Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Permit conditions

No downloadable form is published. A special event information packet is sent on request. Permits come in tiers: standard for ten or more people, elopement for ten or fewer at hike-in locations, and large or commercial. Standard permits can be requested up to a year ahead, elopements up to six months. Applications inside 45 days carry additional fees and restrictions, and inside 30 days are not considered.

Commercial photography

Permitted, but through the California Film Commission at film.ca.gov rather than the park, at least two weeks ahead. Simple shoots Monday to Thursday, complex shoots Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, never weekends or holidays. Public access cannot be restricted.

Permitted hours

8am to 7pm, day use only. No entry by vehicle or on foot after 6:30pm.

Prohibited

Alcohol is not allowed anywhere in the reserve. Dogs are not allowed anywhere in the reserve and cannot be left in parked vehicles. Drone photography is prohibited.

Alcohol

Not allowed anywhere in the reserve.

Parking

Day use $10 per vehicle, $9 senior, $5 disabled with a discount pass. No vehicles over 21 feet. Accessible restrooms near the Bird Island trailhead and Piney Woods, a comfort station at Whaler's Cove, and accessible parking at Cypress Grove, Sea Lion Point, the entrance, Bird Island and Whaler's Cove.

Permit authority

California State Parks. The reserve's own page routes weddings and events to the Special Events Coordinator, Fleccia Wilson, (831) 624-3407, fleccia.wilson@parks.ca.gov. The Big Sur Sector page also lists Point Lobos among the parks it covers, at BigSurEvents@parks.ca.gov, (831) 667-0507. The two agency pages give different contacts for the same permit; start with the reserve's own.

Pricing

Not published. No wedding or special event fee appears on any current agency page. The Special Events Coordinator quotes it.