Cabrillo National Monument will be closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday November 28. We will reopen on Friday, November 29 at 9am.

Cabrillo will be closed on Thanksgiving November 28

In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only tells the story of this 16th-century exploration but also houses a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Exploration.

Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle and all its passengers.

Entrance - Private Vehicle

Admits one single, private, non-commercial motorcycle and its passenger(s).

Entrance - Motorcycle

Admits one individual when entering by foot or bicycle. Groups of up to 4 people walking in or on bicycles are capped at $20 total.

Individuals 15 years old and younger are admitted free of charge.

Entrance - Per Person

Commercial Entrance - Sedan

Commercial Entrance - Van

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach

Organized Non-Commercial Groups include church groups, college/school groups, scouts, service organizations, military, etc.
Vehicles with a capacity of 16 or less are charged the $20.00 vehicle permit fee. Vehicles with 17 or more seats will instead be charged the $10 per person individual rate for any passengers that are not free. The total fee charged for an Organized Non-Commercial Group will not exceed $100 per vehicle.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups

Rocky Intertidal Zone

Sunset at Cabrillo

Dusk at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Spring flowers in front of Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

View from Cabrillo

Pelican Point

Cabrillo

The park is open 365 days a year including holidays from 9 am until 5 pm. 
The Bayside Trail and the Oceanside Trail close at 4pm. The tidepools and the Coastal Trail close at 4:30pm.

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Memorial Day

Cabriilo National Monument

Wildlife Watching

Explore the Tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument and observe all kinds of unique wildlife only found in Rocky Intertidal habitat!

Low tide at Cabrillo tidepools

During low tide events, these the tidepools of Cabrillo National Monument provide an excellent opportunity to explore Rocky Intertidal life. The two southernmost parking lots of the Tidepool area both provide access to the tidepools via the Coastal Trail.

The rocky intertidal area, also known as the tidepools, is a favorite spot at Cabrillo National Monument. Each year over 350,000 people visit the tidepools, one of the best protected rocky intertidal areas in California. The best time to visit the tidepools is during the fall and winter months, when we get our great low tides during park hours. During spring and summer, the tide is usually covering the tidepools when the park is open. Please read <a href="#PrepareForVisit">Prepare for Your Visit to the Tidepools</a> and <a href="#ProtectingTheTidepools">Protecting the Tidepools</a> before your visit so you will be aware of what to expect. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/tidepools.htm#CP_JUMP_6567159">Current Tide Chart and Tables</a> <h2>Is Summer the right time to hit up the tidepools?</h2> Well, yes and no. You can still visit our tidepool areas in the summertime, but you might not see too many tidepool creatures! Extreme low tides in the summertime happen in the middle of the night, making it impossible to see without any sunlight. Extreme low tides in the winter tend to happen in daylight hours! This means your best chance to see critters out and about in the tidepools is in the wintertime. While we still have low tides during the summertime, they are generally still too high for us to be able to see much else besides water. At Cabrillo, a 0.7 tide or lower will give you the best ability to explore the actual tidepools. Don't fret! You can still explore the coastal area along the tidepools in the summer and enjoy the beautiful ocean views and blooming flowers along the Coastal Trail. Just save the tidepool critter searches for the winter.Keep in mind that parking can fill up on the weekends at the tidepools. If parking fills up, Park Rangers will start to manage the road for ease of traffic. Simply come back towards the middle or end of your visit to Cabrillo National Monument to see if there is parking available. Another option: come early to avoid any crowds! The park opens at 9 am every day. <h2>When is the Best Time to Visit the Tidepools?</h2> Late fall and winter are the optimum times for a visit to the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument: unlike the summer months, when low tides occur in the middle of the night, the good low tides - including the outstanding negative low tides - in fall and winter occur during daylight hours when the park is open. A general rule of thumb is that the tidepools can be visited approximately two hours before low tide time (when the tide is receding) and two hours after (when the tide is coming back in). Please keep in mind that the tidepool area closes at 4:30 p.m. <h2>Prepare for Your Visit to the Tidepools</h2> Please be aware that cell phone service is not available at the tidepools. If you use a driver for hire for transportation, make arrangements to pick you up at a certain time and location. Otherwise you will not be able to reach anyone, and you may have to hike up the Oceanside Trail to the top of the park.   <ul> <li>The road to the tidepools may be closed if the area hits capacity. The road to the tidepool area will be closed (usually around 30 minutes) until sufficient capacity in the parking areas becomes available. This temporary closure of the road allows for traffic to flow freely and allows a more pleasant experience for the visitor by reducing the number of people and reducing the damage to the fragile ecosystem. Please plan your trips to allow for this delay, and thank you for your patience.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>A vehicle is the best way to get to the lower area of the park where the tidepools are located; once parked, it's a short walk and scramble down into the tidepools. We discourage visitors from walking down Cabrillo Road for safety reasons. The road is narrow without shoulders and drivers may not see you. People may also use the Oceanside Trail to access the Coastal area.</li> <li>Please plan for appropriate clothing and footwear. Shoes with good gripping soles are best, as rocky areas become slippery with water and algae. Closed toe shoes are recommended. Sandals or flip flops are strongly discouraged due to their inability to provide a good grip on the slippery rocks.</li> <li>Please keep small children close - a child's enthusiasm and excitement over being in this natural wonderland can quickly translate into a slip or tumble.</li> </ul> Tidepool Permit May Be Required in order to protect this distinct and delicate ecosystem, Tidepool Permits are required for groups of ten or more to visit the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument during low tides of 0.7' and lower. If your group numbers less than ten, no permit is required. <h3><a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/planyourvisit/tidepool-permits.htm">Tidepool Permits</a></h3> <h2>Protecting the Tidepools</h2> To ensure that current and future visitors experience and enjoy the healthy and diverse tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument, guidelines are needed to minimize the human impacts on organisms. To protect tidepool inhabitants, the following guidelines have been prepared:Collection of any natural item, including living and dead organisms, shells or rocks, is strictly prohibited in any areas within or under the administration of Cabrillo National Monument. Similarly, approaching or engaging with any marine mammal is prohibited by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.Many tidepool animals can be safely touched as long as it is done with great care and respect. A general guideline is to only touch animals as gently as you would touch your own eyeball. For example, anemones should not be poked and sea hares should not be squeezed.No organism attached to a surface should be removed by force, however slight. Many animals, such as limpets, chitons, barnacles, mussels, seastars, and urchins are attached directly to rocks (permanently or temporarily) and using force to remove them would be harmful to them. Animals that are actively swimming, moving away from people, hiding under rocks, or that resist being handled, should not be pursued or picked up. Rock's should not be moved and should be left in their original location and orientation. Organisms living under the rocks have adapted to a certain environment, and rock-turning can harm them. Nothing, especially rocks, should be thrown in any area of the park. Rocks can do great damage when they land in the water, and continue to do damage as they are tossed by wave action.The following should not be introduced into the tidepool area: Containers (such as buckets or cups); nets, scraping, probing, or prying instruments (such as spatulas, trowels, knives, screwdrivers or sticks).With your help, the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument will remain a healthy environment for marine life, and will continue to be a prime example of this precious ecosystem for generations to come. <h2>What is a Tidepool?</h2> Tidepools are depressions in rocks that are formed over millions of years through a combination of biological, physical, and chemical processes. Tidepools need a rocky coastline to form. As the tide goes from high to low, pools of water are left behind among the rocks, forming tidepools. As the water moves away from the shoreline during a low tide, water and critters are trapped in these tidepools. <h2>Zonation</h2> The tidepool area at Cabrillo is divided into several zones, where different types of animals and plants struggle to live. Depending on the height of the tide, some of these zones may not be visible. These zones are called the High, Middle, and Low zones. <h3>High Zone</h3> The high or splash zone is located at the highest part of the tidepools. Here some animals can live with just the occasional splash from the high tides. Some of the animals you can find in the high zone are barnacles, limpets, chitons, crabs and mussels.Take a closer look as you notice things on the rocks. Some of these creatures look dead or like fossils but they are all alive, trying to survive until the tide rolls back in. Please do not try to remove anything from the rocks as this will disturb or possibly kill the animals. <h3>Middle Zone</h3> The middle zone is the zone between the high and low zones. There is an opportunity to see more critters in this zone compared to the high zone, due to the varying tides.Some of the animals found here are anemones, keyhole limpets, Black tegula snails, Kellet’s worms. In this zone you can find surf grass, the only true plant in the Sandcastle, as well as some algae such as sponge weed, kelps and red algae. <h3>Low Zone</h3> The lower zone is only available during the lowest of tides. Here you have the chance to find octopus, sea stars, nudibranchs, sea hares, spiny lobsters, urchins and various types of fish. <h2>Other Tidepool Features and Resources</h2> The Tidepool are more than just the critters you can find in the water and between rocks. You can also learn about the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/geology.htm">geology</a> that helped create the tidepools area that we see today. You can also learn about types of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/seaweeds.htm">seaweeds</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/marine-mammals.htm">mammals</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/birds.htm">birds</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/terrestrial-plants.htm">plants</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/reptiles-and-amphibians.htm">reptiles</a> and the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/kelp-forest.htm">kelp forests</a> that you might see along the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/coastal-trail.htm">Coastal trail</a>.We encourage you to read about what to expect as well as the rules for exploring the intertidal before you visit. You can also access our <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/upload/Life-in-the-Intertidal-Accessible-Guide.pdf">Life in the tidepools Zone</a> and the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/intertidal-field-guide.htm">Intertidal Field Guide</a>. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/a-virtual-visit-to-the-tidepools.htm">Take a walk with us on a virtual visit to the Intertidal.</a> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/tidepools.htm">Learn about visiting the tidepools, when to find low tides, how to plan your visit, and more!</a> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/intertidal-field-guide.htm">Tidepools Field Guide - Intertidal National Monument</a>

Service animals are allowed. Pets may only be walked on a 6-foot or shorter leash on the nearby Costal Trail, but not in the tidepools themselves.

Large groups must request a reservation for a visit to the tidepools when tides are lower than 0.7 feet above sea level.

Low tides that occur during park hours are primarily during the fall, winter and spring months. 

Learn about visiting the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument!

The tidepool area opens every day at 9 A.M. Most of the year the tidepools close at 4:30 P.M. If the park is operating during during extended summer hours, the tidepools close 30 minutes before sunset or at 7:30 P.M., whichever is earlier.

Visit the Cabrillo Tidepools

Animals

Coasts, Islands and Atolls

Geology

Oceans

Scenic Views

Unique Species

Hiking

The trailhead starts at the top of the Whale Watch & Kelp Forest Overlook trail, south of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. The trail leads down the bluffs and connects to the Coastal Trail and parking lot adjacent to the tide pools area. In addition to overlooking the ocean, this trail will pass by historic coastal defense structures, and give visitors the opportunity to hike in extremely rare undeveloped coastal scrub environments that are home to diverse plant and animal life.

A windy dirt path on a hillside overlooking the ocean.

Oceanside Trail

The trailhead starts at the top of the Whale Watch & Kelp Forest Overlook trail, south of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. The trail leads down the bluffs and connects to the Coastal Trail and parking lot adjacent to the tide pools area.

Length: 1 mi (.6 km) round-trip Time: 1 hour Difficulty: Easy  Elevation Change: 340 feet Location: Southwest of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse grounds. Parking: Main Parking Lot by Visitor Center. Closest Restroom: Old Point Loma Lighthouse Grounds, Tidepools by Lot 1. The Oceanside Trail significantly increases recreational opportunities by providing an entirely new trail that increases the park’s trail network by over 20% while also offering a car-free mode of access to the tidepool area. Visitors can now hike with an ocean view and walk to the tidepool area without needing to walk the narrow road shoulder. The trailhead starts at the top of the Whale Watch & Kelp Forest Overlook trail, south of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. The trail leads down the bluffs and connects to the Coastal Trail and parking lot adjacent to the tide pools area. In addition to overlooking the ocean, this trail will pass by historic coastal defense structures, and give visitors the opportunity to hike in extremely rare undeveloped coastal scrub environments that are home to diverse plant and animal life.

The Oceanside Trail significantly increases recreational opportunities by providing an entirely new trail that increases the park’s trail network by over 20% while also offering a car-free mode of access to the tidepool area.

The Oceanside Trail is open everyday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Birds

Maritime

Coastal Defenses

Maritime - Military

Military

US Army

Trails

Junior Ranger Program

No additional fee. Entrance fees for the park may apply.

Junior Ranger logo with ranger flat hat, words read Explore, Learn, Protect

Jr. Ranger Logo

<h3 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{56d17a2e-0156-493c-bd16-8354d7300a56}{89}" paraid="103378491" xml:lang="EN-US">Junior Ranger Program</h3> Cabrillo National Monument is a great place for kids and learners of all ages! The Junior Ranger Program is a free, fun way to find out more about the park and earn a badge. Junior Ranger materials are available in the park from 10:00am - 4:00pm. The Cabrillo Junior Ranger Program must be completed on site. <ul role="list"> <li lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d7152a88-b062-4a45-a8b7-ea9f51dc8791}{167}" paraid="1440644808" xml:lang="EN-US">Junior ranger materials can be requested from a park ranger or volunteer in the Visitor Center</li> <li lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d7152a88-b062-4a45-a8b7-ea9f51dc8791}{167}" paraid="1440644808" xml:lang="EN-US">If the welcome desk is not staffed when you arrive between 10:00am - 4:00pm, please call 619-523-4285 to request Junior Ranger materials.</li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="5" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="2" role="listitem"> The park ranger or volunteer will explain the program, hand out the junior ranger activity papers and badges, and lead the junior ranger oath. Parents and guardians will be deputized with the authority to give the badge to their kids upon completion of the required junior ranger activities. </li> </ul>

During COVID-19, Junior Ranger materials are available by request in the park. The Cabrillo Junior Ranger Program must be completed on site. <ul role="list"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="2" role="listitem"> Please call 619-523-4285 to request Junior Ranger materials when you arrive near the Visitor Center. </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="2" role="listitem"> If you would like to request materials in advance, please email cabr_info@nps.gov with a specific date and time. Please also call 619-523-4285 when you arrive near the Visitor Center. </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="2" role="listitem"> A park ranger will meet you at a socially-distanced welcome desk in the breezeway near the Visitor Center and the auditorium. </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="5" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="2" role="listitem"> The park ranger will explain the program, hand out the junior ranger activity papers and badges, and lead the junior ranger oath. Parents and guardians will be deputized with the authority to give the badge to their kids upon completion of the required junior ranger activities. </li> </ul>

How to earn your Cabrillo National Monument Junior Ranger badge

Earn Your Cabrillo Junior Ranger Badge

Monuments and Memorials

River and Riparian

A dirt path snakes along a hillside in front of blue water.

View of the Bayside Trail

Length: 2.5 mi (4 km) round-trip Time: 1 - 2 hours Difficulty: Easy (Western side is a Class 5 trail, Eastern side is a Class 3 trail) Elevation Change: 340 feet Location: Northeast of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse grounds. Parking: Main Parking Lot by Visitor Center. Closest Restroom: Old Point Loma Lighthouse Grounds. Route: This trail follows an old military road that winds down from the top of the park toward San Diego Bay. After reaching the bottom, you return to the trailhead by retracing your steps back up the trail. The trail begins on as an asphalt road and turns off the road onto a dirt and gravel path part way down. There is no access to the beach at any point on the trail   Safety: There are no restrooms or water sources along this trail. Hikers should plan to bring water and sun protection, especially during the warm summer months. As in any natural area, there are environmental hazards to watch out for, including toxic plants, animals (such as rattlesnakes), and fragile cliff faces. <h2>Bayside Beauty</h2> The Bayside Trail has great views of the ocean, native wildlife, and the city of San Diego. On a clear day you can see the mountains of Mexico to the south, the Laguna mountains to the east behind the San Diego skyline, Naval Air Station North Island, and the Coronado Bridge. Benches and stopping points provide a chance to catch your breath and take in some of the most beautiful views in San Diego county. Exhibits along the trail explore topics such as native vegetation, animal life, the local climate, World War II history, etc. Along the trail you will also encounter a historic searchlight shelter and power plant used during World War I and World War II. Benches along the trail allow you to rest, reflect, and enjoy the view.  The downhill portion of the trail ends at an overlook of Ballast Point, where Cabrillo’s ships anchored after three months at sea in 1542. Today, nuclear-powered submarines are docked there, in the same place! Cabrillo’s statue looms on the bluff about 300 feet above this point. <h3>Climate, Plants, and Animals</h3> The natural environment along the trail is much the same as when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo came ashore here in 1542. The trail is one of very few places in the world where Coastal Sage Scrub can live. Coastal sage habitat includes plants such as the fragrant black age and sagebrush and is one of the most threatened habitat types in the world. The trail is also home to the Southern Maritime Chaparral, another vulnerable and precious habitat, including cliff spurge, dudleya and barrel cactus. Point Loma gets approximately 10 inches of rain a year, so wildlife has adaptated to survive the relatively dry climate. Hundreds of different native plants and animals call the Coastal Sage Scrub their home. Many local birds, such as the California Quail, American Kestrel, and Morning Dove might be seen along the trail. The Point Loma peninsula is an important stopover for many birds that use the Pacific Flyway. In the spring, migratory birds such as hummingbirds, warblers, wrentits, and bushtits make their appearance. Cottontail rabbits, ground squirrels, lizards, snakes, and foxes might be seen along the trail. During the summer, please keep an eye out for rattlesnakes. <h4>Plants</h4> Lichens  Mosses  Snake Cholla  Prickly Pear  Buckwheat  Four O’Clock  Tree Tobacco  Indian Paintbrush  Black Sage  Toyon  Deerweed  Bushy Yate (Eucalyptus)  Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus)  Laurel Sumac  Lemonade Berry  Wild Cucumber  California Sage  Chaparral Broom  Black-eyed Susan  Golden Yarrow  Mohave Yucca  Coast Ceanothus  <h4>Birds and Animals</h4> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px;" summary="List of common plants and animals found on the Bayside Trail."> <caption> California Striped Racer  Southern Pacific Rattlesnake  San Diego Gopher Snake  Great Basin Fence Lizard  Calif. Side-blotched Lizard  San Diego Alligtor Lizard  Great Blue Heron  Brown Pelican  Brush Rabbit  Scrub Jay  Rufus-sided Towhee  Snowy Egret  Forster’s Tern  Wrentit  Calif. Ground Squirrel  Western Gull  Anna’s hummingbird  Gray Fox </caption> </table> <h3>Military History</h3> Wayside signs along the Bayside trail highlight the importance of Point Loma and its strategic location in our military history. In 1852, the U.S. Government designated the area as a military reserve. The Army housed a portion of its intricate coastal defense system on Point Loma. During World Wars I and II cannons, mortars, and observation bunkers were constructed in a protective ring around the harbor. You’ll see a 1919 searchlight power station that was part of the system and housed huge searchlights that were used to light up the harbor entrance. The searchlight itself was housed a short way down the trail. When it was needed the soldiers wheeled it out on steel tracks, most of which have been removed. From there it could sweep the harbor entrance and illuminate approaching ships and aircraft. From the tip of Zuniga Jetty, which you can see stretching from North Island southward toward the ocean, a submarine net anchored to Point Loma could be raised to prevent the entry of enemy underwater craft. Today you can also see modern day military defense installations. At the end of the trail is a view of Ballast Point, home to nuclear-powered submarines. Across the bay you can see Naval Air Station North Island.

Learn about what you can see and do while hiking the Bayside Trail at Cabrillo National Monument.

Bayside Trail

Artillery

US Marines

US Navy

A long downward set of steps along a dirt path going towards the ocean.

Along the Coastal Trail

After heading downhill from the hilltop area of Cabrillo National Monument, the first access point that you will find for the Coastal Trail is Tidepool Parking Lot #1. This is the southernmost parking lot for the tidepool area and provides access to the southern trailhead. Alternatively, you may begin the hike from the northern trailhead located at Tidepool Parking Lot #2, approximately 1/2 mile (0.8 km) further north along Cabrillo Road.

Length: 1 mi (1.6 km) round-trip Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour Difficulty: Easy (Trail is listed as a Class 5 trail at both ends with a Class 3 trail in the middle sections.) Elevation Change: 50 ft. (100 ft. if traveling to tidepools from Lot #2) Location: Cabrillo Road, bluffs overlooking the Tidepools Parking: Tidepool Lot #1 or Tidepool Lot #2 Closest Restroom: Pit Toilet at Tidepool Lot #1 Route: This dirt trail passes along the bluffs overlooking the Cabrillo Tidepools. This trail can be started from the entrances at Tidepool Lot #1 or #2. It is a 1/2 mile (0.8 km) trip from one lot to the other. Portions of the trail contain steps and there are a few steep slopes. A spur from this trail provides access to the tidepools during low tide events. To return to the trailhead, retrace your steps back the trail entrance you started from. Directions: Once you are in the park, take the turnoff for Cabrillo Rd. and travel down the hill 1 mile (1.6 km) to reach Tidepool Lot #1. Additional parking is available 1/2 mile (0.8 km) further down the road at Tidepool Lot #2.   Safety: There are no water sources along this trail. Hikers should plan to bring water and sun protection, especially during the warm summer months. Beware of slippery terrain and waves when on the tidepool spur trail. As in any natural area, there are environmental hazards to watch out for, including toxic plants, animals (such as rattlesnakes), and fragile cliff faces. <h2>Coasting Along Cabrillo</h2> The Coastal Trail travels along the bluffs on the western side of Cabrillo, just above the tidepools. The path provides an amazing opportunity to take in views of the ocean, delicate bluffs, and the tidepools below (when exposed). The trail near Lot #1 branches in two directions. One portion heads down towards the tidepools while the main trail passes over a small hill and continues along the bluffs towards Lot #2. A spur trail just south of Lot #2 leads to a bluff with additional coastal views. While much of the trail crosses barren badlands, there are ample opportunities to explore the area’s native plant life as well. At any point, you can look upslope to the east and see native Mediterranean Coastal Sage Scrub and Maritime Chaparral plants. This native vegetation was once abundant in southern California but development has left very little acreage remaining. You can also see a strand of rare Shaw’s Agave just south of Lot #2. You may see rangers and volunteers pulling invasive weeds in this area and working in other parts of the park. This work is invaluable in helping preserve the rare ecosystems found withing the park. For example, one recent project led to the resurgence of native sea dahlia! There is an also opportunity to examine some World War II history during this hike. Near the top of the stairs towards Lot #2, you will come across Searchlight Shelter, No. 15, an underground structure from World War II. What you see from the trail is the sliding roof. Make sure you stay off the roof as it is very unstable! Regardless of which parking lot you use to start the hike, you return the way you came to finish it.

Please follow our pet rules to help protect your National Park and keep your pet safe! <ul> <li paraeid="{e9818ba2-98e6-44ae-8d11-a702069edc16}{214}" paraid="282404666">Pets are only allowed on the Coast Trail between Tidepool Lot #1 and #2. They must be transported to the trailhead by vehicle.</li> <li paraeid="{e9818ba2-98e6-44ae-8d11-a702069edc16}{247}" paraid="1548655554">Keep your pet on a 6-feet leash (or shorter), on the trail, and out of the actual tidepools.</li> <li paraeid="{c30fe8c5-9494-4026-82f9-bdf91183fd32}{15}" paraid="1470953760">Clean up after your pet! Remove any pet waste and properly dispose of it outside of the park. </li> </ul> All pets are prohibited in all other areas of the park. This includes emotional support, comfort, and therapy animals. Service animals specifically trained to perform a task are allowed in all areas. You may be asked what physical tasks the animal performs.

You can hike the Coast Trail year-round! If you are planning to hike the trail to visit the tidepools, please be aware that tidepool access varies with the tides. Best low tide viewing is when sea level drops below 0.7 feet (0.2 m) above sea level. The trail and tidepools are inacessible outside park hours of operation. Please make sure you plan tidepool visits during low tides that occur during normal hours. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/nature/tidepools.htm">Learn more about visiting the tidepools found in Cabrillo's Rocky Intertidal Zone</a>.

Learn about hiking the Coastal Trail at Cabrillo National Monument!

The Coast Trail and tidepool area of Cabrillo National Monument closes daily at 4:30 PM. The road accessing the Coast Trail and tidepools may be closed intermitently on busy days due to congestion, and may be closed for the day earlier than 4:30 PM at certain times.

Coastal Trail

A crowd of people gather under a white, cloth covering. They look over a fence towards blue water.

Whale Watching at Cabrillo

<h2 aria-level="1" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f578e1e8-e649-4d00-9499-d2ea4da7b0c4}{251}" paraid="1991214173" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">The Longest Journey </h2> Each winter, the Pacific gray whales pass by the western overlooks of Cabrillo National Monument. After spending the summer feeding in the food-rich waters of the Arctic, the whales swim south along the coast to the bays of Baja California, where they mate and nurse their young. Along the way, they pass Point Loma and Cabrillo National Monument, where you can witness their annual winter journey.   <h3 aria-level="3" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{47930279-1898-436a-9047-4102e8d14308}{6}" paraid="1235730794" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">When To See Whales </h3> Mid-January is the peak time for migration, but whales are visible from mid-to-late December through March. The heights around the park's Kelp Forest Overlook and Old Point Loma Lighthouse offer the best viewing. Bring binoculars if you have them: binoculars make viewing much easier and more enjoyable. A limited number of binoculars are available with a picture ID at the Visitor Center during whale season; ask for them at the information desk.  As the whales swim 24 hours a day, it’s possible to see them at any time during daylight hours. Park staff will gladly help you spot a whale. Check at the Visitor Center for information about ranger talks and whale watching.  <h3 aria-level="3" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{47930279-1898-436a-9047-4102e8d14308}{12}" paraid="1356816477" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">Where to Look </h3> Look west from the park overlooks, toward the ocean. The whales are migrating from the Arctic to the warm bays of Baja California and mainland Mexico, so they will be moving from the north (right), to the south (left) as you look from the park. Expect them to be moving at a steady speed of four or five knots, or about five miles per hour (8 kph). Although some swim close to shore, most whales swim in an area that extends from the kelp beds (about three quarters of a mile out, or 1.2 km) to the horizon. Later, in the spring, gray whales will migrate north again, but they are generally too far out in the ocean to see from the park, even with binoculars. <h3 aria-level="3" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{47930279-1898-436a-9047-4102e8d14308}{16}" paraid="2099296091" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">What to Look For</h3> <ul> <li aria-level="4" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{47930279-1898-436a-9047-4102e8d14308}{18}" paraid="1462039158" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">The Blow or Spout: When warm, moist air exhaled from the whales’ lungs meets cool air at the ocean surface, it creates a bushy column we call a blow, or spout. A gray whale's blow is up to 15 feet high (4.6 m), and each blow is visible for about five seconds. Anticipate that the whale will dive for three to six minutes, then surface for three to five blows in a row, 30 to 50 seconds apart, before diving deep for three to six minutes again.  </li> <li aria-level="4" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{47930279-1898-436a-9047-4102e8d14308}{22}" paraid="297843821" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">The Fluke (Tail): Before making a long, deep dive, a gray whale often displays its 12-foot (3.7 m) wide fan-shaped flukes, or tail. The weight of the tail above the whale's body helps the whale to dive deep. The flukes have no bones and connect to the body and tail muscles by banks of tendons. The gray whale normally swims about five miles per hour (8 kph), about the speed of a child on a bicycle.  </li> <li aria-level="4" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{47930279-1898-436a-9047-4102e8d14308}{26}" paraid="1038559971" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">The Knuckled Back and Footprint: If the lighting is right, and if the whale is close enough, it is possible to see the back of a gray whale during and after the blow. It is shiny and black or gray, with a knuckled ridge along the spine. After the whale submerges you may note an elongated, smooth oval of calm water, known as a footprint, where the whale has been.  </li> <li aria-level="4" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{47930279-1898-436a-9047-4102e8d14308}{30}" paraid="563736797" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">Breach and Splash:  Gray whales occasionally hurl themselves out of the water and plunge back in with a tremendous splash. This is called breaching. Scientists do not know why gray whales do this, but it is a very exciting sight to see. Sometimes other whales in the area will copy this behavior, so keep your eyes open. </li> <li aria-level="4" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{47930279-1898-436a-9047-4102e8d14308}{34}" paraid="155557816" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">Southward Travel: Once you have spotted a whale, remember that they are migrating south. This is to your left as you look west out over the ocean, from Cabrillo National Monument. Once you have spotted a whale, you can expect that it will surface again to the south. After watching an individual gray whale for a while, you will be able to anticipate its unique rhythm of breaths and dives, and where it will surface next. </li> </ul> <h3 aria-level="3" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f578e1e8-e649-4d00-9499-d2ea4da7b0c4}{141}" paraid="1346312791" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">A Gray Whale’s Year </h3> When gray whales appear off our coast in December, they are nearing the end of a long journey from Arctic waters to the lagoons of Baja California. It’s one leg of a round-trip migration of nearly 12, 000 miles (19,000 km) — the longest of any mammal: <ul> <li lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f578e1e8-e649-4d00-9499-d2ea4da7b0c4}{145}" paraid="827015751" xml:lang="EN-US">Summer: Gray whales summer in the waters off Alaska and Siberia. The Arctic seas produce tons of amphipods that are the staple of a gray whale’s diet. Feasting on this bounty, the whales build up a layer of blubber that serves as insulation and as a food reserve. In late September, grays begin the southern migration. Except for an occasional meal along the way, they won’t eat again until they return the following summer. </li> <li lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f578e1e8-e649-4d00-9499-d2ea4da7b0c4}{147}" paraid="798535938" xml:lang="EN-US">Fall: Migrating whales arrive along the Oregon and northern California coasts in late November and early December. Most pass San Diego in late December, January and February. </li> <li lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f578e1e8-e649-4d00-9499-d2ea4da7b0c4}{149}" paraid="1824226215" xml:lang="EN-US">Winter: Grays mate and give birth in the warm, shallow lagoons of Baja California from January through March. A cow mates one year, then returns to give birth the next. </li> <li lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f578e1e8-e649-4d00-9499-d2ea4da7b0c4}{151}" paraid="1088595398" xml:lang="EN-US">Spring: In late February, some grays begin swimming north. Cows with calves are the last to leave the lagoons, remaining until March or April. </li> </ul> <h3 aria-level="3" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{11a668c0-f17e-449f-83fd-c5c0f13f9b9b}{204}" paraid="947073743" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">Spouting-off Whale Facts </h3> <ul> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="10" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Adult Pacific gray whales are 30 to 50 feet long (9 – 15 m) and weigh from 20 to 40 tons (18,000 - 36,000 kg).   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="11" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Baby gray whales average 15 feet (4.6 m) in length and weigh about a ton (900 kg).   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="12" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> A mother gray whale's milk is more than 50% fat.   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="13" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Gray whales live 20 to 40 years on average, and some live 60 years. They reach sexual maturity at eight years.   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="14" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Gray whales make a series of grunts, clicks and low rumbles to navigate and communicate among themselves. They don’t ‘sing’ elaborate songs like humpback whales.   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="15" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Instead of teeth, gray whales have long sheets of baleen (made of the same material as your fingernails) hanging from the roofs of their mouths. They use these comb-like sheets to filter food from the water.   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="16" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Gray whales eat tiny animals called amphipods. Millions of amphipods live in the muddy Arctic seafloor. Lying on its side, a gray whale slurps up mouthfuls of mud and water, then filters out the amphipods through its baleen.   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="17" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> A gray whale’s skin is dark gray. But it is mottled with scars and patches of light-colored barnacles growing on its back. Each whale has its own distinctive pattern of barnacles and scars, and scientists use these patterns to identify individual whales.   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="18" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Gray whales have six to 12 knobs, or bumps, along the tops of their tail ridges instead of a fin like some other whales.   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="19" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Killer whales, large sharks and people are the gray whales only known predators.   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="20" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Gray whales were nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century.   </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="21" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem"> Gray whales have been protected from exploitation by the International Whaling Commission since 1946. As a result, current populations of certain species are considered close to their pre-exploitation numbers.   </li> </ul> <h3 aria-level="3" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{3aabadc7-5200-4690-8fe1-cb0df6cb4e6f}{157}" paraid="602903268" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">Special Events </h3> The Cabrillo National Monument Foundation hosts a Whale Watch Weekend and Intertidal Festival every year during late January or early February. The festival includes lectures, exhibits, presentations, demonstrations, kids’ activities, films and more. Rangers and VIPs are on hand to assist visitors in spotting whales (and giving out stickers), and doing walks and talks in the tidepools. Check the event calendar for dates and times, and sign up to volunteer!

Learn about Whale Watching at Cabrillo National Monument!

The grounds of Cabrillo National Monument are open 9AM - 5PM.

Alert: Cabrillo will be closed on Thanksgiving November 28

Cabrillo

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Visit the Cabrillo Tidepools

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Oceanside Trail

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Earn Your Cabrillo Junior Ranger Badge

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Whale Watching at Cabrillo

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