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Before the arrival of Europeans, at this area today called Point Lobos, Ohlone indians lived here for 3,000 years. The Ohlone gathered abalone and mussels from the sea, and ground seeds and acorns into meal. They lived in dome thatched huts and lived a peaceful existence with nature.

The Spanish named Point Lobos after the barking of sea lions, meaning Point of the Sea Wolves. Point Lobos went through different phases as a whaling cove, abalone harvest, coal mining and granite quarry. Concerned locals watched the beautiful natural coast being destroyed by commercialism and fought to protect it. In 1933 the State of California purchased 348 acres of the area and later additions increased the size to 400 acres. The State in 1960 created the first United States marine preserve here, protecting all plants and marine animals.

Today, the public can walk along cliff side trails, coves, rocky shoreline, among Monterey Cypress and see
nature reclaimed. Point Lobos is located along Highway 1 in the Big Sur area south of Carmel and Monterey Bay.