Cabrillo
National Monument

Visit our Virtual Visitors Center

VISITATION:

Park visitation is fairly even throughout the year, with a slight rise during July and August, and a small decrease during September and October. Annual visitation was approximately 1.2 million people during 1994.

LOCATION:

The monument is located on the southern tip of Point Loma, approximately 10 miles from the city of San Diego.

ADDRESS:

Cabrillo National Monument
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, CA 92106-3601

TELEPHONE:

(619) 557-5450 or fax (619) 557-5469 or TDD (619) 224-4140

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

Daily: 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Open until 6:15 p.m. during the summer, July 1 through Labor Day. Best season to visit the monument is winter and spring. Annual migration of gray whales occurs December through February. Peak tidepool season in November through February, and blooming of coastal sage scrub occurs February through April. Best visibility for spectacular views of the city, Mexico, and the ocean also occur during winter and spring.

DIRECTIONS:

Follow State Highway 209 south, from Interstate Highways I-5 and I-8, to the tip of Point Loma.

TRANSPORTATION:

Most visitors arrive in personal vehicles. Most major car rental agencies are available in San Diego. Local bus service and taxicabs serve the park. San Diego International Airport (Lindberg Field) serves the area, and is within sight of the monument.

FEES, COST, RATES:

Four dollars per vehicle, two dollars per person, for those who walk in or ride bicycles and motorcycles. Golden Age,Golden Access, and Golden Eagle passports and Cabrillo National Monument annual pass are accepted in lieu of the fee. Tour bus fees vary, depending on bus capacity.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:

The glass enclosed visitor center offers a spectacular view of San Diego Bay, the city, surrounding mountain ranges, and Tijuana, Mexico. The museum, with displays on Spanish exploration, is located in the main visitor complex. The visitor center facilities offer accessible rest rooms, telephone, exhibits, audiostations in six languages, auditorium, and exhibit room are accessible. Assistive listening devices are available for the auditorium, and written text in English and Spanish of audiostation messages are available. Wheelchairs for loan, and special vehicle passes for the lighthouse are available upon request.

Program, Activities:

Programs vary throughout the year and include daily films. There are talks on natural history themes, including tidepools, whales, and coastal sage scrub presented during the fall, winter, and spring. Talks on cultural history, Spanish exploration, lighthouses, and military history are presented throughout the year. Children's Program: ranger-led education programs are offered October through June for students second through fifth grades. These are State of California curriculum based programs about cultural and natural history. There is also a teacher-led program which requires participation in a teacher's workshop, prior to using the program. A program about Spanish exploration, for use in the classroom, began field testing in 1995. Self-Guided Hiking Trail: the Bayside Trail is a mile long hiking trail through a coastal sage scrub forest. It follows a gentle down hill slope toward San Diego Bay, and returns along the same route. Interpretive panels along the trail provide information about the ecology of Point Loma. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse: a restored lighthouse with furnishings representing the 1880's period, is open daily. Whale Overlook: a protected shelter has exhibits, a tactile model of an adult gray whale and calf, and a recorded message in English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:

The non-profit Cabrillo Historical Association, a national park cooperating association, operates a book store in the visitor center. The store is rich in titles on the Age of Exploration, whales, intertidal ecology, Southern California history, national parks and natural history, and nature books for children. Native American baskets and crafts are also included in the collection. The association operates vending machines which provide packaged snacks, coffee, and cold beverages. There are no other eating facilities at the park.

Accessibility:

The monument is quite accessible. Ramps are available throughout much of the park. Special passes are provided to allow vehicles into less accessible view areas. Rest rooms include unisex and a baby changing room. Audio Station Programs are available in six languages. There are written copies of audio messages, a tactile model of a whale, assistive listening devices, adjustable phones, and a TDD.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Allow three to four hours to leisurely enjoy the monument. During winter and spring explore tidepools, watch for gray whales, hike the Bayside Trail, and relax and enjoy the view and activities of a beautiful and busy port.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

The Annual Cabrillo Festival is held each year on the weekend closest to September 28, commemorating the arrival of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in San Diego. Cultural dances, food, and re-enactment of Cabrillo's landing are all part of the festival activities. The third weekend in January is celebrated as Whale Watch Weekend. Activities include special programs about marine life, assistance by park rangers in spotting whales, and entertainment.

VISITOR IMPACTS:

Exploration of the park is limited to designated trails, in order to minimize erosion and to protect park resources from being trampled. Cliff edges are extremely unstable and may collapse, causing serious injury to visitors exploring off-trail areas. The tidepools areas are slippery and falls are frequent. Rattlesnakes have been seen in the monument, although infrequently.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Write to Superintendent, Cabrillo National Monument, 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, California 92106-36010670, or call (619) 557-5450.