum and packed iced water. We did not get ti enjoy clam chowder because we were pretty satiated from our "brunch." We both cannot wait to return.

Beautiful place, expect to park outside if you arrive later. Absolutely do not park next to the 'No Parking' signs, we walked by a row of cars getting ticketed

** Must go ** Absolutely a Bucket List item . Here are a few in's & out's: No dogs No walking on the road (I know, I know but you'll see...) Do *not* go off the trail. It's a nature reserve. Trails are closed & beach/rock access closed for VERY good reason (wildlife & safety) Wear a good walking/hiking shoe cross (you will need them) Stay on the trails (Yes, I know already said this but I'm saying it again! Do *not* be "that" person & try to get "that " selfie or have to be "that" family needing to be rescued. You'll also keep from getting poison oak this way too! ) Staying on the trails ensures you're none of those. Pay attention to the small sign at the guard shack. If it says "poison oak" there's going to be A LOT of it both sides of trail! $10 parking fee