Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Adventure
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location:
Año Nuevo State Park, Highway 1 at New Years Creek Road, Pescadero, CA 94060
Starting Point:
The Año Nuevo Point Trail trailhead starts near the Año Nuevo State Park Marine Education Center
Location: Año Nuevo State Park is on Highway 1 in Pescadero, at New Years Creek Road, 20 miles north of Santa Cruz
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Año Nuevo State Park info link:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/anonuevo/
Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Guided Walks info link:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27613
Año Nuevo State Park Seal Viewing Season link:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29375
Año Nuevo State Park Hiking Trails link:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27619
Distance:
There is an ADA standard trail that runs 1.3 miles from the trailhead near the Marine Education Center. The ADA trail does not reach the beaches for viewing the elephant seals.
The Año Nuevo Point Trail for elephant seal viewing is 3 to 4 miles round trip, depending on your viewing point destination.
If not determined to see the elephant seals, you can have a shorter hike to the Staging Area with informational exhibits, where a ranger may offer information or check hike permits for walkers continuing on to the Natural Preserve Trailhead.
For an even shorter hike with an absolutely stunning beach view, you can also do the short hike to Cove Beach, with the Cove Beach Trail starting across from the scenic pond.
Considerations:
• Guided tours are the only choice for visiting the elephant seal area during pupping season in winter, and the rest of the year, a hiking permit is required, and easily acquired (with friendly information and a pamphlet/map on offer) at the Marine Education Center.
• Poison oak: Steer clear, and keep a poison oak scrub like Technu handy.
• Check for ticks after outings.
• Toilet facilities are at the parking area.
• Stay in the center of the trail especially during the more active season for snakes.
• Bring water and sun protection. It can be hot (and buggy).
• Follow all the rules about elephant seal observation. Rangers and docents are available to answer questions whether on a guided hike (mid December to March) or on your own with a hiking permit (April to mid December).
The trail:
I’ve enjoyed two visits to Año Nuevo State Park to see elephant seals, once during the pupping season when restricted to guided walks, and once during molting season when you can go independently but are also restricted to viewing the elephant seals from a distance. The elephant seals photo in the photo gallery is from the more densely populated pupping season when the large bulls are present.
In both cases, I remember the hike feeling longer than expected. There is a very scenic, open straight shot that connects the Marine Education Center to the pond and Cove Beach area. I have yet to walk down to Cove Beach, but next time I visit I might make that the focus of my visit. The distance to the Cove Beach Trail is not that far, and it looks like a very inviting beach.
From that area, which has some scenic twists, turns, and informational signs, the Año Nuevo Point Trail carries on for what feels like a long way to get to the Staging Area. A docent or ranger is usually here to answer questions about the skull display, or to lead those signed up for a guided tour.
The more solid trail becomes a sandy beach trail with hills, which presents a different set of challenges for walkers. The beach trail has some swampy areas and patchy dune plant life, and the path may not be as clear for getting to your elephant seal viewing destination if visiting from spring to fall without a guide.
Before you can see any marine mammals, from behind the dunes, you can hear very loud sea mammals barking up a storm. Surprisingly, the loud critters are not the elephant seals, but rather sea lions who have taken over Año Nuevo Island, which features a historic house ruin. Apparently the elephant seals and the sea lions do not hang out together. The area also features harbor seals and a few Steller sea lions who occasionally wander further down from Alaska than expected.
The hike out and back is beautiful, presenting ocean views, mountain vistas, grassy fields, and a pond near the Cove Beach trailhead. For hikes other than the elephant seal beach viewing hike, check the trails link above.
This is a worthwhile day trip from San Francisco or any other Bay Area location, and it makes for a great side stop when visiting the Santa Cruz or Monterey area.
Have your camera or binoculars ready to see the elephant seals from a safe distance. They are big and look slow, but can move very quickly. Follow the 25 feet away rule and enjoy!
(Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Adventure Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Nature’s Insightful Kick In the Head” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location:
Año Nuevo State Park, Highway 1 at New Years Creek Road, Pescadero, CA 94060
Starting Point:
The Año Nuevo Point Trail trailhead starts near the Año Nuevo State Park Marine Education Center
Location: Año Nuevo State Park is on Highway 1 in Pescadero, at New Years Creek Road, 20 miles north of Santa Cruz
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Año Nuevo State Park info link:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/anonuevo/
Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Guided Walks info link:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27613
Año Nuevo State Park Seal Viewing Season link:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29375
Año Nuevo State Park Hiking Trails link:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27619
Distance:
There is an ADA standard trail that runs 1.3 miles from the trailhead near the Marine Education Center. The ADA trail does not reach the beaches for viewing the elephant seals.
The Año Nuevo Point Trail for elephant seal viewing is 3 to 4 miles round trip, depending on your viewing point destination.
If not determined to see the elephant seals, you can have a shorter hike to the Staging Area with informational exhibits, where a ranger may offer information or check hike permits for walkers continuing on to the Natural Preserve Trailhead.
For an even shorter hike with an absolutely stunning beach view, you can also do the short hike to Cove Beach, with the Cove Beach Trail starting across from the scenic pond.
Considerations:
• Guided tours are the only choice for visiting the elephant seal area during pupping season in winter, and the rest of the year, a hiking permit is required, and easily acquired (with friendly information and a pamphlet/map on offer) at the Marine Education Center.
• Poison oak: Steer clear, and keep a poison oak scrub like Technu handy.
• Check for ticks after outings.
• Toilet facilities are at the parking area.
• Stay in the center of the trail especially during the more active season for snakes.
• Bring water and sun protection. It can be hot (and buggy).
• Follow all the rules about elephant seal observation. Rangers and docents are available to answer questions whether on a guided hike (mid December to March) or on your own with a hiking permit (April to mid December).
The trail:
I’ve enjoyed two visits to Año Nuevo State Park to see elephant seals, once during the pupping season when restricted to guided walks, and once during molting season when you can go independently but are also restricted to viewing the elephant seals from a distance. The elephant seals photo in the photo gallery is from the more densely populated pupping season when the large bulls are present.
In both cases, I remember the hike feeling longer than expected. There is a very scenic, open straight shot that connects the Marine Education Center to the pond and Cove Beach area. I have yet to walk down to Cove Beach, but next time I visit I might make that the focus of my visit. The distance to the Cove Beach Trail is not that far, and it looks like a very inviting beach.
From that area, which has some scenic twists, turns, and informational signs, the Año Nuevo Point Trail carries on for what feels like a long way to get to the Staging Area. A docent or ranger is usually here to answer questions about the skull display, or to lead those signed up for a guided tour.
The more solid trail becomes a sandy beach trail with hills, which presents a different set of challenges for walkers. The beach trail has some swampy areas and patchy dune plant life, and the path may not be as clear for getting to your elephant seal viewing destination if visiting from spring to fall without a guide.
Before you can see any marine mammals, from behind the dunes, you can hear very loud sea mammals barking up a storm. Surprisingly, the loud critters are not the elephant seals, but rather sea lions who have taken over Año Nuevo Island, which features a historic house ruin. Apparently the elephant seals and the sea lions do not hang out together. The area also features harbor seals and a few Steller sea lions who occasionally wander further down from Alaska than expected.
The hike out and back is beautiful, presenting ocean views, mountain vistas, grassy fields, and a pond near the Cove Beach trailhead. For hikes other than the elephant seal beach viewing hike, check the trails link above.
This is a worthwhile day trip from San Francisco or any other Bay Area location, and it makes for a great side stop when visiting the Santa Cruz or Monterey area.
Have your camera or binoculars ready to see the elephant seals from a safe distance. They are big and look slow, but can move very quickly. Follow the 25 feet away rule and enjoy!
(Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Adventure Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Nature’s Insightful Kick In the Head” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
