The conference I was attending had a golf outing planned for the afternoon, and I opted to head out for some alone time at the beautiful and quiet Point Lobos state park. The park is located only a few miles south of Carmel, but spend any time on the miles of trails and you will feel a million miles from the modern world.
I decided to pay the small entry fee to park inside the reserve, but the number of cars parked along the highway indicate that many people take advantage of the park's beauty for free. Being a visitor to the area, I didn't mind paying and like to support places of beauty, although, if I lived in the area I am sure I would spend a great deal of time here and would probably opt to park outside as well.
I parked at Whalers Cove and watched as a group of divers entered the water. Having the afternoon to myself, I decided to set out for a long hike and see as much of the area on foot as I could. I followed the North Shore Trail along dramatic coves with views across the bay and then connected with Sea Lion Point Trail. I could hear the sea lions long before I could see them and decided to sit and watch for a while in the aptly-named Sea Lion Cove. The park was relatively quiet since I was there on a week day, but the call of the sea lions attracted a fair number of people from around the park so I decided to look for a little more solitude.
I headed back to the north along Cypress Grove Trail with its groves of orange algae-covered cypress trees. A family of quail hunted along a fallen tree to the side of the trail, and lizards darted across my path. I could still hear the sea lions barking in the distance and watched as hordes of gulls and black cormorants circled an off-shore rock cluster. The sites and sounds of nature were awe-inspiring and I had the trail to myself as I continued on to Whalers Knoll Trail. Only occasionally did I pass someone else along the way, and the relaxed smile on their faces must have mirrored my own.
Eventually, I found myself at the historic Whalers Cabin, built by Chinese fishermen in the 1850's. It is now an interesting cultural museum with on-site staff and well worth spending a few minutes in.
For the better part of the afternoon, I had explored much of the north end of the park, but over half of the park remains for my next visit. Point Lobos is a national treasure and well worth a visit--but give yourself time to really absorb the remarkable quiet and panoramic views of this scenic paradise.