California’s Magnificent Elephant Seals
One of my favorite stops along Pacific Coast Highway 1 when traveling from Los Angeles has to be Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. Over 20,000 Elephant Seals cover 6 miles of coastline around Point Piedras Blancas every year. If you love viewing wildlife up close, this is a place you’re practically guaranteed to see elephant seals year-round.
Elephant Seal Vista Point
Just north of Hearst Castle and San Simeon, CA, the Elephant Seal Vista Point is probably the most popular spot to stop and view the seals. There is plenty of parking here (which is even suitable for trucks and large RVs), and the boardwalk-like walkways give you easy, up close access to view the wildlife. This area can also be the busiest because it’s so easily accessible and right off the highway. Plan on visiting early if you want to avoid the crowds.
Boucher Trail
For more of a “hike” experience, I recommend taking Boucher Trail, which is just north of the main view point. Named after Jim Boucher, a former Piedras Blancas light station manager, the trail includes bluffs, grassland, and wetland areas, making it one of my favorite places to take in the magnificent coastal views. There are also 5 elephant seal overlooks to enjoy along the trail.
At just under 4 miles out and back, this is a relatively easy trail. It’s designed with a focus on protecting the coast and its natural wildlife, as well as to ensure safe and beautiful views for public access. Not only can you see seals, otters and sea birds here, but it’s a wonderful hike to enjoy the gray whale migration every year from February through May. Make sure to stay on the marked trail path because this area is home to wildlife, including coyotes and snakes (both of which I’ve seen here)…and there’s a significant amount of poison oak located just off the trail.
Piedras Blancas Motel
One of the lesser known viewing areas (and my personal favorite) is the old Piedras Blancas Motel, which is also the meeting spot for Piedras Blancas Light Station tours. This 12 room vintage roadside Motel and dining complex opened in the 1950s and served vacationing tourists until 2005. In 2007, a motel annex containing three suites was bulldozed due to the coastal erosion here. However, you can still follow the marked paths for incredible ocean views and up close photo ops of the elephant seals just below the cliff edge.
The State Parks system currently owns this property. In fact, the old manager suite is now used as a private residence for State Park employees, so make sure to be respectful and quiet when you visit. It is of the utmost importance that you stay on the marked paths because the cliffs here are quite literally eroding and falling away…so walking to close to the unstable edge could have dire consequences. The path is plenty close to the overlooks though, and in multiple areas the trail offers stunning cliffside views.
Best Times to Visit
There are elephant seals at the rookery year round, but your viewing experience can vary depending on what season you plan to visit. My personal favorite time to come is January, which is when the beaches are packed with seals and the pups are being born.
The annual cycle begins in November when sub-adults haul out on the beach. In December, mature male bulls return and start fighting for dominance, and more females arrive too. Most births happen between late December and late January (often spiking near the end of January). February is mating season…in fact, the peak of mating often happens around Valentine’s Day. By March most of the adults set out, leaving the weened pups to teach themselves how to swim. April & May bring back females and juveniles to molt, followed by the molting season of sub-adult males and mature bulls in June and July.
Molting season is fascinating and a great opportunity to see many seals here. However, a strong smell from the molting can be quite pungent, and some find the aroma too off-putting to enjoy an extended time here. By August, all the molting is complete and the beaches will have the fewest seals of the season, but also some of the biggest. During September and October the juveniles return, and the yearly cycle repeats itself again in November.
History
100 years ago, these seals were hunted almost to the point of extinction (for their oil rich blubber). Less than 100 were thought to remain off the coast of California. In fact, it wasn’t until 1990 that the first elephant seals were observed returning to beaches south of the Piedras Blancas Light Station. In 1992, the first pup was born at Piedras Blancas, and 30 years later the population is thriving.
Important facts to keep in mind when visiting:
•You can view the live elephant seal cam year round here
• See a live view from Piedras Blancas Light Station here
• Viewing areas are open every day. There are no fees or reservations required.
• No public transportation is available.
• Parking is free and only allowed in designated parking areas.
• The viewing walkways at each end of the parking lot are part of the California Coastal Trail, and are wheelchair accessible.
• There are no restrooms located at the Vista Viewpoint, so plan accordingly. The closest restrooms are portable toilets located at the old Piedras Blancas Motel.
• The peak season for elephant seals is December to March, which can bring winter storms and windy conditions. Weather conditions at Piedras Blancas are usually moderate, but weather can change quickly. Flat shoes, a jacket, water, and sunscreen are recommended.
• It’s a good idea to check California Highway 1 road conditions before planning your itinerary.
• Arrive early if you want to have their “singing” all to yourself, or visit at sunset to see them active and vocalizing.
• The closest food and gas is located approximately 7 miles to the south in San Simeon.
• The use of any drones or model aircrafts are illegal in the rookery area.
• Dogs and seals do not mix, so dogs are only allowed on leash in specific areas here.
• You must remain on the marked trails and viewing walkways at all times. The dunes and other bluffs outside the fences or ropes are protected areas, home to native plants and animals, such as rattle snakes and coyotes.
• Do not feed any of the animals here. Ground squirrels are wild animals, carriers of fleas and other vectors of disease, and occasionally they do bite.
• Poison oak is abundant in the area, so again stay safe and always stay only on the marked trails.
• Never touch or handle marine wildlife. Elephant seals are protected by federal law. It is illegal to touch or throw things or cause a reaction from any marine mammal. If you witness someone harassing a marine mammal, please call 1-805-927-2068.
• Please be considerate of the Leave no Trace Principles to help keep this place wild and beautiful.
In Summary & Behind the Blog Video
We are so blessed to have the only elephant seal rookery in the world that is easily accessible, completely free, and open to the public every day of the year close enough for a day trip from LA. For more information (as well as footage I captured of a seal birth!), see my Behind the Blog video below…and as always, I wish you encouragement and adventure wherever you go.