North Central Coast & Other Meanderings
                         Point Lobos State Reserve, Limekiln State Park, 
                                                Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

          Point Lobos State Reserve, Ca.        http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/ 
        A State Reserve is an area embracing outstanding natural or scenic characteristics
             of statewide significance. The Point Lobos landscape is a mosaic of bold headlands,
             irregular coves and rolling meadows.  - - - - The Reserve is open 9 - 5 daily.
             Point Lobos is located on Hwy 1, a few miles south of Carmel. Trail guide available at
             information station.

                                                    
       Whalers Cove                 Harbor Seals               Cypress Cove              Canada Geese

   Points of Interest
        Whalers Cove - Once the site of a whaling station & an abalone cannery.  The
        original whalers cabin is now a museum.  Harbor seals and sea otters are easy to
        observe in the cove.
 
      Sea Lion Point Trail - The trail takes you through one of nature's seaside gardens
        to a magnificent ocean view.  Hundreds of barking sea lions can be seen on the
        offshore rocks.  Trail is wheelchair accessable.
 
      Cypress Grove Trail - The Cypress Grove Trail winds through one of the two
        naturally growing stands of Monterey cypress trees on earth.
                                                      
 Limekiln State Park - A  Treasure Waiting to be Discovered
     From redwoods to the sea. Located about 12 miles north of Gorda on Hwy 1.
      The park offers magnificent views and peaceful solitude.  Rugged surf washes
      over offshore rocks.  A short scenic walk through a red wood forest will take
      you to the historic Limekilns.

     Limekiln St. Park has a rich history.  In the late1880s the Rockland Lime and Lumber
      Co. built four stone-and-steel furnaces at the base of a limestone deposit.  Limestone
      was purified in the kilns using large quantities of redwood, then packed in barrels &
      hauled by wagon down the canyon to be loaded on to schooners.  Limestone was
      used in cement and other building materials.  Within two years the redwoods were
      gone and the Rockland limestone venture came to an end.

                                           
               Limekiln                   Limekiln Creek           Steller's Jay           Heermann's Gulls

                   
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

     Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is located in the central portion of the rugged Big Sur
     coastline. The park stretches into the nearby ridges, some of which rise 3,000 feet
     above the ocean.  It also extends offshore, where an underwater reserve protects the
     region's unique marine plant & animal life. Stands of majestic redwoods, tanbark oak,
     madrone, & California Laurel grace the canyons and hillsides.
           
     One of the most spectacular views on the Big Sur coast is easily accessible, 0.64 mi.
     round trip. The trail across from the parking area leads to a pedestrian underpass
     beneath Hwy I. The view of McWay Falls & Cove, the pristine beach, & the emerald
     water takes one breath away.
                                                
               Entrance Sign          Tunnel to Overlook            McWay Cove                McWay Cove

      Julia Pfeiffer Burns St. Park is a "day use" facility; no fee is charge. There are two
        environmental campsites located in a cypress forest overlooking McWay Cove. 
        For reservations call 1-800-444-7275.  You may reserve 7 months in advance.

        In 1869, Michael Pfeiffer moved his family from Marin Co. & began ranching in the
        Big Sur country.  His young daughter, Julia, grew up and continued living in the
        family's Sycamore Canyon ranch , located near today's Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
        She married John Burns in 1915.  They leased Saddle Rock Ranch and managed
        a typical Big Sur cattle ranch.  It was during this time that Julia developed her love
        for Big Sur and gained her legendary knowledge of the mountains,  the coast, and
        the wildlife that thrived around her. 
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