Coal Chute Trail got its name from the large loading structure erected here over 100 years ago. It was used to load first coal (mined a few miles to the south) and then sand and gravel (collected down at the Pit) onto ships in Whalers Cove. You can see a photo of this loading apparatus on the wall of Whalers Cabin.
Today, the trail overlooks the cove sitting between Granite Point and the Pit. Sit on the bench at Coal Chute Point and view the intertidal rocks below. They are covered in California Mussels and barnacles. Look out to the west, past Big Dome and the North Shore Trail, to see the open ocean. You might catch a glimpse of whale spouts off in the distance.
Look up into the canopy of the Monterey Pines overhead. You might see (and hear!) Great Blue Herons raising their noisy, hungry chicks in nests high in the trees towering over the cove. You might catch a glimpse of an osprey hunting for fish, or perched on a branch to eat its latest catch.
In the spring, wildflowers surround the trail in an explosion of color.
This tiny trail is a feast for the senses. And it is one that many visitors pass by. So many trails, so many choices for exquisite experiences in Point Lobos!
