Cabrillo National Monument

This is right at the tip of point Loma and is extremely scenic and beautiful. I came here with a couple of people and we hiked down to the tidal pools. The area is very natural with clusters of agave plants, some native bushes, and some cholla cactus. We got some great pictures of the waves crashing into the rocks down here.
Further up there is a museum on top of the hill which has a great view of downtown San Diego and Coronado island. You can see north to utc and south to Tijuana. There’s also a statue of the Portuguese explorer who first sailed in the 1500s.
This is a great place to bring the kids and it’s also great for adults. I would say it’s worth it for the view alone. Price of admission was ten for the car.

I love the view from up here. If you’re a local it’s worth buying the annual membership to come enjoy the tide pools, hike around the lighthouse, and see the view from the monument. The info center/​gift shop is great for tourists, but don’t forget to stop in and watch one of the films that plays throughout the day. The movies aren’t the greatest and the movie room hardly counts as a theater. But hey, there’s always chance for an upgrade they keep making money.

I’m going to consolidate my review for the tide pools, lighthouse and national monument here. My daughter and I spent half a day here on our last trip. Probably could have stretched it to a whole day if we wanted to hike more or just hang out by the water.
The views from the monument are gorgeous. You can see both the coastline and the harbor and city from different vantage points. Check out the bookstore and visitor center for its historical significance. The tide pools are awesome. The kids can explore or they can just splash around on the beach areas. Make sure to check the tide schedules before you come. The lighthouse is a neat place to visit along with the little museum next door. I highly recommend visiting here at least once.

This is a hidden gem, I haven’t met many people that have heard of it or have been there. It’s a beautiful view of San Diego. We spent hours walking the trails and checking out the tide pools. Historical facts about the probability of attacks on the coast after the bombing at Pearl Harbor. There are artillery look outs, it’s amazing! The tide pools are a must see!

Yay to a fun area you can walk around for hours in! You can see the lighthouse, the gorgeous beach, beautiful SD view, etc!
Parking is $ 5, and it lasts a week.

Do you want a beautiful view of San Diego harbor and Downtown San Diego? Do you feel like walking and enjoying the view of the area because three sides are water? There’s a visitor center and there’s a statue at Cabrillo National Monument, and if that’s not enough, you also get the wonderful and beautiful view of Downtown SD. There also is a little light house that’s all the way near the top and you can enter it and see what it’s all abut. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to go all the way to the top– just see from the base. You can see the original light that used to ring up in the old lighthouse though, before they switched locations.
I don’t know if this also qualifies, but you can also drive down to the beach area (there are two or three areas, on a mountainside road that is insanely narrow). You can stop the car, walk along the tide areas, and have fun with the rocks, the kids, enjoy the sea and the waves and breathe in the ocean air.
Pst. You can see new lighthouse if you keep your eyes open for it!
PS. you might not get signal. Your phone might say you’re in Mexico, so BE CAREFUL AND WARY of your data plan! Don’t get charged! I put my phone on airplane mode just in case~
There’s a fee to get in the park.

The views from Cabrillo National monument are fabulous. You can see the Pacific ocean, the harbor, the mountains, as well as the city of San Diego. Great hiking trails there as well and there is a beautiful military cemetery close by. So, this place has it all wonderful views, a bit of history, and great hikes.

A perfect date type of place. This place has so much more than just a monument. There’s the monument, an awesome little lighthouse (that looks like a real house), and tidepools with gorgeous backdrops of naturally eroded cliffs. One of my favorite places in San Diego! There’s always something new to explore every time I come!
There is a small parking fee, but if you have the interagency national park pass, parking is free.

This area is spectacular. The views are out of this world. I absolutely loved this place. It was incredibly beautiful. It is definitely worth a trip if you are anywhere in the area. The water colors were gorgeous several shades of blues. The texture of the nearby cliffs were so interesting and also visually stunning. There’s a lighthouse and the national monument. But I just found the natural beauty overwhelming I paid little attention to anything but the unforgettable landscape. It was 5 $ to enter the park and there are parking lots though it does get crowded on weekends.

A hour before our flight, we realized we would have to turn our Mustang Sally white convertible in soon so we drove around town one last time. We were pretty excited when we spotted our first ‘Scenic Route’ signs.
After following the signs we drove up toward the entrance of the Cabrillo National Monument. Told the nice man in the booth that we had 20 minutes and then needed to head back to San Diego Airport. He assured us that was more than enough time and definitely worth the trip. Boy, was he right. We didn’t get to to look around too much in the visitors center or see any of the documentary shows but the view that we experienced was worth it.
If you have a chance to visit Cabrillo National Monument, do it. The view is breathtaking.

Hands down best view in SD! I’ve been here a couple times, once for the tidepools and once just for the monument. Make sure you check the times for lowtide if you want to be able to go into the tidepools and see sea creatures.
As far as for the monument side, there is a little museum, lighthouse, and hiking trails with nice views. Its $ 5 per car to enter and the pass is good for 1 week. There is always plenty of parking at the top. If you live in san diego and have never been here I highly recommend checking this place out. If you have any visitors in town I would add this to the list of places to see.

Just like Coronado Beach, Sunset Cliffs, and Balboa Park, Cabrillo National Monument is another must-​visit destination in San Diego.
Direction & fee: Just follow Unilocal /​Google Map directions or take MTS bus line 84 to get here. Entrance fee is $ 5 PER VEHICLE (good for one week), $ 3 for walk-​ins or bicyclists, and free annual pass for active military. Feel free to bring your dogs, but they must be on leash AND are only allowed in the tide pool area (no dogs at Visitor Center, Old Point Loma Lighthouse, Bayside Trail, etc).
HIGHER FEE STARTING IN NOVEMBER 1^st, 2015 — $ 10 per vehicle, $ 7 per motorcycle, and $ 5 for pedestrians and bicyclists (
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*** What to see here ***
Visitor Center: Gift shop, exhibit hall about the history of Cabrillo, 50 cents for the «Distance Viewing» (basically a binocular), and spectacular view.
Cabrillo Status (right next to the Visitor Center): You will see a statue of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo and this was probably the windiest spot on this peninsula.
Bayside Trail (entrance is halfway between the Visitor Center and the old lighthouse): 1.86 mile trail with no restroom & water access and it closes at 4PM.
Old Point Loma Lighthouse (approximately 5~10 minutes of walking distance from the Visitor Center): Completed in 1854 and ended its service in 1891, this old lighthouse has a really cool spiral staircase with the assistant keeper’s quarter (now a lighthouse exhibit) right next to the lighthouse.
Kelp Forest and Whale Overlook (few minute of walking distance from the Old Point Loma Lighthouse): January and February is the best viewing season for the gray whales. I didn’t see any whales … I only saw giant tankers floating on the ocean …
Coast Defense Exhibit: I completely overlooked this exhibit … but it tells the story of Point Loma’s coastal defense.
Tidepool Access (3 minutes driving distance from the Visitor Center): The only dog friendly area in the Cabrillo National Monument and this is an excellent spot to check out the cliff and different rock formations.
***
Bring camera, take lots of pictures, and wear sunscreen! Definitely one of the most gorgeous ocean view you’ll find in San Diego.

Very beautiful area to go hiking, sightseeing or simply sit on one of the huge rocks near the ocean and stare at the waves while catching some sun.
It is $ 5.00 to enter (but well worth it). There have a couple (small) lighthouses you can venture into and a visitor shop center to purchase trinkets. This place is more focused as a landmark/​sight seeing so if you’re thinking of walking around a big air conditioned building, think again.
It’s quite peaceful up there too (you drive through an [active] base).

Read this:
If you come to San Diego you must come here!!! Trust me!
The view is spectacular. Overlooking San Diego, Mexico, North Island airbase, Coronado, etc. There is a nice gift shop and museum here. They do close at 5:00 pm so you have to leave because you are actually on the grounds of the Point Loma Navy Base and you have to do what the military says to!
There is a $ 5 per car entry fee when you enter the base. Plan to spend about an hour here possibly more if you want to hike around and explore. Park rangers are here to assist you. A lot of history here and views to last a lifetime.

I love this area! My husband and have never been here together. I used to come here with my dog years ago. We finally came here together a few days ago and it was wonderful!
For $ 5 per car, you’re able to go down to the tide pool and enjoy the beautiful breeze and views. You can also see some animals on the rocks if you’re lucky. The water is pretty warm too! At least when we went, it was.
We then went over to the Cabrillo Monument and took photos together there. From there, you can see San Diego in the distance. You can see the convention center, Hotel Del and even parts of Mexico!
We walked over to the lighthouse and the lighthouse keeper’s place. I enjoyed the mini museum and learned a lot about Point Loma that I knew nothing of prior to this trip.
It’s a nice spot to take in history, beautiful ocean views and scenic views. Definitely worth stopping by for!

This was our first park used on our National Park annual pass this year, and also the closest one to home. I have now been here a half a dozen times, and love it just as much each time.
The park itself is at the end of Point Loma, past the Fort Roscrans cemetery. The drive through is bittersweet. The lawns are perfectly manicured, with a priceless background from just about any angle. The road cuts right through the middle, so half is on the Pacific side and the other half is on the bay facing the city and east. (This is not officially part of the National Monument, but is along the way and a must to stop and take in).
Once you enter the park (get a map… if you don’t use it, give it back), you have the option of driving straight up towards the visitor center and light house. Or you can turn right and switchback down to the tide pool area on the ocean. The lower area provides some great sight seeing as the kelp forest comes VERY close to the point, allowing you to watch the whales during the migrations. The low tides also provide a great opportunity to explore the native habitats. Don’t be a dick. Let nature be nature. Take photos, and plenty. But leave the critters and everything else :) There are also some nice hikes, of various skill levels.
If you were to continue to the visitor center, you will be amazed by the panoramic views all around. You are up pretty high and can see beyond the mountains to the east, the Coronado Islands to the south and picturesque ocean views to the west. Check the weather as it does get very breezy. You do not want to be cold… it will make it a little less fun. The visitor center has a lot of information about the area and even one of those old school videos about the habitats and ecosystem. I look back and remember that I HATED those in school, but I have a newfound appreciation for them now that I am in my 30s.
This is a great trip for anyone. It is easy to kill a few hours. I have gone solo, as a date with my wife, and as a family outing. Keep in mind that they close early every day, so this is not good if you were planning on a sunset. There are plenty of other great places around town!

SD Tourist Traps that don’t suck #13
5 bucks is nothing in this town. Amazing views, a nice hiking trail, and tide pools. Make sure you see all three!
— The drive up is rather unique. Various military buildings will strange radar devices, million dollar views and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
— Even if the tide is high and there are no tide pools to explore, it’s still fun to drive down to the cliffs and watch the waves crash up sea spray.
— Remember to bring 51 cents (The quarters plus one new penny) per kid for the stretch penny souvenir machine. This is ALOT cheaper than anything in the gift shop.
— Several bathrooms on site.

I would have given this place more stars but was very disappointed within 20 mins of arrival! They were hosting a private event and was screaming at all the guest to pack up and leave! They were not even nice about it! They literally were chasing you off the property and wouldn’t even let you use the restrooms.
This place is one narrow peninsula where war heros were buried and a national monument in Remembrance of all the brave soldiers whom have fought to preserve the freedom for the Americans! This is a good place to bring your family to celebrate the pride of being a free Americans! The place is a also a nice place for a walk and a great view of the entire sd. Don’t forget to check out the light house! I don’t think you can go inside. But you can see it at the main area!!!
I would have spent ever hours enjoying the area but like I mentioned before right after I got there, they were airways starting to kick ppl out. I would like to come back but pray I don’t have to be experience what I did the last time I was there!
No admissions to get in!

This is a true hidden gem near the San Diego Bay. This National Monument commemorates the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo who was on a European Expedition (first of its kind) to the West Coast of the United States of America. You can see the entire San Diego Harbor and the beautiful Skyline from the park area. There is a pretty nice museum on site that offers a video on the History of the Monument.
I really enjoyed the Submarines that were out in the bay along with some military helicopters performing flight exercises near the monument. Be advised there is a $ 5 buck charge per car to park and there is plenty of parking available. I was also fortunate enough on this day to see the Destroyers parking in the Harbor… people jogging along the path near the Visitors Center… that along with the beautiful weather makes this a MUST SEE location to visit if your in San Diego. Eat, Drink, and be Merry my Friends!!!

The lines blur between Point Loma and Cabrillo National monument. Read below for my comments on the National Park museum and Cabrillo monument and switch over to the «Point Loma» page for my comments on the lighthouse.
This is a bit out of the way for a tourist to get to, but it is well worth the effort and time. There is a public bus that goes out here, but Über works just as well and completely on your schedule. You have to pay $ 5 to get a car through the gates.
To the left of the entrance area is a building where they have a visitor center, restrooms, video theatre and museum. The museum covers the settling of the land, the ships that arrived first, etc. Take fewer than 30 minutes here. The museum has interesting reading, but it is small. The views behind and to the right of the center are amazing and worth the drive in and of themselves. I could get lost just gazing at the view for well over 30 minutes. You get a perfect image/​lay of the land of the city. You can see Coronado, downtown SD and make out how it all connects together. There is also bound to be some military aircraft/​ship movement which is very impressive to see. Signs help point out landmarks and what ships/​planes are what kind. As you walk between locations take time to read the placards which also have interesting information on them.
Walking away from the visitor center to the left is the Cabrillo Monument. It’s good for pictures, but there is nothing else «to do» there.
Continuing walking straight and off to the left you will get to Point Loma where there is the lighthouse and more museum.
I recommend adding a visit to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery onto your trip up there. If you have a car you can drive there — there is mulch parking lots along the road. If you Ubered you can walk there — I did. It is less than 1 mile away and there is a smooth downhill bike lane for you to walk in.