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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature: Point Lobos State Reserve


"The greatest meeting of land and water in the world." That was famed landscape artist Francis McComas's bold but justified claim for Point Lobos. All who come here agree that the beauty of this tree-clad headland is unequaled. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is located on the central coast of California in Monterey County. The entrance is three miles south of Carmel on Highway 1.

Point Lobos contains headlands, coves and rolling meadows. The offshore area forms one of the richest underwater habitats in the world popular with divers. Wildlife includes seals, sea lions, sea otters and migrating gray whales (from December to May). Thousands of seabirds also make the reserve their home. Hiking trails follow the shoreline and lead to hidden coves. The area used to be the home of a turn-of -the-century whaling and abalone industry. A small cabin built by Chinese fishermen from that era still remains at Whalers Cove and is now a cultural history museum.

Deriving its name from the offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos, Point of the Sea Wolves, where the sound of the sea lions carries inland, the reserve has often been called "the crown jewel of the State Park System." Point Lobos has offered many things to millions of people who have visited it over the years.
Point Lobos State Reserve in Carmel California Half of the reserve is all you see unless you're a diver and visit the underwater world just offshore. This is one of the richest marine habitats in California. Its animals and plants are fully protected by state law from any disturbance.

Divers explore a realm of beauty that until this century was inaccessible except to a handful of pioneers. In the subdued light of the 70 foot-high kelp forests, animals without backbones and plants without roots create a world of vibrant color. Lingcod, cabezone and rockfish swim in and out of view. The unexpected appearance of a seal, a sea otter, or whale quickens the heart.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is outstanding for sightseeing, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking, SCUBA diving, and jogging. In addition to the spectacular beauty, nearly every aspect of its resources is of scientific interest. There are rare plant communities, endangered archeological sites, unique geological formations, and incredibly rich flora and fauna of both land and sea.
One of the more interesting nesters at Point Lobos is the Black-crowned Night Heron. Nesting both on the ground or in a tree, this striking bird and its young can usually be seen on or near a nest at Guillemot Island or the island between Pelican Point and Bird Island during the spring and summer. The highly streaked plumage of the juvenile bird contrasts dramatically with the more beautiful plumage of the adult birds.

The Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, with its diverse vegetation of oaks and pines, coastal scrub and meadows, plus its rocky coast, pocket sand coves, offshore islands and ocean water, offers a very likely spot to attract the regular as well as wandering migrant. In May, a check of one of the sand beaches or shoreline rocks often catches migrating shorebirds as they pass through on their way north. In the summer and fall, a bit of scoping offshore should bring into view some of the hundreds of thousands of Sooty Shearwaters that pass through this area on their long journey from their nesting grounds in Australia around the Pacific Rim. With the arrival of the wintering birds, a check of the forest should bring the identifying calls of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Townsend's and Yellow-Rumped Warblers, while a glimpse offshore usually provides a look at at least one of the three wintering loon species.
Enjoy the beautiful California nature in Point Lobos State Reserve During the latter part of summer, visitors to  Point Lobos State Natural Reserve have seen humpbacks, blue whales, dolphins and porpoises searching for food around the rims of the Monterey and Carmel submarine canyons.

Humpback whales reach over 50 feet in length and are stockier than other whales seen here. They differ from other whales by having extremely long pectoral fins. The humpbacks are very dark, almost black on top, with a white underside, and have a small dorsal fin. They are frequently seen breaching and partially spinning as they fall back into the water. They come to our waters searching for anchovies, other small fish, and small shrimp-like animals called "Krill".

Blue whales are the largest of all whales, reaching lengths of 85 feet in the northern hemisphere and weighing well over 100 tons. They are very streamlined, bluish-gray in color, with a small dorsal fin set far back on its body. They frequent our area hunting for the Krill in, above and near the submarine canyons.
If you see white caps on a calm day, there is a good chance you are seeing Pacific white-sided dolphins or common dolphins. The Pacific white-sided dolphin is one of the most abundant species seen in our area. It is about 7 feet long and weigh about 340 pounds.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a good place to observe some of our native terrestrial mammals. At least 23 species inhabit the reserve, and several other species occasionally enter the reserve from surrounding areas. Unfortunately, the best time to observe many of these animals is late in the evening or very early in the morning, when the reserve is closed. Some species are active during the day, though, and if you're lucky enough to be at the reserve when it is foggy, many of the nocturnal species may become active well before nightfall. Watch for evidence that the animals are present in the Reserve. The dusky-footed woodrat builds a unique nest. Scat or droppings can be found almost everywhere in the Reserve. Look for tracks in the wet or muddy soil showing the travel routes of animals.
 
 
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