Ishxenta State Park
The Park is currently CLOSED.
Park Facilities
Registration OPEN for Spring 2025 Guided Tours!
Visit the News & Events section for more information and to register.
About Ishxenta State Park
The purpose of Ishxenta State Park - formerly known as the Point Lobos Ranch property, is to preserve and protect an extremely scenic portion of the northern Big Sur Coast. Located on significant Indigenous Ancestral Land, the property contains one of the world's largest native Monterey Pine forests, examples of the rare Gowen cypress and areas of the rare maritime chaparral plant community.
The property and surrounding public lands provide mountain lion habitat, and at the upper elevations, offers spectacular views of Carmel Bay and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary coastline. The San Jose Creek provides protection for steelhead trout spawning grounds. The property also contains an early twentieth century complex of ranch buildings.
For more information on Ishxenta State Park and the surrounding Carmel Area State Parks, please view the Carmel Area State Parks General Plan.
Registration OPEN for 2025 Ishxenta Bird Hikes
Birders (and everyone else) are welcome on this California State Parks "Discovering Connections – A Focus on Birding" hike along the vibrant San Jose Creek within Ishxenta State Park.
Registration is now open for tour dates through July. Cost is $20 per person and open to ages 10 and older. Visit "A Focus on Birding Hike in the San Jose Creek Natural Preserve" on Eventbrite to register.
Coast chaparral, Monterey pine forest, and riparian habitats create an exceptional birding experience at this site! This easy-paced, two-mile round-trip hike affords multiple opportunities for observation of plants, wildlife, and BIRDS. Expect to see hummingbirds, raptors, warblers, sparrows, and quail, and to learn about the connections between birds and local Indigenous culture.
California State Parks interpreters will lead participants along a designated trail with terrain that is mostly flat with some moderate incline along the way. The trail surface is hardpacked but uneven, winding through both sunny and shaded areas. There are no benches or other seating along the way. Potential hazards include poison oak and ticks. Participants are encouraged to wear long pants, bring hats, water, and their own binoculars. There are a few sets of binoculars available to borrow if you do not have your own.
Location: Ishxenta State Park - San Jose Creek Natural Preserve
Leaders: California State Parks Staff Interpreters: Violet Smith and Amanda Preece
Meet: Marathon Flats Parking, adjacent to the Crossroads Safeway parking lot. Check-in with State Parks Staff required; Vanpool to Ishxenta State Park. Ages 10 or above. Car seats not permitted in van.
Tickets: Register on Eventbrite. $20 per person. 72 hours in advance cancellation. Tickets are transferable at any time.
Questions? Please contact State Parks Staff: violet.smith@parks.ca.gov
NEW Tour this Spring & Summer: Blooms, Butterflies, and Native Roots
NEW This Spring & Summer: Blooms, Butterflies, and Native Roots
Join us for a new guided walk at Ishxenta State Park! This incredible park is home to diverse wildlife and seasonal wildflowers, as well as an ancestral village area of the Rumsen people, whose deep connection with the land continues to this day.
Along the scenic San Jose Creek Trail, we’ll explore Native plant uses, traditional lifeways, and efforts to protect rare species and habitats. Observe spectacular blooming wildflowers and their pollinators, and discover how every part of this ecosystem plays a vital role in maintaining balance.
Whether you're passionate about flowers, conservation, or simply looking for a deeper connection to the land, this walk offers a unique opportunity to experience the natural and cultural heritage of Ishxenta State Park.
Meeting Location: Marathon Flats Parking, adjacent to the Crossroads Safeway parking lot (Check-in with State Park Staff required); Vanpool to Ishxenta State Park. Ages 10 or above. Car seats not permitted in van.
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate, approx. 2 miles, hardpacked but uneven surface, no benches or seating. Potential hazards include poison oak and ticks, and participants are encouraged to wear long pants.
What to Bring: Sturdy walking shoes, water, and sun protection. Camera and binoculars recommended.
Tickets: Register on Eventbrite. 72 hours in advance cancellation. Eventbrite fees are non-refundable. Tickets are transferable at any time.
Questions? Please contact State Park Staff: MontereyDistrict.Tribal@parks.ca.gov
Ishxenta State Park - Limited Access Via Monthly Public Tours
Ishxenta State Park's lower creekside trail is open to the public on a limited basis via California State Parks staff-led tours.
State Parks hosts two different monthly hikes via Event Brite registration as well as a collaborative tour with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District "Let's Go Outdoors" program.
For more information about CA State Parks collaboration with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District "Let's Go Outdoors" program, please visit: https://www.mprpd.org/let-s-go-outdoors
