Elephant seals are the star attraction at Año Nuevo State Park, especially during the winter months. Compared to other seal species, elephant seals got a large, long nose almost like a elephant trunk. From Dec 15 to March 31, there are guided elephant seal walks for the price of around $11 per ticket. Parking fee not is not included. You reserve online ahead of time since these tours fill up quickly.
Elephant seals are breeding or giving birth in the winter season and are a sight to see once in your life. I visited during them molting season for a self-guided tour. There are less elephant seals in the spring and summer months, but you can stay for a longer period. During molting season, you’ll definitely need some binoculars or a telephoto lens to see them.
From the parking area, Año Nuevo Point Trail (4 miles roundtrip) will take you all the way to the viewing platform where you can see all the elephant seals from a safe distance. The boardwalk will take you to the official viewpoint and on weekends there may be volunteers there to talk about these creatures. Before heading back to the parking, you can also take Cove Beach Trail to a quiet beach.
