1. Visitor Center and Overlook
Start with the exhibits on Cabrillo’s voyage and the Kumeyaay people who lived here long before. Then walk out to the statue and overlook for the classic view across San Diego Bay.
Destinations
Cabrillo National Monument: San Diego’s Point of Discovery
At the tip of the Point Loma peninsula, Cabrillo National Monument marks where Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo’s expedition came ashore in 1542, the first European expedition to reach what is now the West Coast of the United States. Today it pairs history with some of the best views in San Diego: the bay, the downtown skyline, Coronado, and on clear days, the mountains of Mexico.
A Perfect Half Day
Cabrillo is small enough to see in three to four hours. Here is an easy order to do it in.
2. Old Point Loma Lighthouse
First lit in 1855, the lighthouse sat so high that fog and low clouds often hid its beam. It was replaced in 1891 by a new light closer to the water. Inside, rooms are furnished as a keeper’s family would have lived.
3. Bayside Trail
A gentle trail that winds down the bay side of the point through coastal sage scrub, with remnants of military defenses along the way.
4. Tidepools
Drive down to the rocky shore on the Pacific side. Time your visit for a low tide to see anemones, sea stars, and octopus hiding in the pools.
Exploring the Tidepools
Cabrillo protects one of the best remaining rocky intertidal areas in Southern California. The lowest tides of the year often fall in the late fall and winter, so check the park’s tide chart before you go and arrive about an hour before low tide.
Ranger Tip
- Look closely, but leave everything where you found it. Collecting is not allowed.
- Wear shoes with good grip. The rocks are slippery and sharp.
- Never turn your back on the ocean. Waves can surge up without warning.
- Step on bare rock, not on living things.
Whale Watching
From about December through March, Pacific gray whales pass by Point Loma on their migration between Alaska and the lagoons of Baja California. Bring binoculars to the whale overlook near the lighthouse and look for spouts on the horizon, especially on calm mornings.
Know Before You Go
- The monument is generally open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tidepool area can close earlier, so check current hours.
- There is an entrance fee per vehicle or per person on foot or bike. America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
- The drive in passes through Naval Base Point Loma and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Please be respectful as you pass.
- Parking near the tidepools is limited on low-tide weekends. Arrive early.
