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Cabrillo National Monument

@cabrillonps

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San Diego’s only National Park 🐚🦀🌊🌿🌻
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Happy Nudibranch November! This month, we celebrate some of the most colorful critters of Cabrillo National Monument: Nudibranchs, also known as sea slugs! In this video, a Spanish shawl (_Flabellinopsis iodinea_) hunts through the sandy tidepool floor for its preferred prey, the orange tree hydroids (_Eudendrium ramosum_). Often, their bright colors and patterns are a product of what each species of nudibranchs is specialized to eat: algae, anemones, tiny filter-feeders like hydroids, and even other nudibranchs. A sign of a healthy tidepool ecosystem is being able to find many nudibranchs, from many different species. How can you help protect nudibranchs and the tidepools they call home? Check Cabrillo National Monument’s website, or click the link in bio, for tidepool tips and regulations before your visit. Being well-prepared is slug-nificant! NPS Video/ S. Buck Video description: Close up of a Spanish shawl (_Flabellinopsis iodinea_) as it crawls along the sandy tidepool floor. #Nudibranch #Tidepools #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego #CaliforniaWildlife #VisitSanDiego@cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
Happy Halloween! Can you spot the costumed critter in each image? Camouflage is an adaptation shared by many of the park’s most spook-tacular insect species. By sharing the same colors and textures as the natural environment around them, they can better hide from predators or catch prey. Some even practice biomimicry—they can be easily confused for something else, like a stick insect on a branch. If you can’t find them, don’t despair! Here are some hints: Check the tiny, red-and white flowers...see the eyes and antennae of a scentless plant bug (_Arhyssus rubrovenosus_)? Check above the clustered tarweed’s yellow petals... see the long, bent legs of a crab spider (_Thomisidae spp._)? Check on the seemingly dirty leaf...see the wings of a bird-dropping moth (_Ponometia spp._)? Check between the twigs and gravel...see the striped body of a desert prowler spider (_Syspira tigrina_)? NPS/ S. Buck #Halloween #Insects #CaliforniaWildlife #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
Spooky, scary ravens - Speak with such a screech You’ll shake and shudder in surprise - When you hear these corvids shriek! 🐦‍⬛🎶 With feathers as dark as night, and a hauntingly versatile voice, the common raven (_Corvus corax_) has become a Halloween icon. With up to 79 different types of vocalizations, ravens can communicate about possible threats, food sources, rivals and other crucial news for survival. Each meaning varies with tiny differences in volume, speed, and pitch, or even by regional raven “dialects.” Some can even be heard from over a mile away! Take a moment under a bare-branched tree at Cabrillo National Monument and listen for: Deep croaks to signal each other’s location and territory, Rapid caws to warn of a nearby predator, Knocking rattles as females signal dominance, Clicks and mimicry as young ravens play, And more... NPS/S. Buck #Raven #Halloween #Birds #Birding #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, its… wait what kind of bird was that? 🦅🔭 If you are interested in learning more about San Diego's many bird species, join one of our new guided bird walks at Cabrillo National Monument. Our first walk will be taking place on Friday, November 6, at 9:30 am – 10:30 am. What bird are you hoping to check off your list? What: A guided bird walk along the Coastal Trail Who: All ages and experience levels are welcome Where: The beginning of the Coastal Trail in parking lot one What to bring: Hiking shoes, water, and sun protection No binoculars? No problem! A few will be available to borrow on a first come first served basis. NPS Photo/ P. Geisler #Birdwatching #Birds #Birding #CabrilloNationalMonument #NationalParks #SanDiego #CaliforniaWildlife @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
Get ready, set, write! 🏃✏️ Tomorrow is Write Out 2026, held at Cabrillo National Monument in collaboration with the EcoLogik Institute. Everyone is invited! Take part in creative activities with your family and friends. Explore your connection to the park’s nature and culture through the written word. Pen it to the top of your calendar...this event will be ink-redible! When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM Where: Breezeway near the Visitor Center Who: Visitors of all ages Theme: “Write Where We Stand,” honoring the places that shape and sustain us. Cost: Free with paid park admission. Write Out was developed through a cooperative agreement between the National Writing Project (NWP) and the National Park Service. NPS Photo/H. Marquez #WriteOut2026 #NationalWritingProject #WriteWhereWeStand #NationalParkService #WhyWrite #CabrilloNationalMonument @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
Grab a pen and get inspired by Cabrillo National Monument 🌿✏️ Join the park and EcoLogik Institute’s Conservation Leadership Academy Apprentices for Write Out 2026! This year’s theme, “Write Where We Stand,” centers writing in the places that shape and sustain us. Visitors of all ages are invited to explore their connection to the place through writing and creative activities led by our apprentices. Who: Everyone is invited! When: October 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM–1:00 PM Where: Breezeway of the Visitor Center Cost: Free with paid park admission. What to Expect: - Writing activities for all ages - Opportunities to connect writing with the natural and cultural landscape - Creative prompts inspired by Cabrillo National Monument - A chance to learn from and write alongside youth apprentices Write Out was developed through a cooperative agreement between the National Writing Project (NWP) and the National Park Service. NWP focuses the knowledge, expertise, and leadership of our nation’s educators on sustained efforts to improve writing and learning for all! NPS Photo/ The EcoLogik Institute #WriteOut2026 #NationalWritingProject #WriteWhereWeStand #NationalParkService #WhyWrite #CabrilloNationalMonument @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
We can’t stop squawking about it... Cabrillo National Monument is starting guided bird walks! 🐦📢 Join park staff for a one-mile bird watching hike along the Coastal Trail. Learn the basics of birding while seeing the diverse birds that call Cabrillo’s coast home. What: A guided bird walk along the coastal trail Who: All ages and experience levels are welcome When: Check the program calendar on our website for the most up-to-date details Where: The beginning of the Coastal Trail in parking lot one What to bring: Hiking shoes, water, and sun protection Bring your favorite pair of binoculars or check out a pair from us! NPS Photo/ P.Geisler, S.Buck Image Description 1: Brown Pelican (_Pelecanus occidentalis_) Image Description 2: Western gull chicks (_Larus occidentalis_) Image description 3: Pelagic Cormorant (_Urile pelagicus_) #Birdwatching #Birds #Birding #CabrilloNationalMonument #NationalParks #SanDiego #CaliforniaWildlife @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
If you’re looking for a close encounter of the 8-legged kind, here’s our ranger tip: Walk slowly and quietly on your 2 legs! Tidepool organisms, like the California two-spot octopus (_Octopus bimaculoides_), are sensitive to habitat disturbances such as strong vibrations and loud sounds. By moving slowly, and staying low to the ground, you can protect yourself from slipping on the algae-covered rocks and maximize your chance of seeing our shy, spectacular wildlife. 🥾✅ Walking slowly protects delicate tidepool habitats from harm. ✋❌ Flipping, lifting, or throwing rocks and shells can injure marine life and destroy their eggs. A single California two-spot octopus may lay up to 70,000 eggs—let’s go slow to protect them. If you look carefully, you may even see an octopus this small! NPS Video/P. Geisler Video Description: All eight tentacles of a juvenile two-spot octopus are curled up around its body, as it camouflages with a sandy tidepool floor. #TidepoolTips #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego #VisitSanDiego #Tidepools @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
🧡✅ A bronze name tag 🤍✅ A silver “VIP” pin 💛✅ The gold-trimmed arrowhead patch These are the signs that you have spotted one of our helpful, incredible Volunteers-In-Parks (VIPs)! Every day at the park, they are... 🤗 Welcoming visitors from around the world 🦋 Restoring at-risk native habitats 🥾 Hiking the trails to protect wildlife and visitors 🌻 Sparking curiosity about science and conservation And more behind-the-scenes (but just as critical) acts of service. We are so honored and grateful for our Volunteers-In-Parks (VIPs), and their dedication to San Diego’s only national park. Thank you, VIPs! NPS Photo/P. Geisler, H. Marquez, C. Aurrecoechea Image description 1: A group of smiling volunteers in blue shirts, white hats, and high-visibility vests smile next to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Image description 2: A trio of volunteers with blue field backpacks hike the Coastal trail, facing away from the camera and towards the distant sandstone cliffs and waves. Image description 3: A volunteer with a cream ballcap and blue jacket stands behind an outdoor contact station, as they talk with a family with two young boys. #VolunteersInParks #Volunteer #CabrilloNationalMonument #NationalParks #SanDiego Cabrillo National Monument Foundation by @cabrillonps
Happy Birthday, National Park Service (NPS)! For over 110 years, the National Park Service has shared natural, historical, and cultural wonders with visitors. Thanks to the stewardship efforts of past and present park lovers, these sites can be explored and enjoyed for future generations to come. But did you know that some sites, including Cabrillo National Monument, are older than the National Park Service? Cabrillo National Monument was established in 1913 by President Woodrow Wilson, three years before Congress created the National Park Service with the Organic Act of 1916. Notable sites older than the NPS include: ⭐ Yellowstone, Wyoming – Est. 1872, the first national park in the U.S. ⭐ Sequoia, California – Est. 1890 by Congress, the first national park in California. ⭐ Devil’s Tower (Bear Lodge), Wyoming – Est. 1906, the first national monument. What’s your oldest photo from visiting a national park? NPS Photo/ Unknown, C. Aurrecoechea Image description 1: Photo collage of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, during three periods of its history. On the top left is a modern, brightly colored photo of the restored lighthouse surrounded by native plants. On the top right is a 1960s, pastel colored photo of the lighthouse surrounded by decorative hedges. Across the bottom is a black and white photo of the lighthouse from 1910, which is badly damaged in its tower and outbuildings. Image description 2: A modern, brightly colored photo of the restored lighthouse surrounded by native coastal sage scrub plants. Image description 3: A 1960s, pastel colored photo of the lighthouse surrounded by decorative, non-native plant hedges. Image description 4: A black and white photo of the lighthouse from 1910, which is badly damaged in its tower and outbuildings #NationalParkService #NationalParks #CabrilloNationalMonument #NationalParkWeek #SanDiego @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
The underground scene is buzzing at Cabrillo National Monument! If you patiently watch and wait, you may see a ground-nesting bee entering its burrow. Many of San Diego County’s native bee species are ground nesters, building their solo or colony “apartments” underground. All you can see from above are little holes in the dirt. Unlike the non-native Western Honeybee (_Apis mellifera_), with large hives built high, these native bees will build low to avoid predators and extreme temperatures. Ground-nesting bees are the foundation for a healthy ecosystem. Their digging loosens soil, adds nutrients, and spreads seeds, so the earth becomes more fertile. Saving the bees is simple when you hike at Cabrillo National Monument... Always stay on marked trails! By avoiding off-trail areas, you prevent tiny burrows, young plants, and more from being crushed. 🐝 Stay on trail and “bee” a protector! 🐝 NPS/ S. Buck, P. Simpson Image description 1: Three perspectives of a tripartite sweat bee (_Haliactus tripartitus_) as it sits on the dirt among pebbles and twigs, then it crawls ever deeper into its dirt burrow. Image description 2: Two perspectives of a fine striped sweat bee (_Agapostemon subtilior_) as it flies towards its dirt burrow, and then a close-up on its bright green posterior. Image description 3: Two perspectives of a chimney bee (_Diadasia spp.__) as it sticks its head out of its burrow, and a close up on its round dirt burrow. #Bees #NativeBees #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego #VisitSanDiego #SaveTheBees #HikingTips @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps
If you take some time to enjoy a natural space near you, you never know when a charming moment might appear...like this harbor seal whose nap is getting ruined by the waves! Harbor seals (_Phoca vitulina_) are often found sunning themselves on the rocky shore within the park, as they relax in between swimming and hunting. Cabrillo National Monument offers harbor seals a rare stretch of coastline where they can relax and raise their pups in peace, without the disturbances common in busier, urban coastal areas. So, stop and smell the salty sea air. Listen to the roaring waves. Feel the warm sun on your face. Watch a silly seal and enjoy a moment of relaxation at your local national park. NPS/P. Geisler Video description: A harbor seal tries to climb up a rocky shelf as strong waves keep washing it off. #HarborSeal #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego #VisitSanDiego #FunnyNature @cnmfoundation by @cabrillonps

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