Whale Watching Season
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Witness the Annual Winter Journey of the Pacific gray whale. Each winter, the Pacific gray whales pass by the western overlooks of Cabrillo National Monument--San Diego's only national park. After spending the summer feeding in the food-rich waters of the Arctic, the whales swim south along the coast to the bays of Baja California, where they mate and nurse their young. Along the way, they pass Point Loma and Cabrillo National Monument, where you can witness their annual winter journey. Once nearly hunted into extinction, these majestic animal populations are now considered close to their pre-exploitation numbers.
Mid-January is the peak time for their migration. National Park Service entrance fees and policies apply.
Opening Date: Jan. 1, 2025
Visit CNMF.ORG for more information.
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Cabrillo National Monument
Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Discovery. Cabrillo National Monument lies at the tip of the Point Loma Peninsula, just west of the city of San Diego. The drive to Cabrillo National Monument will take you through diverse areas that tell of the Point Loma peninsula’s history. In Spanish, “loma” means “hill,” and is a fitting description of the rolling topography of the area. Archaeological remnants tell of human occupation of the Point as far back as 7,000 years. In 1797, the Spanish constructed Fort Guijarros on the eastern side of the peninsula, as a means of guarding the entrance to the harbor. Fifty-five years later, in 1852, the southern portion of Point Loma was set aside as a military reservation. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery was established in 1934 and today honors over 86,000 veterans and dependents who are interred there. Residential neighborhoods on Point Loma were originally established by generations of fishermen and remain varied today, with small cottages tucked next to multi-million dollar homes. Catalina Boulevard is part of San Diego’s 59-mile Scenic Drive, and affords spectacular panoramic views of the ocean and city on your way to Cabrillo National Monument.