China Cove, Salinas Valley Travel Guide

Getting There

• Walking

  Start from the center of Carmel-by-the-Sea, specifically at the corner of Ocean Avenue and San Carlos Street. Head south on San Carlos Street until you reach the intersection with 7th Avenue. Turn left onto 7th Avenue and continue until you reach the intersection with Mission Street. Turn right onto Mission Street and continue walking until you reach the entrance of the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Please note that there is a fee to enter the Reserve, so be prepared with cash or a credit card. After entering the Reserve, follow the signs for China Cove, which is located within the park. The walk from the entrance to China Cove is approximately 1.5 miles and will take about 30-40 minutes, depending on your pace.

• Biking

  If you prefer biking, you can rent a bicycle from one of the local rental shops in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Begin at the rental shop and head south on Ocean Avenue, then take a right onto San Carlos Street. Continue south until you reach the intersection with 7th Avenue, turn left and bike to Mission Street. Turn right onto Mission Street, and follow it to the entrance of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. The bike ride is approximately 1.5 miles from the town center to the entrance, which should take about 10-15 minutes. Once inside the Reserve, follow the signs for China Cove.

• Public Transport + Walking

  You can take the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) bus line 1 from Carmel-by-the-Sea to the nearest stop to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Check the MST website for the latest schedule. Once you arrive at the bus stop on Highway 1, walk towards the entrance of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. The entrance is about a 0.5-mile walk from the bus stop. After entering the Reserve, follow the directional signs to China Cove, which is approximately another mile into the park.