Año Nuevo State Park

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Viewing the Seals April-November

Elephant seal viewing is self-guided from April to November. No tours or reservations are needed to visit the elephant seals.

Starting April 1, guided tours are not required to see the seals. Instead, you walk out to the viewing areas on your own on the Año Point Trail. At each of the viewing areas, there is a docent to explain what you’re seeing and answer questions. A free permit is required to visit the seals. The free permit is available at the park from 8:30-3:30, daily. There is a day use/parking fee. Visitors will not be able to obtain a permit after 3:30 pm due to the length of time it takes to hike to the viewing areas. Your visit to see the seals is a self-guided walk.

Click here to learn about visiting the northern elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park.

Visiting Año Nuevo State Park

Año Nuevo State Park's rich variety of natural and cultural resources draws visitors from around the world. The park’s Natural Preserve offers an extraordinary wilderness experience, where every year up to 10,000 elephant seals return to breed, give birth, and molt their skin amongst the scenic dunes and beaches.

The park features the Marine Education Center boasting a natural history exhibit, bookstore, and theater. This complex is housed in the historic nineteenth century dairy ranch of the Dickerman/Steele family. These restored buildings recall the early American settlers, while the midden sites throughout the Natural Preserve tell us the story of the Quiroste Indians that lived peacefully here for thousands of years prior to the 1600s. Cove Beach is a short walk from here for beachgoers and surfers.

The physical terrain of Año Nuevo is distinctive, with coastal terrace prairie, wetland marshes, dune fields and coastal scrub hosting a high diversity of plants and animals, including the rare and endangered San Francisco Garter Snake and California Red-legged Frog.

A hike out along ocean bluffs brings visitors to Año Nuevo Point, a major bird migratory route and fantastic birding location.  Located just offshore sits Año Nuevo Island and the remains of a 19th century lighthouse and fog signal station.  Built in 1872, the historic keeper's house now provides a new home to Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants as well as California Sea Lions. Otters and harbor seals are often sighted in the waters and magnificent Steller Sea Lions take up residence on the outlying rocks.

Click here to learn about visiting the northern elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park.

Experience the Elephant Seals Year-Round 

One of the largest mainland breeding colonies in the world for the northern elephant seal is at Año Nuevo State Park. A Natural Preserve has been established to protect the elephant seals along with many other animals such as otters, California sea lions, coyotes, cormorants, terns and more. Native plants and an untouched intertidal ecosystem also find shelter inside the Natural Preserve. Elephant seals can be observed here year round either on a docent lead tour or through a self guided permit system within the Wildlife Viewing Area.

IMPORTANT PARK INFORMATION

The following rules and regulations are for your own safety and to protect the plants and animals that live in this park.

TO SEE THE ELEPHANT SEALS
Elephant seal viewing requires a 3-4 mile moderate hike over varied terrain, including sand dunes. Driving to see them is not an option. Sturdy shoes, layered clothing, water and rain/wind/sun protection are recomended. 

April - November: No tours are needed to visit the elephant seals.
Starting April 1, guided tours are not required to see the seals. Instead, you walk out to the viewing areas on your own on the Año Point Trail. At each of the viewing areas, there is a docent to explain what you’re seeing and answer questions. A free permit is required to visit the seals. The free permit is available at the park from 8:30-3:30, daily. There is a day use/parking fee. Visitors will not be able to obtain a permit after 3:30 pm due to the length of time it takes to hike to the viewing areas. Your visit to see the seals is a self-guided walk.

The farthest viewing area is a 4-mile roundtrip walk from the parking lot. The closest viewing area is about a 3-mile roundtrip walk from parking. Which viewing areas we open all depends on the seals. If they are blocking trails to a viewing area, we don't open that spot. The walk is mostly flat, with one tall sand dune to walk over. 

Visitors requiring mobility assistance are encouraged to make a reservation for an Equal Access Tour. 

December - March: You must be on a Guided Walk to see the seals. Reservations are made through www.reservecalifornia.com . Reservations open October 20, for tours 55 days in advance. Visitors requiring mobility assistance are encouraged to make a reservation for an Equal Access Tour. 

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM SEALS
Elephant seals are deadly wild animals and are protected by the park. Harassment and disturbance of elephant seals is prohibited by state and federal laws. Seals can sometimes appear dead due to their quiet nature of sleeping on beaches. However, the majority of the time they are very much alive. Never get within 25 feet of an elephant seal.

NO PETS
Due to the nearby Natural Preserve, pets are not allowed in the park and cannot be left inside parked vehicles in the parking lot.

NO BIKES ON TRAILS
Bikes are prohibited on all trails in the park.

NO COLLECTING
Shells, rocks, wood, plants or animals may not be collected. All features of this park are protected by law.

NO SMOKING OR FIRES
Smoking is not permitted in buildings or on guided walks. Fires of all types are prohibited.

NO DRONES
Drone use is prohibited within Año Nuevo State Park.

NO UMBRELLAS
No umbrellas are allowed in the Nature Preserve area of the park (seal viewing areas).

NO STROLLERS
From December-March, umbrellas are not allowed in the Nature Preserve area of the park (seal viewing areas).

 

April 1 to August 31 - Elephant Seal Molting Season

Northern elephant seals come ashore during the spring and summer months to shed their outer layer of skin and fur. This “molting” process takes from four to six weeks per animal as they rest along the beaches. Female and juvenile seals molt from May through June and older males from July through August.

During the “Molting Season,” the Natural Preserve is open for self-guided hiking by Visitor Permit only. Obtain your free Visitor Permit from the entrance station, between 8:30 am and 3:30 p.m. No reservations are required. Visitors must exit the Natural Preserve by 5 p.m., which is earlier than the general parks closing hour of sunset. Please plan to arrive early enough to obtain a permit. These popular three-to-four mile hikes are considered moderate with varied terrain inlcuding sand dunes. Most groups require about two and a half to three hours to make the round-trip hike. The viewing areas close at 5pm. 

 Sept 1 to Nov 30 - Juvenille Seal Haul-out

During the "Juvenile Haul-out" the Wildlife Viewing Area is open for self-guided hiking by Visitor Permit only. Obtain your free Visitor Permit daily from the entrance station, between 8:30 am and 3:30 p.m. No reservations are required and no Guided Walks are offered. Visitors must exit the area by 5 p.m., which is earlier than the general parks closing hour of sunset. Please plan to arrive early enough to obtain a permit. These popular three-to-four mile hikes are considered moderate with varied terrain inlcuding sand dunes. Most groups require about two and a half to three hours to make the round-trip hike. The viewing areas close at 5pm. 

The Wildlife Viewing area within the Natural Preserve will be closed for elephant seal viewing December 1 through December 14. Park access to areas outside the of the Wildlife Viewing Area will remain open until sunset, including Cove Beach.

Dec 15 to Mar 31 - Elephant Seal Guided Walks

During the breeding season daily access to the Natural Preserve is available only via guided walks. Visitors who hope to see the elephant seals during this season are urged to get their reservations early through ReserveCalifornia. This is the time when male elephant seals battle on the beaches for the right to mate and the females give birth to their pups on the dunes. Most of the adult seals are gone by early March, leaving behind the weaned pups who remain through April. 

Please plan to arrive early. These popular three-to-four mile hikes are considered moderate with varied terrain inlcuding sand dunes. 

For more information on Guided Walks or to make a reservation CLICK HERE

 Recruiting Docent Volunteers for Elephant Seal Guided Walks

Año Nuevo State Park is seeking enthusiastic nature lovers and avid hikers to become docent naturalist volunteers. After attending a comprehensive training, volunteers become docents skilled in interpreting the natural and cultural history of Año Nuevo. Docents lead guided walks during the elephant seal breeding season and are stationed at viewing areas in the spring, summer, and fall.

Join our team and enjoy the many benefits of being a docent at Año Nuevo State Park.

Interviews begin in August.

To learn more about this volunteer opportunity click here

ELEPHANT SEAL GUIDED WALKS  

On sale October 20, 2023 for December 15, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Click here for more information.

 To view the seals during this period, you must be on a guided walk.