Cabrillo

Calendar of Events

 
 
The image is a promotional flyer for an event. It has a dark green background at the top with the text "Cabrillo National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Cabrillo National Monument San Diego, California" next to the National Park Service logo

NPS

City Nature Challenge - BioBlitz

In cooperation with The City Nature Challenge, Cabrillo National Monument is hosting a BioBlitz! The event will occur on April 26th and 27th. On Friday, April 26th, Cabrillo National Monument will be open to researchers and registrants. These individuals have observed and collected data in the past and are coming back this year to continue their research and efforts on the Park’s biodiversity. On Saturday, April 27th, whether you are a scientist, a naturalist, or a lover of national parks Cabrillo encourages those to come out. This day will have something for everyone!

Description: Cabrillo National Monument will participate in the annual City Nature Challenge. The challenge is an effort for people to find and document as much biodiversity as possible in a given area. Cabrillo National Monument is joining the challenge by hosting a BioBlitz at the park! Our focus is to gather as much data as possible on different species of plants, animals, and other organisms in the span of 2 days. The individual will use an app called iNaturalist to document the wide range of species. iNaturalist is free to download on any mobile device. Along the way, you will be able to meet incredible scientists and help assist one another to learn about the world around you. Not only is this a friendly competition, but it is also a fantastic way for the community to connect with science and the outdoors in a fun, interactive, and engaging way. These efforts will help educate the public and support the park in continuing to preserve biodiversity!

For more information see the City Nature Challenge page.
 

Public Programs (Currently Offered)

These programs are free and open to the public (park entrance fees apply)

For the most current information about a program or accessibility information, please call the Visitor Center at (619) 523-4285.

 
Park Volunteer talks to a group of people in front of a low rock wall
Park volunteer talks to visitors on a guided walk around the monument.

NPS Photo/C. Aurrecoechea

Guided Walking Tours (Saturdays 11am, 1pm)

Join a park volunteer for a one-hour walking tour of Cabrillo National Monument including the Cabrillo Statue and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This program is suitable for all ages. No reservations required. Meet in front of the Visitor Center and keep in mind that the walk includes a hill up to the lighthouse.

 
A smiling woman in a blue shirt with a white snake coiled around her arm stands talking to a person who takes a picture of the woman with their phone.
Meet a live, native snake in the breezeway by the Visitor Center!

NPS Photo

Snake Meet 'N Greet (Thursdays - 1pm)

Meet a live, native snake in the breezeway by the Visitor Center! Cabrillo's three snake ambassadors provide an opportunity to learn about the park's natural resources, local ecology, and why snakes are important to the ecosystems they live in.

 
Volunteer in WWII clothing by jeep at the Bunker Entrance
If conditions permit, you can tour a refurbished World War II bunker.

NPS Photo

Military Bunker (Saturdays)

From 10 am – 2:30 pm volunteers will bring the coastal defenses of Point Loma to life. These are your only chances to tour the bunkers on Point Loma. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to learn more about the soldiers stationed at Fort Rosecrans during WWII and see the weapons and instruments that protected our coast during the tumultuous war years.

The bunker can't be opened if there is inclement weather. Check with the Visitor Center for the latest schedule.

 
Park volunteer points at searchlight while holding an image of it.
Park volunteer points at searchlight while holding an image of it.

NPS PHOTO

Searchlight Shelter (Saturdays)


From 10 am to 12 pm on the Bayside Trail, volunteers give park visitors the opportunity to view a 60-inch-high intensity carbon arc searchlight up close. The searchlight was built in 1941 and the shelter in which it is housed was built in 1918. This searchlight, along with others placed throughout the San Diego Harbor, provided a vital part of the United States Army’s overall defense against “sea-borne” attacks.

Check with the Visitor Center for the latest schedule.

 
Weed Warrior volunteers gather around park staff to learn about invasive plants on Bayside Trail.  They hold orange buckets. In the background is the San Diego Bay and city skyline.
Weed Warrior volunteers gather around park staff to learn about invasive plants on Bayside Trail.  They hold orange buckets. In the background is the San Diego Bay and city skyline.

NPS

Weed Warriors (Open Drop-In Volunteer Session)

When:
Thursdays, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Please arrive 5 minutes before start time. During severe weather, this event may be cancelled.

Limited to the first four members of the public who arrive. Prior registration is recommended, but not required. Groups of 4 or more must have prior registration with cabr_volunteers@nps.gov.

Description:
Do you want to help our park, and our planet, but not sure where to start? Are you interested in an easy, de-stressing volunteer opportunity? Want to learn more about our park’s coastal sage habitat?

Weed Warriors are dedicated volunteers who remove invasive plants that threaten Cabrillo National Monument’s native habitat. On Thursdays, members of the public are invited to join our open, drop-in volunteer session.

No special skills or knowledge needed! We will show you what to do.

Due to the work’s requirements, volunteers under the age of 12 are not permitted. Minors under the age of 18 are required to be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian to volunteer.

Read More on Volunteer.gov

 

Public Programs (Not currently being offered)

**Public programs are dependent on San Diego County and CDC restrictions on gatherings.**

Lighthouse Talk: Join Cabrillo National Monument staff for this 1-hour, all ages program as we discover what life was like for the lighthouse keepers at Cabrillo's restored 19th century Lighthouse.

Nature Walk: Join one of our expert volunteers to explore the flora and fauna of the park. This 45 minute to 1-hour walk will give you insights as to why San Diego County is the most bio-diverse in the continental US. Meet animals and plants and find out how the natives of San Diego, the Kumeyaay, used the landscape resources. The walk includes a stop at the Cabrillo Monument for a spectacular view of the Bay and ends at the whale lookout, where an equally stunning ocean panorama can be enjoyed. From there guests can choose different activities, including a visit of the light house, a hike down the Bayside trail or a tour of the Military History Museum. Don't miss this opportunity to discover San Diego's "true nature!"

*Although we do our best, programs are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

 
 

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Last updated: April 11, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, CA 92106

Phone:

619 523-4285

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