Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Protected coastal reserve in Monterey County, US.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve covers 220 hectares of land and 314 hectares of marine area south of Monterey, California. A rocky outcrop with a triangular peak rises above slopes of low shrubs with yellow, orange, and red flowers. The reserve includes coastal trails, beaches, and the historic Whalers Cabin, now a museum.
The Ohlone lived near here for over 2,500 years in a village called Ichxenta, harvesting shellfish from the waters. In the 1800s Chinese fishermen settled at Point Lobos and built the Whalers Cabin, later used by Japanese and Portuguese fishermen; it now houses a small museum.
The old whalers' cabin from the 1850s was built by Chinese fishermen using materials from their surroundings. It shows how early residents adapted to coastal life and used what nature provided.
Visitors can access the reserve during daylight hours, though parking is limited to a set number of vehicles. Arriving early helps ensure you can enter, particularly on warm weekends when the place fills up quickly.
Point Lobos is one of only two places where Monterey cypress grows in the wild. About half of the reserve lies underwater, and its two marine protected areas were designated in 1973 and added to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in 1992.
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