Elephant Seals are seen year-round at the Piedras Blancas Rookery. Best times of year to see these amazing animals in action are
October through May
with the big show (birthing and breeding) in January and February. Come see these magnificent marine mammals up close on one of the prettiest coastlines in California.
Where are elephant seals found in California?
The largest colonies of northern elephant seals are found off southern California in the
Channel Islands
.
Are there elephant seals in California?
Today,
there are approximately 200,000 northern elephant seals
. The first elephant seals on Año Nuevo Island were sighted in 1955, and the first pup was born there in 1961. In 1978, 872 were born there. Males began to haul out on the mainland in 1965.
Can you see elephant seals in San Francisco?
This shoreline between San Francisco and San Mateo is one of the hot spots for elephant seals during the winter
. The walk to the beach of seals requires a hike over sand dunes and other terrain, according to the park’s website.
Where are the elephant seals in Santa Cruz?
Año Nuevo State Park
is the site for one of the largest mainland breeding colonies in the world for the northern elephant seal, and lucky for us, it’s just 22 miles north of Santa Cruz along scenic Highway 1.
Where are the seals near Pismo beach?
- Elephant Seal Vista Point. 50.1 mi. Beaches. …
- Morro Bay State Park. 18.6 mi. 155 reviews. …
- Hearst Castle. 47.9 mi. …
- San Simeon State Park & Campground. 41.1 mi. …
- Cambria Shores Inn. 40.0 mi. …
- Moonstone Landing. 39.9 mi. …
- Oceanpoint Ranch. 40.7 mi. …
- Fog Catcher Inn. 40.1 mi.
Where can I see seals in Big Sur?
The
Piedras Blancas rookery
is about 7 miles north of the town of San Simeon (250 miles north of Los Angeles) on the California Central Coast. It’s an unbeatable viewing area because the seals have conveniently situated themselves RIGHT NEXT to the highway.
Where are the elephant seals in Big Sur?
These elephant seals reside within the
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
which emcompasses 276 miles of shoreline and 5,322 square miles of ocean. Click Here for more information about MBNMS.
Where do seals give birth in California?
Harbor seals give birth between March and June on
tidal sandbars, rocky reefs and pocket beaches
.
Where are there seals in California?
The Channel Islands
are a key habitat on the California coast for seal and sea lions. The National Parks Service shares that four species of seals and sea lions make the Channel Islands their home, including California sea lions, northern fur seals, harbor seals and northern elephant seals.
Are there seals at Seal Beach California?
In Seal Beach you will notice that
little seals are everywhere
! The street signs have little seal emblems on them, the trash containers have seal designs, the playground below the pier has seal rides for the kiddos… the list goes on, and it can be great fun to spot as many as you can while you’re in town.
Where can I see seals in Los Angeles?
- Seven Sea Caves of La Jolla. Just to the east of the Cove, you can find La Jolla’s famous Seven Sea Caves. …
- Seven Sea Caves of La Jolla. …
- Boomer Beach. …
- Boomer Beach. …
- Shell Beach/Seal Rock. …
- Shell Beach/Seal Rock. …
- La Jolla Cove. …
- La Jolla Cove.
Where is the best place to see elephant seals?
The best viewing areas are located
90 miles south of Monterey, 5 miles north of Hearst Castle State Historical Monument in San Simeon
. They are 1.5 miles south of Point Piedras Blancas. The viewing areas are open every day of the year, are wheelchair accessible and free.
What beach in California has sea lions?
One of the best places to see sea lions in California is at
La Jolla Cove
(an excellent sea lion beach in California). However, they are all up and down the California coast. Other places include San Simeon, Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary, Pier 39 in San Francisco, and King Harbor in Redondo Beach.
What time of day are elephant seals most active?
When it’s hot and sunny, the seals typically leave the beach each morning by 7:00 or 8:00am at the latest. They’ll gradually return to the sand in the
late afternoon or early evening
, once the shade and/or tide has cooled off the sand.
Can you see elephant seals at Año Nuevo without a tour?
The only way to see the seals at Año Nuevo during breeding season is on guided tours
, which happen daily from December through March and last about 2.5 hours. Reservations are required and the booking window typically opens in mid to late October.
When can you see elephant seals Año Nuevo?
Año Nuevo State Park offers docent-guided walks
between December 15 and March 31
, which feature the elephant seals in their natural habitat. To view the elephant seals during this season, you must be on a guided walk. Elephant seal viewing requires a 3-4 mile moderate hike over varied terrain, including sand dunes.
What time of year do seals give birth?
The big seal haul out
Grey seal mothers haul out onto beaches
between October and January
to give birth. They spend three weeks ashore weaning their newborn pups with fatty milk, before abandoning their young and mating again. After they have mated, adult seals will take to the sea to feed.
Where can I see seals in San Luis Obispo?
The best place to see seals is 50 miles north of San Luis Obispo and just a few miles north of Hearst Castle, where elephant seals spend much of the day basking in the sun on the beach. Kibblesmom is correct that the
Piedras Blancas rookery just north of San Simeon
is the best place to see lots of seals.
Are there elephant seals in Pismo beach?
Elephant Seals of San Simeon
| Living in Pismo Beach.
Does Pismo beach have seals?
The butterflies are only present for a short time in the winter. They generally show up mid to late November through part of February.
There are always seals on the beach north of San Simeon
(about an hour’s drive from Pismo).
Where can I see Whales in Big Sur?
Humpback Whales are often seen from the highway turnouts throughout Big Sur.
At the junction of Partington Ridge and Highway One there is a deep submarine canyon
where the Humpback Whales are seen on a regular basis.
Are there elephant seals in San Simeon now?
The Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery north of San Simeon is full of seals now
, but bulls with their signature trunk-like noses aren’t among them. Adult females and young seals are on the beach in the spring, molting their skin.
Why do elephant seals go to San Simeon?
Starting in December, pregnant female elephant seals begin arriving on the shores of San Simeon
to give birth
.
When can you see whales in Big Sur?
Gray whales can be seen from the highway turnouts in Big Sur from
December through April
. December to early February the California Gray Whales are migrating south. Beginning in February you begin seeing whales migrating back to Alaska with their newborn babies by their sides.
Are there walrus in California?
Millions of years ago, in the warm Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California, walrus species without tusks lived abundantly. But in a new study,
paleontologists have identified three new walrus species discovered in Orange County
and one of the new species has ”semi-tusks” — or longer teeth.
Where can you see seals in San Francisco?
When you think of San Francisco icons, the sea lions are up there with the Golden Gate Bridge. They are one of the reasons why
PIER 39
is the top attraction in San Francisco. On a typical day, you can find them lounging in the sun or piled on top of each other on K-Dock in PIER 39’s West Marina.
