Año Nuevo SP

TRAIL CLOSURE

The Año Nuevo Natural Preserve will be closed to visitors December 1st through December 14th.
There will be no access for viewing the elephant seals during this time.

The preserve will open again on December 15th with docent guided walks.

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Año Nuevo State Park is located in San Mateo County, approximately 25 miles south of Half Moon Bay and 25 miles north of Santa Cruz on HWY 1. It rests on the coastal edge of the Santa Cruz Mountains and is a easy day trip from the cities of San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco. 

The park preserves and protects the scenic, biological, ecological, and cultural values of the central California coastline, including Año Nuevo Island and properties on the western slope of the coast range inland from Año Nuevo Point. The Natural Preserve within the park protects and interprets the pinniped rookeries and significant wildlife habitats on Año Nuevo Island. The park also contains sensitive native dunes and coastal terrace prairie habitats, and a diversity of inland plant communities, including old growth forest, freshwater marsh, red alder riparian forest and knobcone pine forest. Its four perennial streams support steelhead trout and coho salmon, and its wetlands are habitat to the rare San Francisco garter snake and red-legged frog. Cultural resources include the remnants of Native California Indian Ohlone occupation of the area and a number of restored historical buildings from the nineteenth century Dickerman/Steele dairy ranch.

Experience the Elephant Seals

Año Nuevo State Park is one of the largest mainland breeding colonies in the world for the northern elephant seal. A Natural Preserve has been established to protect the elephant seals along with many other animals such as otters, California sea lions, coyotes, cormorants, turns 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.

Elephant Seat Guided Walks - December 15 to March 31
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 Reserve America. 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. 

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

Special Event - Seal Adventure

Important Park Reminders

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

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM SEALS
Elephant seals are dangerous 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. Where Can I Take My Dog.pdf

No Bikes on Trails
Bikes are prohibited on all trails in the park.

No collecting.
Shells, rocks, wood, plants or animals. All features of this park are preserved and protected by law.

No smoking or fires.
Smoking is not permitted in buildings or on guided walks. Fires of all types are prohibited.