Pets allowed
Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Perched above the rocky Point Fermin Beach and boasting excellent views of the jagged cliff band that separates it from the sea, Point Fermin Park is an idyllic setting for an afternoon stroll. Bring your leashed dog, check out the historic lighthouse, and pack a picnic. The sweeping vistas and picnic tables with barbecues have established it as a popular family gathering area, and the area hosts the occasional wedding.

The design of the Victorian style lighthouse perched over the sea at Point Fermin Park has been repurposed for six other lighthouses around the country. Once the San Pedro area underwent development in the early 1900s, the park around the lighthouse became a social meeting place for residents in the greater Los Angeles area. That still bodes true today, and this popular park experiences relatively high traffic throughout the year (though don’t let that deter you from visiting).

From the numerous and spectacular vantage points along the bluff it is possible to catch a glimpse of a playful dolphin in the bay or harbor seals on the beach. The park is also one of few places on the peninsula where Monarch butterflies historically spend their winters. 

Keep an eye out for an events list, as the covered area is home to Shakespeare By The Sea. For any fan, or for anyone appreciative of culture with a twist, watching a Shakespearean play performed outside is truly a marvel. The organization boasts an average 20,000 yearly attendees, and 2017 will mark their 20th anniversary. Along with these performances, Point Fermin Park hosts a number of other small events. 

The park has views of the infamous Sunken City, an old and partially washed away beachside neighborhood. Accessing Sunken City is illegal and blocked off by a chain-link fence, but street artists have, nevertheless, converted overturned slabs of concrete into brilliant works of art.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Historic lighthouse. Bandstand. Terrace views.

Cons

None.

Features

ADA accessible
Amphitheater
Campgrounds + Campsites
Historically significant
Flushing toilets
Lighthouse
Potable water
Picnic tables
Playground

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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