Point Lobos South Shore Trail

The Point Lobos South Trail is an out and back trail in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. The hike travels along the reserves southern shores highlighting its vibrant and wild coastline.

Point Lobos South Trail Hiking Guide

Of the many striking natural wonders that California has to offer, the majority of people probably associate them to the state’s popular national parks. Yes, beauty can obviously be found there but California has several state parks and natural reserves that are worthy in their own way. Often referred to as the “Crown Jewel” of California’s State Parks, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is one such area. Some of the many things to do here include:  photography, hiking, wildflower viewing,  scuba diving, and wildlife viewing.

The Point Lobos South Trail winds through many of the features along the southern tip of Point Lobos. Along the way there will be views of Sea Lion Point and Cyprus Cove on the north end to Hidden Beach along the south. Keep an eye out for the dozens of pelicans that make their home in the trees along Sea Lion Point at the tip of Point Lobos. Also spread along the trail are the Monterey Cyprus which are only found along the Central Coast.

This hike can be completed in one of two ways: from south to north or north to south. Both would be completed as an out and back. Unless of course you have someone who can pick you up somewhere along the way. For more details on the parking situation, see the directions tab below. Another option for those who are interested, is to add on the Bird Island trail on the south end of the trail. This will add on a 0.8 mile out and back. The two highlights to doing this are the Bird Island viewing and Gibson Beach. The island becomes a large seabird colony during the spring and the later is a small white sand beach.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve History

Long before any European settlers explored this area, the region was predominantly inhabited by the tribe of Ohlone Native Americans. This band of Native Americans seasonally lived throughout the area. If you’ve ever been here, you’ll completely understand why. The rocky shoreline is rich in sealife and could offer quite a bit in terms of food supply. It’s said that this group of people were the first to inhabit the area 2,500 to 3,000 years ago.

The first Europeans to the area were the Spanish in 1602. However, it wasn’t until about 170 years later that the first larger and more notable Spanish expeditions began arriving. The Spanish Colonial period lasted until 1822. During that time several Spanish missions were erected through the region. After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1822, the area became under Mexican control. The period was very short-lived as the land was annexed by the United States, partitioned, and sold off (1).

After the land was partitioned the area was primarily used for abalone harvesting  and served as a whaling station. However, people within the region started to recognize that Point Lobos had a certain ecological beauty and significance. One such person was Alexander M. Allan, a real estate developer. Allan and his wife set up a tollgate to the area and prohibited any camping (1). They acted as gatekeepers so that others could view the raw beauty of the land as well as the now recognized and unique, Monterey Cyprus.

In an effort to preserve the Monterey Cyprus, the Save the Redwoods League was actively pursuing to protect the tree. With the help of the League, the State of California purchased 348 acres of Point Lobos from the Allan  family with another 15 acres dedicated as a memorial to him and his wife. In 1933 the area became part of a State Natural Reserve. To date the area spans almost 400 acres of protected land. In 1960, 750 acres were added to create the first marine reserve in the United States and later became part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (1).

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Fun Facts

• During the late 1800’s, the area was used as a whaling station. Whalers would quarter on the shore and hunt whales off the coast. Their blubber was boiled on site for use as lamp fuel.
• Also popular during the 1800-early 1900’s was abalone harvesting. An abalone harvesting business was so successful it was responsible for 75% of the abalone production sold in California.
• There was a small coal mine south of Point Lobos. Ships used to dock along a rocky point where coal was loaded onto the vessels for transportation.
• Dozens of movies have used Point Lobos as part of filming their production. The last one being Turner and Hooch by Disney and starring Tom Hanks.
• Gray Whales can commonly be seen as they make their migration along the California Coast from December to May.

For more information, call (831) 624-4909 or visit the reserve’s website.

On A Personal Note:

To be honest, coming from San Diego, I wasn’t too familiar with the area but a road trip brought wife and I through the area. Needless to say we were more than impressed. As a photography lover, this place was full of opportunities to photograph. We visited the area in the fall but I could only imagine how vibrant the area looks in the spring with wildflowers. I highly recommend visiting this state park to see some of California’s raw coastline. One of my favorite areas along the trail was the cyprus grove on the north end of the trail.

Do you have any updates to the hiking trail or want to share your hike/pictures? Please leave a comment below.

Sources: 

1.  Sources: 1. N.a. “Point Lobos History.”  https://www.pointlobos.org/learn-more/point-lobos-history.2018. Accessed 15 March 2021.