Cabrillo National Monument

Low Tide at the Tidepools
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only tells the story of this 16th-century exploration but also houses a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Exploration.
Map showing location of park.
Cabrillo National Monument invites the public to Whale Watch Weekend
SAN DIEGO – Cabrillo National Monument invites the public to join Whale Watch Weekend and Intertidal Life Festival on Saturday, Jan. 11, and Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. The festival, which began in 1988 as Whale Watch Weekend, celebrates the annual migration of Pacific gray whales past Point Loma and highlights the rich intertidal life in the park's tidepool areas.
Cabrillo National Monument Announces Holiday Closures
Cabrillo National Monument will be closed to the public on Thursday, November 28th, and Wednesday, December 25th, in observance of the holidays. During these closures, all park facilities, buildings, and access to park grounds will not be available.
Tidepools at Cabrillo
Photo by NPS Photo / Dan Zeller
Sun setting over the Pacific
Photo by NPS Photo / Mike Nelson
Dusk at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse
Photo by NPS Photo / Mike Nelson
Spring flowers in front of Old Point Loma Lighthouse
Photo by NPS Photo / Mike Nelson
Looking out on San Diego from Cabrillo
Photo by NPS Photo / Mike Nelson
View of Pelican Point at Cabrillo
Photo by NPS Photo / Bill Griswold