Join us for guided northern elephant seal tours at Hearst San Simeon State Park! Experience a fun and educational tour of the area’s most charismatic megafauna guided by knowledgeable State Park Interpreters. On the tour, you will hear about the elephant seal lifecycle while overlooking battling bulls, birthing cows, and cackling pups. Feel free to bring your binoculars for a spectacular wildlife experience like you have never seen before!
Tours for the 2026 winter season will take place in February on Fridays and Saturdays. California State Parks Staff will be onsite to greet tour goers for 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. tour times. For safety purposes, viewing access is only permittedwhen accompanied by trained Park Staff during the tour.
Tours will meet at one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline that Hearst San Simeon State Park has to offer, Arroyo Laguna, located 2.25 miles north of the Hearst Castle Entrance on the oceanside of HWY 1 (35°39'11.04"N, 121°13'18.83"W).
Tickets are $13 per person, and onsite parking is free. Tickets are available for purchase at the meeting location listed above on the day of the tour. Only credit cards are accepted.
Know Before You Go:
The elephant seal tours include a 45-minute, ½-mile trail walk with slightly varied terrain. You will be walking in loose rocky soil with potentially wet and muddy conditions. Coastal weather can be chilly and change quickly. Please wear sturdy, close-toed shoes and prepare for varied weather with warm layers.
In Addition to the Tour:
We recommend a visit to the Piedras Blancas Northern Elephant Seal Rookery Viewing Area, 4.5 miles north of Hearst Castle on HWY 1. It is open daily, free to all visitors, and features ADA access to all viewing boardwalks.
For more information call:
Morro Bay Museum of Natural History: (805) 772-2694
Lily Silverstein (Park Interpretive Specialist): (805) 712-4776
Bre Brown (State Park Interpreter I): (805) 712-4839
