Año Nuevo State Park

Año Nuevo State Park offers an incredible guided walk to witness the awe-inspiring elephant seals in their natural habitat. The scenic views of the rugged coastline and expansive ocean make the hike an unforgettable experience. Along the way, you'll be accompanied by a knowledgeable and passionate guide—John—who shares fascinating insights about the seals' behavior, the park's unique ecosystem, and the history of the area. With John's enthusiasm and expertise, the tour becomes even more engaging, making this a truly memorable adventure in one of California's most beautiful parks. 2-8-2025

This park is truly a hidden gem! We visited to see the elephant seals, and the experience exceeded our expectations. Parking is $10, and during this time of year, a permit is required to access the beaches where the seals reside. These permits can be obtained at the marine education center, where a friendly and knowledgeable staff member greeted us. They carefully explained the route, park rules, and even detailed how many seals we might see at each beach. The park’s volunteers deserve a special mention—they are incredibly kind and helpful, making the visit even more enjoyable. The hike to the furthest beach (North Point Overlook), where most seals gather, is about 2 miles and takes roughly 40 minutes each way. The effort is well worth it! We were able to see a large number of seals up close, and the sight was truly memorable. Along the way, we also spotted numerous deer, adding to the charm of our journey. The views throughout the park are breathtaking, making the hike a delight in itself. I highly recommend visiting this park—it’s a unique and rewarding experience for anyone who loves wildlife and stunning natural scenery!

We loved our visit to Ano Nuevo State Park and seeing the elephant seals for the first time. We didn't have a spot reserved for a tour but the amazingly nice and helpful woman at the kiosk as we drove in asked us if we wanted to join the tour starting about 20 minutes later to which we of course said yes. She gave us some tickets that we redeemed at the gift shop for the tour. Parking was $10. Two tickets for the 3 hour tour were $14 total. Our guide Claire was very knowledgeable and delightful. Our group was made up of about 15 people. The 3.5 mile hike they quote at the beginning is spread out throughout the 3+ hours you are out observing the elephant seals. There's a short walk to the staging area and then another short walk to where you view one beach and get info from the docent. This is repeated a few times. No eating or drinking is allowed on the tour with the exception of water. Bring your own. The water from the fountain isn't great and I think there were reusable bottles of water available for sale in the gift shop for $5. No dogs allowed on the trail. There are bathrooms in the parking lot. There are picnic tables near the gift shop / check in area where food appeared to be allowed.

Went on a Friday midday and walked along the trails. I didn't take the guided tour and was warned I wouldn't see any seals. But I did find one asleep on the beach in one of the public access areas. There are signed everywhere warning to leave the seals alone, and I did. The visitor center is lovely too. Worth the drive.

A fairly easy trail to see elephant seals up close, and there aren't all that many places for that. Also just a cool coastal California trail. Some hills & dunes make for a little challenge but mostly quite a flat and easy path.This time of year it's younger seals, but some were huge, probably 2,000-3,000 lbs, just not as huge as the big guys that will be there next month who are maybe 5,000 lbs or more. Knowledgable docents really added to the experience with insights on the seals and the area. Doing your research in advance of visiting is recommended so you'll know what to expect the particular time of year you're there and what the requirements are for you to get up close to the seals.