Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Monterey cypress clings its bare roots to the sheer granite cliffs of Point Lobos.
Trip Description
From the information kiosk, the trail leads north and soon forks. The
North Shore
Trail
heads off to the right, while the
Cypress Grove Trail
veers left 0.1 mile, then
splits again into a loop trail through the
Allan Memorial Grove.
Taking the loop in
either direction will lead you back to this junction.
Along the northwest fork, the trail offers views into
Headland Cove,
where with
any luck you'll see all three species of resident marine mammals: California sea lions,
sea otters, and harbor seals. If thick summer fog obscures your view, listen for the
boisterous barking of sea lions from nearshore rocks.
Strolling past Headland Cove, you soon enter the grove, one of only two naturally
growing stands of Monterey cypress in the world (the other grove is at Cypress Point
on the north end of Carmel Bay). In the colder, wetter climate of the Pleistocene epoch
some 15,000 years ago, these wind-sculpted trees extended over a much wider range.
As the climate slowly turned hotter and drier, the cypress trees withdrew to the cool,
fog-shrouded coast. Closely inspect the branches and buttressed trunks to spot a deep
orange velvety encrustation. This plush substance is lichen that coexists with the tree,
using its branches merely as a roost rather than obtaining nourishment at the tree's
expense.
The trail soon veers right, offering dramatic views of secluded coves and granite
pinnacles stretching north to Cypress Point. At
North Point
a spur climbs 50 feet
to a rocky ledge. Clinging to crevices along the granite walls are such coastal plants
as
Dudleya
, or bluff lettuce, featuring succulent silver leaves arranged in a spiral.
In summer and fall especially, be sure to bring binoculars, as humpback and gray
whales pass within sight of shore along their migratory route from Alaska to the Sea
of Cortez, in Baja, Mexico.
Farther along the main trail, a long staircase leads down toward the blue-green
waters of
Cypress Cove,
where you may distinguish the heads of several sea otters,
resting on their backs atop an underwater forest of 70-foot giant bull kelp. Ascend
the steps and continue along the main trail 0.1 mile to complete your loop around the
peninsula. From here retrace your steps to the parking area.
