Big Love!

Hike to the Elephant Seals at Ano Nuevo State Reserve

01.30.2020
Peninsula & South Bay
Hikes

The bad boys of the beach are back, and they’re looking for a little lovin’. Every year at this time, elephant seals converge on one of their favorite breeding grounds, 13 miles south of Pescadero on the San Mateo coast: Año Nuevo State Park.

Hike to the elephant seals at A

Book a guided hike (through March) and you’ll be privy to one of nature’s most amazing shows: two-and-a-half-ton male seals vying for the alpha status among a harem of discerning female seals.

Be forewarned, things can get downright bullish. Regardless, the behemoth seals are indeed a sight to behold, beauty and beast all at once. You can’t get super close (a minimum distance of 25 feet is required), so a zoom lens is helpful.

Join one of the reserve’s guided tours—daily outings to the rookery that get you as close as possible to the scene, without disrupting it. Wildlife first! Bring a camera to capture the, um, action.

Año Nuevo State Reserve is 55 miles south of San Francisco on Hwy. 1.Reservations are required for guided walks to the rookery.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Chasing Dark Skies: Southern Oregon

    Hot springs, hiking, lodging, antelope, and one of the world’s best places for looking up at night.

    View
  2. Woman with her arms outstretched to the rolling hills scenery while on a rock outcrop at Barnabe Peak in Samuel P Taylor Sate Park in Marin

    Barnabe Bonanza

    Sure, there are higher mountains in Marin (Mount Tam) and easier ascents (Mount Burdell), but is there a more expansive North Bay view? Barnabe Peak in Samuel P. Taylor State Park offers a glorious panorama including Mount Tam, Mount Diablo, and Mount St. Helena.

    View

  3. Tamtastic Sunset

    Sure, the East Peak of Mount Tam is absolutely spectacular at sunset, but some magic-hour enthusiasts head to a nearby spot, Trojan Point, for a little more personal space in their panoramic viewings.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Lagoon Swoon

    We all love an underdog story, especially in the shadow of the greats. Enter a truly SoCal coastal version: Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Though situated next to Surfrider Beach, a fa

    View
  2. Woman hiking the San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail to San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County

    Bluffing Good!

    Lovely coastline, beautiful beaches, unique geological history, and picturesque sandstone cliffs with limited foot traffic in San Diego County? Head to San Onofre State Beach and the 5-mile San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail.

    View

  3. Tahoe's Trio of Lake Vistas

    They say good things come in threes, and it’s true when you embark on this 8-mile (round-trip) hike in Tahoe’s Desolation Wilderness. It gives you three excellent lake vistas: Eagl

    View