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Map Satellite Both land and marine communities are found in this State Park. Chaparral is the dominant land community and includes chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, Ceanothus sp., coyote bush, Baccharis sp., and coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica. On the north-facing slopes and near the streams are stands of redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens. Associated with these stands are California bay, Umbellularia californica, madrone, Arbutus menziesii, and tan-oak, Lithocarpus densiflorus.
Offshore, there is a giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, forest. Numerous other algae are found along the coastline.
Animal life is abundant and typical of the central California coast. The puma, Felis concolor, and coyote, Canis latrans, occur here. The sea otter, Enhydra lutris, is resident and, during the winter migratory season, the California gray whale, Eschrichtius glaucus, is often sighted, with an occasional individual coming into one of the coves. There is a rich marine invertebrate fauna.
Geologically, the underlying rock includes Mesozoic granitics and pre-Cretaceous metamorphics. There are several streams; one, McWay, falls 25 meters (80 feet) over the cliffs into the ocean. At the north end of the park, in the underwater reserve, is the head of Partington Canyon.
Integrity: Though there are a few trails and other facilities, most of the area is virtually undisturbed.
Use: Research, educational, observational, present.
January 1978
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
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