Alerts & Conditions

COVID-19 Update

The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to Cabrillo National Monument is as follows:

Open: Trails, outdoor areas, and restrooms. Visitor Center outdoor desk and park bookstore are openselected hours. (Visitor Center outdoor desk staffed by park ranger or park volunteer daily 11am – 3pm. Bookstore open Fridays to Mondays, 10am – 4pm as well as Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11am – 3pm. Closed on Tuesdays.)

Closed: Auditorium, Old Point Loma Lighthouse, Cabrillo exhibit, Assistant Lighthouse Keeper’s Quarters exhibit

While the listed areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased, and services may be limited. When recreating, please follow local area health orders [link to order] and recreate responsibly by keeping social distance, wearing a face covering when social distance cannot be maintained, avoiding high risk activities, and staying home if you feel sick.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

Current Conditions

• Visitors should come prepared to pack out their own trash, and bring enough food and water for their group.
• Parking Lot #3 in the tidepool area is temporarily closed to vehicular access. Tidepool parking is available in Parking Lot #1 and Lot #2. When parking is full, the tidepool gate to access this tidepool area will temporarily close.
• The road to the tidepools may be closed if the area hits capacity in order to maintain conditions appropriate for social distancing. The road to the tidepool area will be closed (usually around 30 minutes) until sufficient capacity in the parking areas becomes available. This temporary closure of the road allows for traffic to flow freely and allows a more pleasant experience for the visitor by reducing the number of people and reducing the damage to the fragile ecosystem. Please plan your trips to allow for this delay, and thank you for your patience.

 

Cabrillo Sea Cave Closed

The Cabrillo Sea Cave is located within a closed area of the park. The Sea Cave and nearby area have been closed since the 1980s due to extremely dangerous conditions and to comply with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Entry into this area is not permitted at any time. Violators are subject to federal fines and sentencing.

Marine mammals use this area and are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Approaching and/or disturbing marine mammals (i.e., seals and sea lions) and their young is not allowed. Doing so is a violation of the Act, and violators are subject to fines and sentencing.

The cave was created by sudden and catastrophic sandstone erosion and rock falls. Periodic bluff collapse is constant along the California coast. To avoid injury, stay back from cliff edges and do not walk under overhangs or along the base of escarpment faces.

 

 

Cabrillo National Monument is a smoke-free and trash-free park.

Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the park grounds, including the tidepools, trails and parking lots. Smoking is also prohibited in all buildings.

In November 2010, the park became "trash-free" with the removal of 95% of the garbage cans and recycling bins from the grounds. Please help us maintain our "trash-free" park by packing out whatever you bring in.