Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo | The Old Point Loma Lighthouse | The Annual Gray Whale Migration
Point Loma Coastal Defenses | Coastal Sage Scrub | The View | The Cabrillo Tidepools

Rules and Safety:

Hiking: For your safety and to protect the ecosystem, please stay on designated trails.
 

Bicycles: Bicycling is allowed on paved roadways only.
 

Smoking: Smoking is not allowed on the Bayside Trail, near the tidepool area or in park buildings.
 

Pets: Pets are not allowed in the park, except in the coastal area. If you bring a pet, it must be left confined in a vehicle. Working animals such as guide dogs are exempted. Pets in the coastal area must be on a leash of no more than six feet.
 

Skate Boards and Roller Blades: Skate boards, roller blades and skates are prohibited on all surfaces.
 

Swimming, Surfing and Diving: Swimming, surfing and diving are prohibited within park boundaries (the park boundary extends 300 feet from the shore). This is for your safety and to protect the intertidal ecosystem.
 

Fishing: Fishing is permitted with hook and line only in accordance with California state law. Only finfish can be taken. A California fishing license is required and must be worn in plain sight.
 

Tidepool Animals and Objects: No shellfish, octopus, or other animal beside finfish legally caught may be taken, used as bait, or possessed within the boundaries of Cabrillo National Monument. No shells, rocks, or other objects may be taken from the park
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Watch Your Step! -- Stay Back! Cliff areas in the park are very unstable. Stay back from cliff edges.
 

Go Slow! Slick, algae-covered rocks in the tidepools are very slippery. Wear shoes with good traction and take your time. Go slow! You will see more this way as well.
 

Stay on the Trail! Many prickly plant species border park trails. Stay on trails to avoid having foliage tear at your skin and clothes. Rattlesnakes are sometimes seen in the park. They are a shy and natural part of the park's ecosystem that happen to be poisonous. Stay on trails so that you can avoid them and they can avoid you.
 

A Special Note About Plants: Many plant species, such as California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), may appear dead during the summer months. Actually, these plants are just dormant. During California's hot, dry summer, the stems and petals of many plants become dry and brittle to conserve water. Once the winter rains arrive these unique "drought-deciduous" plants once again become green and vibrant. To avoid damaging these sensitive yet hardy plants, please stay on trails and do not break off "dead" branches from plants in the park.