New trail to tidepools in the works at Cabrillo National Monument

Major improvements at Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma include construction just started on a new trail linking it with its tidepools, and work scheduled soon on the monument’s visitor center.

A fundraising drive sponsored by the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation supporting the institution has also been launched to pay for the new trail. The trail will provide the first, safe pedestrian access from the upper part of the monument on the blufftop to its tidepools below.

“The trail began construction on May 8. It is not currently open to the public while it’s being constructed because anyone going on it could hurt the plants and animals,” said Emily M. Moore, Cabrillo National Monument Foundation executive director. “They will work on the trail for several weeks before they pause and return in the fall. We do not have a date yet to complete the trail.”

the view building at the visitor center with people at the scenic overlook over san diego bay. — The View Building at the Visitor Center with people at the scenic overlook over San Diego Bay. COURTESY PHOTO

Monument improvement plans will also include work planned on its visitor center. Of that work, Chris Symons, acting chief of interpretation for CNM said: “The goal is to bring the view building closer to its historical character, highlighting the historic appearance. Common techniques for this procedure we plan to emulate include removing the exterior paint to expose and stain the wood, re-tiling the roof, and replacing the floor to better match the original structure.”

Added Symons, “The project is expected to begin in autumn, during which time the visitor center will be temporarily closed. It will likely take about two months to complete. Visitor center desk operations will be conducted in an adjacent building, during which time the park films may be unavailable, but otherwise without interruption to guest services.”

Meanwhile, a fundraising drive is being conducted by the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that has supported the national park for 65-plus years. “Each year, our annual fundraising event, Cabrillo Under the Stars, is typically in May and raises a substantial amount to fund our operations and mission,” said foundation trustee Robert Tripp Jackson noting park improvements have caused that fundraiser to be postponed to next year. “The foundation needs your help to not only fund completion of the trail to the tidepools, but also to fund free ongoing youth, volunteer, and park discovery programs. All of this helps foster a connection to the park that can only be achieved with the help of donors.”

Added Tripp Jackson: “If you donate $250 or more, the foundation will invite you to an exclusive after-hours picnic on Saturday, June 24. This thank you picnic promises to be a special experience with picnic food and treats. Feel free to call our park office at 619-523-4256. Visit cnmf.org to learn more.”

Moore pointed out that the monument’s foundation is “funding most of this project (trail) through contributions from donors, and we have a page at cnmf.org to keep them updated.”

Cabrillo’s new trail is the result of popular demand, noted Moore. “It is part of a 25-year trail management plan the National Park Service put together,” she said adding, “NPS moved this trail up in its lineup of projects for the park. It really came about from the community saying, ‘We want this trail.’ New trails just aren’t built. So, for a brand new trail to be built – that’s really a big deal.”

Cabrillo National Monument is at the southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula and is a memorial to Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who in 1542 set out in search of the island of California. Known as the “Columbus of California,” Cabrillo landed at San Diego Bay on Sept. 28, 1542, becoming the first European to set foot on the western coast of the United States. He took possession of the entire coast for the King of Spain. In addition to telling the story of Cabrillo’s 16th-century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources.

Cabrillo National Monument at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive is open 365 days a year including holidays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Bayside Trail closes at 4 p.m. and the tidepools close at 4:30 p.m. The main gate closes at 5 p.m., and all visitors must exit the park at 5 p.m. Public access after 5 p.m. and before 9 a.m. is not allowed. This includes walking, jogging and biking, any type of entry.

CNM FACTS

Cabrillo National Monument was established on Oct. 14, 1913, to memorialize the accomplishments of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.
This National Monument is the only unit of the National Park System in San Diego County.
In 1932, the site of the monument was designated as California Historical Landmark #56.

A statue of Cabrillo was commissioned by the Portuguese government and donated to the U.S. in 1939.
This heroic sandstone statue was made by sculptor Alvaro de Bree. It is 14 feet tall and weighs 14,000 pounds.
The original statue suffered weathering so it was replaced by a replica made of limestone in 1988.
In winter, it is a popular spot for watching grey whales migrating on their way to Mexico from the Arctic.
It also has a 2.5-mile roundtrip trail that winds through the native habitat of the Southern California coast. It descends 300 feet into the coast.
The monument also includes the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, built between 1851 and 1855.