Trail Map of Año Nuevo
Elephant seal watching at Año Nuevo State Reserve; learn about fascinating sex lives of gigantic marine mammals
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Overview
Easy:
4.5 miles, 1-3 hours
Other Information:
Family Friendly
Overview:
The elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Reserve are are not pretty, but they live pretty well. In fact, they're living out one of the world's greatest escapes from extinction.
Things have been getting better for the elephant seals of the Pacific Coast in the century since humans stopped slaughtering them: Their population has recovered from hundreds to over a hundred thousand.
Now thousands of northern elephant seals come to Año Nuevo and a few other beaches in California and Mexico to breed. Watching their reproductive antics is one of the best wildlife experiences available in California -- the closest you're likely to come to any large mammals as they go about their business of making babies.
You'll be amazed at how many of elephant seals fill Año Nuevo at the height of the season. It'll look like a seal civilization, and you can learn all their laws on the guided tours.
Tips: Elephant seals are immense, dangerous wild animals (an adult male weighs as much as your car). Never approach and always give them lots of space.
Sand walking can wear you out if you're not used to it. The beach walking makes a four-mile hike feel like a six-miler.
Watch for poison oak along narrow sections of trail.
Park hours:
April 1-Aug. 31: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sept. 1-Nov 30: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Dec. 1-14: Seal area closed
What to bring:
Windbreaker and layers -- it can be quite cold at the beach, especially in winter.
Shoes suited to walking on sand
Drinking water
Binoculars and cameras
Cash for parking fee
Things have been getting better for the elephant seals of the Pacific Coast in the century since humans stopped slaughtering them: Their population has recovered from hundreds to over a hundred thousand.
Now thousands of northern elephant seals come to Año Nuevo and a few other beaches in California and Mexico to breed. Watching their reproductive antics is one of the best wildlife experiences available in California -- the closest you're likely to come to any large mammals as they go about their business of making babies.
You'll be amazed at how many of elephant seals fill Año Nuevo at the height of the season. It'll look like a seal civilization, and you can learn all their laws on the guided tours.
Tips: Elephant seals are immense, dangerous wild animals (an adult male weighs as much as your car). Never approach and always give them lots of space.
Sand walking can wear you out if you're not used to it. The beach walking makes a four-mile hike feel like a six-miler.
Watch for poison oak along narrow sections of trail.
Park hours:
April 1-Aug. 31: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sept. 1-Nov 30: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Dec. 1-14: Seal area closed
What to bring:
Windbreaker and layers -- it can be quite cold at the beach, especially in winter.
Shoes suited to walking on sand
Drinking water
Binoculars and cameras
Cash for parking fee
Breeding Season
Molting Season
POIs: numbers | icons
