This is a must do when in Carmel. The trails are beautiful and serene. Take your camera along as Definitely stop here for a perfect Pacific Coast experience! You'll see sea lions in abundance We spent several hours hiking at the park. The docents there were very helpful in explaining about the animals, other ares of the park to see, and nearby attractions.
One of the best spots on the coast! There are several docents who volunteer to assist guests at Point Lobos State Reserve. We found them to be kind, knowledgeable, and attentive. The docents will give you on-the-spot information, or they will escort you on extended walks within Point Lobos. They can also direct you to the best places for photographs. This was truly one of my favorite stops on our California vacation. You should really make this a part of your trip if you are anywhere near Carmel.
Parking seems to fill up fast on the weekend we were there on a Saturday so people start parking along the highway. Fortunately, we arrived an hour or so before noon so we managed to get one of the last available spots by Allen Memorial Grove. I don't know if there is a fee for walk-ins there didn't appear to be , but there is a fee if you drive in.
However, the views are well worth the fee. You could spend an entire day here or just hike a portion of the park in an hour or two. We hiked from Cypress Cove down to China Cove and got some really great pictures. I would consider it a relatively easy hike and I'm not an avid hiker. You could make the hike slightly more challenging by going down to the water's edge at Sea Lion Point.
There are bathrooms at the park entrance and by Allen Memorial Grove. You can view the Pacific from the atop one of the cliffs or go down to the water's edge at Sea Lion Point.
