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

Point Lobos State Reserve, located on the coast of California just south of Carmel is is referred to as 'the crown jewel of the California state parks'. People come from all over to

enjoy the amazing ocean vistas, unique geology, diverse plant communities, and opportunities for wildlife viewing. Thanks to excellent ADA accessibility and well maintained paths, it provides an opportunity for everyone to explore these lands. For these reasons alone, it is a gem and and merits all the praise it gets online.

My intention in creating blogs is not to drum up traffic by expressing controversial opinions, but we were underwhelmed by our walk on the Point Lobos Loop Trail. Yes, we enjoyed the walk and the scenery was beautiful but I don't think this is the absolute best or crown jew of coastal California experiences. Every hiker or explorer has their own preferences and this walk just didn't do it for me or Dave. I'll still post some of our photos since it is 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 enjoying half of the loop trail, we cut our adventure short and returned to Monterey for a great seafood dinner and then back to our Airbnb in Watsonville for an incredible 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.

Walk Distance: 4.3 miles

Walk Duration: 2:.75 hours