Where To See The Seals In San Francisco?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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.

Are the seals still at Pier 39?

Today, the sea lions are present at Pier 39 from late summer (late July) to late spring (mid May) and there are typically 150 to over 600 hauled out. Sea lions migrate to areas across the Pacific Coast, from Vancouver to the southern tip of Baja.

Where are the seals north of San Francisco?

Point Reyes National Seashore

At this Marin County park, there are three good spots to watch the seals: the Elephant Seal Overlook near Chimney Rock, above Drakes Bay and the South Beach Overlook. There is no fee for visiting the park.

Are there seals at Fisherman’s Wharf?

Each winter, the population can increase up to 900 sea lions, most of which are male . During the summer months, the sea lions migrate south to the Channel Islands for breeding season, but in recent years a small group stays year-round at PIER 39’s K-Dock.

Is Pier 39 same as Fisherman’s Wharf?

Pier 39 is simply one part of the Fisherman’s Wharf complex that encompasses San Francisco’s expansive northern waterfront. It helps to look at it this way: Fisherman’s Wharf is San Francisco’s number one destination, and Pier 39 is Fisherman’s Wharf’s most visited attraction.

Is Pier 39 Covid open?

PIER 39’s restaurants are open for both indoor and outdoor dining following all State/County/City protocols .

What happened to the seals at Fisherman’s Wharf?

The blubbery sea lions at Pier 39, one of San Francisco’s smelliest and most famous tourist attractions, are gone. During the last week of November, they left the wooden docks on which they’ve spent the last 20 years and no one knows if they’ll be coming back.

Why are there no more sea lions at Pier 39?

Initially there was some discussion about how to get rid of the animals and the PIER 39 Marina contacted The Marine Mammal Center to guide their decisions. Ultimately, for the safety of the boat owners , it was decided to leave the dock to the sea lions.

Why are there no sea lions at Pier 39 today?

Pier 39 has been closed since mid-March due to the city’s coronavirus shutdown order . While distant “arfs” can still be heard from the boarded-up walkway along Fisherman’s Wharf, the 400 sea lions are no longer visible to the public. We decided to take a drone out over the pier to see how they’re doing.

Where can I see seals near me?

  • 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 can I see elephant seals in Northern California?

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 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.

Where are the Pier 39 seals?

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 .

Are sea lions at Pier 39?

While the number of sea lions at K-Dock rise and fall with the seasons, available food supply and natural migration patterns, the world famous sea lions always have a home at PIER 39 .

When can you see the sea lions in San Francisco?

The best time of year to view the most sea lions is late July–mid May . In June-July many sea lions leave PIER 39 docks to breed.

Can you walk from Fisherman’s Wharf to Golden Gate Bridge?

Re: Walk from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge? It’s flat, very safe, very scenic, and just a mile or two . To make it go that much faster, rent a bicycle! It can get very foggy and/or windy along the way, however.

What is the most famous pier in San Francisco?

Pier 39 View of Pier 39 Location within San Francisco General information Type Shopping center

Can you uber to the Golden Gate Bridge?

WALKING NORTH: Stop at the rest area at the north end of the Bridge, which is called “Vista Point.” You can then call Uber or Lyft , or call a taxi and say, “Please pick us up at the Vista Point parking lot in Sausalito by the Golden Gate Bridge.” You can even schedule in advance the time when they will pick you up, but ...

Is PIER 39 SF Safe?

PIER 39 is the ideal safe outing . The pier is an open-air marketplace that monitors guest count to ensure everyone has space to socially distance.

Can You Fish PIER 39?

Fisherman’s Wharf: There are a number of fishing platforms on wharfs extending form Pier 39 to Pier 45 to the Embarcadero in San Francisco . Marina Green Jetty: Located in San Francisco, at the end of East Harbor. Take Marina Blvd to Gashouse Cove and then to East Harbor.

Is it safe to go to Fisherman’s Wharf?

San Francisco is fully open and has eliminated capacity limits. The safety of our businesses and visitors remains our number one priority and we ask that you follow all health orders while visiting Fisherman’s Wharf .

What was Pier 39 before?

Originally the locale was to house 103 shops and 23 restaurants , but only about half had doors open by the October 4 opening date. The link to this photo or video may be broken, or the post may have been removed. 5. The only still-extant Pier 39 business open since day one: Swiss Louis Italian restaurant.

What do Pier 39 sea lions eat?

Adam Ratner, who leads conservation education for the Marine Mammal Center, said the sea lions eat the kinds of fish — herring, sardines, mackerel — that are plentiful in the Bay. Its structure provides natural shelter from predators.

What’s the difference between sea lions and seals?

Sea lions (left) are brown, bark loudly, “walk” on land using their large flippers and have visible ear flaps. Seals have small flippers, wriggle on their bellies on land, and lack visible ear flaps.

Are the seals still in San Francisco?

The number fluctuates based on migratory patterns and prey movements but at one point there were over a thousand sea lions chilling on the docks. Today there are 93 sea lions lounging , according to the Sea Lion Center.

What do sea lions eat?

Eats

Do sea lions live in San Francisco?

There are a variety of species of sea lions and seals. In San Francisco, the most common sea lions are California sea lions .

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.