Is this Point Lobos State Reserve Hiking Trail Really a Crown Jewel?

Hike Distance: 4.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 219 feet

TrailsNH Hiking Difficulty Calculator: 43 – Easy

Click here to navigate to the TrailsNH website for a description of the hiking difficulty calculator

Lets Start Walking

Point Lobos State Reserve, situated on the California coastline just south of Carmel, is often called 'the crown jewel of the California state parks'. Visitors from around the world come to experience its stunning ocean views, distinctive geology, varied plant communities, and wildlife viewing opportunities. With excellent ADA accessibility and well-maintained paths, it offers everyone the chance to explore these lands. These factors alone make it a treasure and justify the high praise it receives online.

My goal in writing blogs isn't to generate traffic through controversial opinions, but we found our walk on the Point Lobos Loop Trail to be somewhat underwhelming. We did enjoy the walk and the scenery was beautiful, but I wouldn't consider it the ultimate or standout experience of coastal California.

Every hiker or explorer has their own preferences, and this walk just wasn't to my or Dave's liking. However, I'll still share some of our photos because it's such a beautiful area.

The crowds and cars driving through the reserve were more than we try to encounter on a hike or walk. I'll reiterate, I applaud the reserve for their 'access for all approach to park management'; however, in similar environments like Acadia National Park and Minute Man National Historical Park, I had less of a constant reminder of people being all around us.

While the scenery was impressive, we have visited other coastal regions in Maine, California, Oregon, and Washington that, in my opinion, provide equally or even more stunning views and landscapes. I accept blame for not sufficiently researching hiking options and opting for the loop trail under the assumption that it would allow us the full experience instead of picking shorter trails that might have better highlighted the best that Point Lobos has to offer.

My last point about the Loop Trail is more difficult to put into words but I felt like a mere observer on this walk. Let me clarify; I strongly advocate for the 'leave no trace' principle in all our hiking and exploring endeavors. It’s not that I wanted to walk off-trail or wander off beyond barriers, but I have a tactile nature and find pleasure in being near, or even interacting with, the environment I'm exploring. Despite the fact there are several open beaches, on this trail, I often felt I was always a ‘distance away’ from the amazing beauty of this State Reserve.

After completing half of the loop trail, we decided to end our adventure early and headed back to Monterey for a delicious seafood dinner. We then returned to our Airbnb in Watsonville to enjoy a breathtaking sunset.

Yes, we enjoyed our time exploring Point Lobos State Reserve but from our perspective and taking into consideration our hiking preferences, it is not the crown jewel of the California State Park system. However, when visiting the Monterey area, you’d be crazy to pass up the opportunity to explore this area and come to your own conclusion.

Give me a few more years to explore this beautiful state and I’ll post my opinion about the ‘real crown jewel’ of the park system. Remember folks, different strokes for different folk - just get out there to explore and make memories.