Where Are The Elephant Seals In California? (+ Extra Details On Big Sur)

Traveling To California And Wondering Where You Can See The Large, Strange-Looking, And Extremely Elusive Elephant Seals?

Because the elusive Elephant Seal spends almost it’s entire life out in the open ocean, I didn’t know there was anywhere you could see them on land, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out California has a few spots where you can see them, and I was super excited to get to see them myself on a trip to Northern California.

🐘🦭 Where Can You See Elephant Seals In California?

One reason I think Big Sur is the most scenic drive in California is because of the wildlife you can see here.

Getting the chance to see elephant seals still remains one of my most exciting wildlife encounters (although they’re extremely smelly 🤢), and luckily there are a few places you can see them along the California coast:

Point Reyes National Seashore
- north of the San Francisco Bay area
- prior to the 1970s the elephant seals had disappeared from this stretch of beach for more than 150 years
- the overlook is not super close to the elephant seals, which are down on the beach at the base of the bluffs, so binoculars are helpful here
- largest number of seals are here typically from December through March
- there is no entrance pass or parking fee required here

Año Nuevo State Park
- along the coast in between Santa Cruz and San Francisco in Northern California
- there is a per vehicle day use cost at this park
- to see the elephant seals you have to do a little 3-4 mile hike
- from April through November it is a self guided walk to see the seals (which closes at 3:30pm), and from December to March they have a required guided tour to see the seals

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
- at the southern end of the Big Sur area in Northern California
- free boardwalk that is open year-round where you can see elephant seals
- they have three peak seasons in terms of the number of seals (late January, early May, and late October)

📆 When Is The Best Time To See Elephant Seals In California?

Where you can see elephant seals in California is located at a few specific spots but the season also makes a difference.

You can potentially see elephant seals anytime of year in California, so if you’re planning on doing a Big Sur road trip or something, then I would definitely recommend adding in a stop to see the seals no matter what time of year it is.

But if you want to see the big males, the little pups, or just a huge number of the elephant seals, there are a few different options:

Birthing & Breeding – adult males and pups are common from late December through March

Molting – adult females, juveniles, and non-dominant males molt (shedding of their old fur and skin) on the beach heavily in April and May, and some in June, July, and August

The elephant seal boardwalk was one of my favorite stops. — molting in May

Fall Haul-Out – juvenile elephant seals return to the beach after spending months out at sea, and practice their skills for the upcoming mating season

🌟 More Details On Elephant Seals In Big Sur, California

The best spot to see elephant seals in California is Big Sur in my opinion.

Although any of those California places listed above could be great for spotting some elephant seals, I think the best spot for a closer view is the Piedras Blancas rookery at the south end of Big Sur.

Here is some more info on the Big Sur Elephant Seals:

🦭 there is no fee or reservation required to see the Piedras Blancas elephant seals, all you have to do is drive there and walk out onto the boardwalk

🦭 there is an estimated 25,000 Piedras Blancas population of elephant seals, but they don’t all go to the rookery (breeding area on the beach) at the same time

🦭 at the boardwalk, look for blue-jacketed volunteers who have more information and may even have some elephant seal fur you can feel

🦭 the annual elephant seal cycle (breeding, birth, molting, haul-out) begins in late November with the first arrival of the big adult males

🦭 these adult male elephant seals typically weigh the equivalent of a truck or cargo van, but can reach even higher weights over 8,000 pounds

🦭 the number of seals here peaks three times during the year, specifically in late January, early May, and late October

I'd like to return some day to see the big males.

🦭 elephant seals spend most of their lives in the deep ocean (typically diving 1,000-3,000 feet, but sometimes over 5,000 feet) so it’s really unique and exciting to get to see these elusive animals on a beach in California

🦭 the closest larger area to the boardwalk is San Luis Obispo, but Big Sur is a beautiful scenic drive so this could be a great stop to add to a road trip

🦭 there are no bathrooms out at the boardwalk so plan ahead

🦭 the seals are quite stinky just so you know in case you have sensitive senses like me

It would be hard to get all the way through Big Sur on just a day road trip from San Francisco.

🔁 Sum Up: Where Are The Elephant Seals In California?

Although the elusive elephant seals spend most of their lives out deep diving in the ocean, there are a few seasons where they need to come ashore for breeding, birthing, molting, and the haul-out, so luckily there are a few spots in California where you can get a good view of these interesting and unique-looking animals. I suggest the Piedras Blancas boardwalk at the south end of Big Sur for an informative and close view of the seals, but any of these spots would be worth checking out to get a chance to see these marine animals.