One of the most beautiful, biodiverse places on Earth
Discover the interconnectedness of all the animals, plants and geology in this incredible place.
Located on California’s Pacific Coast, just south of Carmel, Point Lobos is home to an awe-inspiring bounty of life. By land, sea, and air, many hundreds of species of plants, animals, marine life, and more thrive here. Point Lobos is a State Natural Reserve. Everything here is protected.
Explore this site for detailed information about the vibrant natural treasurers of Point Lobos. It’s like having your own personal docent to guide you through the Reserve. Have fun exploring!
Explore the Lush Habitats
Point Lobos is one of the greatest meetings of land and water in the world. It is home to several different habitats under the broad categories of Aquatic, Intertidal and Terrestrial. You can take a deeper look and explore the species through the lens of each different habitat.
Majestic Hiking Trails
There are 17 unique trails throughout the Reserve, one being the divers trail in the Point Lobos State Marine Reserve. Learn about what natural wonders you’re most likely to encounter on the myriad of diverse trails throughout the landscape.
An Abundance of Individual Species
Find a specific species, that resides at Point Lobos, on the extensive list on the species page. Each species page gives you an overview of facts about that particular species: its feeding ecology; related media; further reading; and where it’s most likely located in the reserve.
Check Out the Very Unusual Geology
Two very different kinds of bedrock compose the foundation of Point Lobos State Reserve. The older is granodiorite, a granite-like crystalline rock that underlies the entire Monterey Peninsula region. A younger sedimentary rock (the Carmelo Formation), consisting of solidified layers of sand, gravel and mud, sits on top of the granodiorite.
Learn about the Rich Human History
Many groups have called Point Lobos home for more than 10,000 years. The Reserve is renowned around the world for its natural beauty, but before it became a California State Park in 1933, humans visited or lived on what is now Point Lobos for many millennia. Archeologists have determined that indigenous peoples occupied Point Lobos going back some 12,000 years. Learn about its rich history.