Cabrillo National Monument
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courtesy of the National Park Service |
Contact Information:
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive,
San Diego, CA 92106
619-557-5450
http://www.nps.gov/cabr/
Size: 160 acres
Location: Within the city of San Diego at the end of Point Loma. To get there, follow CA 209 south, from I-5 or I-8.
Description: Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Portuguese explorer who claimed the West Coast of the United States for Spain in 1542, is memorialized here. At the highest point of the park stands the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which has been a San Diego icon since 1854 and has been restored to its most active period -- the 1880s. Gray whales migrate offshore during the winter. Tidepools found on the west side of the park are excellent for studying southern California coastal ecology.
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courtesy of the National Park Service |
A self-guided two-mile walk through a coastal sage scrub forest begins near the lighthouse. This trail is particularly pleasant during the spring wild-flower bloom and offers views of the harbor and city of San Diego. A little south of the lighthouse is the Whale Overlook. This vantage point offers good views of the Pacific Ocean and the New Point Loma Lighthouse. In January and February whales are often seen from here. On the west side of the park, accessible by car only, is a beautiful coastal area. Birding is popular year round, and during extreme low tides visitors enjoying exploring the intertidal zone. Extreme low tides typically occur during the winter months, in the afternoon, during new and full moon events.
Operating Hours: Daily: 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Open until 6:15 p.m. during the summer, July 4 through Labor Day. Winter and spring are especially good times to visit the park. The annual migration of gray whales occurs December through February. November through March is generally the best time to explore the park’s rocky intertidal (tidepool) area. The coastal sage scrub is usually at peak bloom between February through April. Air visibility tends to be clearest in the Winter, and visitors to Cabrillo National Monument often discover spectacular views of San Diego Bay and downtown, Mexico, and the surrounding ocean during this time.
History: Proclaimed on October 14, 1913; transferred from War Department on August 10, 1933.
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