Año Nuevo State Park

Año Nuevo State Park is an incredible place for a day out! The weather was beautiful, and the docent-led tours were extremely informative, offering fascinating insights about the elephant seals. Seeing these magnificent creatures up close in their natural habitat was truly a spectacular experience. The park’s scenery is stunning, and the staff make the visit both educational and enjoyable. Highly recommend it for nature lovers and anyone curious about wildlife!

How can you not love this place, has a nice educational center, well maintained trails, super nice docents, and only $10 per car. Oh, and there are elephant seals to watch. Docents told me peak elephant seal watching occurs in mid-Feb, which is when my return trip will be. Kind of sparse now, most of the seals are in migration to the coast in November.

Had a really enjoyable, relaxing morning here yesterday (8th July 2025). Everyone was so helpful and friendly, I learned a lot about the seals and the area and had some great conversations with the docents. I saw some of the elephant seals 'mock' fighting which was brilliant, a Common Tern who obviously there to be photographed going by the flying backwards and forwards and I loved the Turkey Vultures. Thank you all.

First time visiting this gorgeous stretch of California Coast. On Highway 1 halfway between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Park staff were welcoming and very informative. It is one of the world’s principal rookeries for many tens of thousands of elephant seals that migrate thousands of miles across the Pacific, returning like clockwork to mate and give birth. Who knew?! Depending on time of year (whether the seals are back in full force), the place can be deserted — with just a few seals hanging around and the many helpful docents outnumbering a handful of visitors OR a reservations-only experience with groups of visitors escorted every 20 minutes to see tens of thousands of seals in a mosh pit of birthing, mating, and bloody confrontations between 5000 pound males battling for dominance. If you’re near and have 3 hours to spare, it’s not to be missed. And, of course, an incredibly beautiful stretch of coastline also favored by local surfers.

Fantastic to see the Elephant Seals and a Bold Eagle, all of the Park staff were super friendly and helpful. Loved it and would highly recommend

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

We decided to visit Año Nuevo State Park while driving toward Half Moon Bay, and I’m pretty sure it was the best decision. It was actually my teenager’s choice! There’s a $10 entrance fee for the state park, and you’ll receive a clear map of the area when you enter. If you’d like a closer look at the elephant seals, be sure to get a pass at the entrance. The parking lot is about 3/4 of a mile from the entrance—it’s large, has clean restrooms, and even offers picnic tables. All the trails are well-maintained. Just follow the map and enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Cruz Mountains to the east. It’s an amazing place to spend quality time with friends and family.

5km trekking some parts are to walk over sand dunes and pavement towards the North point to see the elephant seal

Deep New Sea ±4.2k-acre state park and beach, that's located almost equidistant from Half Moon Bay (±32min drive) to the north and Santa Cruz (±26min drive) to the south. It is probably the preeminent place*** to see a pinniped rookery (i.e., elephant seals) in the state, as they accumulate here by the thousands** every winter to breed. The Good: *Tours available to get you as close as possible to the Elephant Seals and are REQUIRED btwn mid-Dec to the end of March. *April to early December you can visit the park without a reservation but the number of elephant seals will be drastically reduced and certain areas will be off‐limits without a docent. *We've done the tour here around three times and the docents are always fantastic and full of great info. *Nice visitor and marine education center you check into at the beginning of the tour with restrooms, displays, and some CA park swag to purchase. *Even if you're not here for the elephant seals, the ocean views are worth the drive alone in the off-season. *Picnic tables by the VC *Trails are a nice gentle four-mile round-trip The Meh: *No dogs allowed *No bikes *$10 entrance fee *Tickets are $10.99/adults ($7 + $3.99 processing fee) and nonrefundable *The area around Año Nuevo is very desolate, and there's not much around in terms of food, so bring a snack or picnic lunch with you so you're not starving by the end of the three hour tour. A three hour tour... The Ugly: *You'll definitely need to plan well in advance if you want to have a weekend tour during the breeding season. Don't think you can just book one the week of--you pretty much need to book in October when they release the tickets for sale, even as far away as March! Weekday availability is pretty good throughout the year, though, for obvious reasons. Conclusion: Fantastic place to get your learn on, enjoy some nature, and get in a few steps while you're at it. **Some years there could be up-to 10k elephant seals! ***Also, check out the Elephant Seal Vista Point in San Simeon (near Hearst Castle)

We had a wonderful time on a Sunday morning! Although we did not get a reservation for the Elephant Seal Guided Walk, we had a nice hike and visit. There was ample parking for a minimal fee. We browsed the exhibit and bookstore at the Marine Education Center. Cove Beach was a short walk. The surroundings were clean and well-maintained. The park staff were very welcoming and kind. We will try to sign up for the guided walk next time.

Beautiful hike about 3.5-4 miles round trip. The state park barely has any cellphone signal, but the staffs worked there are extremely helpful and enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge. For those who don't know: One of the largest mainland breeding colonies in the world for the northern elephant seal is at Año Nuevo State Park. Their molting season is between April 1st to August 31st. The process can be a bit painful. Rule of thumb, please stay at least 100 feet away from all marine mammals. Also wear comfortable shoes as you will need to walk through a sand dune. Last but not least, please preserve our beautiful nature. Zip your food and eat them strictly at the picnic area. Don't leave any trash behind.

I've never been on one of the guided walks in the winter--it's always been either too cold or too rainy when I've wanted to come--but I have done the majority (?) of one of the trails by myself a couple of times. I've seen a male elephant seal, a few sea lions (I think they were males), and some sex-unknown harbor seals. It's amazing to me how close the elephant seal and the harbor seals allowed me to get to them without any kind of warning. I know sea lions are more gregarious with humans and are used to having us around, but these other two species just watched me and didn't make a sound. (The elephant seal was huge and smelled really bad, so I'm assuming he knew I wouldn't mess with him.) The trail itself is pretty easy, and the three or four times I've come, there have been plenty of other people walking, so even if I got hurt or needed help for any reason, I think I would have been fine. My phone has never had cellular or data service anywhere near this stretch of the coast, however, so keep that in mind if you're coming here alone. I really like it when my phone is nothing more than a clock and a camera. The lack of trees is very noticeable, especially after you've been walking awhile. The wind can also be unbearable to walk through, although the weather has stayed the same throughout my visits, meaning that it doesn't seem to change suddenly. The rangers are generally nice. I did have a mean one yell at me while I was parking the first time I came, but I've seldom heard a discouraging word since then.

This place is somewhat of a hidden gem - located along the coast off HWY 1, it was a convenient stop off on our way back to The City from Carmel via the "scenic route." The star attraction of this bucolic spot are its elephant seals. For whatever reason, they've chose this spot as their base for giving birth (Jan/Feb) and molting (fall) and mating before heading back out to sea. We stopped by in mid July and there were around 50 bachelor males sparing in the shallow protected cove or lounging on the beach. But come late fall, there are several thousand. How it works: -pay $10 to enter/park your car -there are several viewpoints out along the beach -the trail Is mostly crushed rock/sand-but you do have to go up and over one large sand dune so you will get sand in your shoes -it takes a total of around 45 min-1 hours to walk out to the viewpoints and a similar amount coming back -expect to spend 2-3 hours -you have to stop into the visitors center inside the big while barn to get a (free) wildlife permit (aka map) in order to go out to thecwater viewpoints -during busy season, advanced reservations are required and visits to see the seals are done only via guided tour (for safety reasons) If you are anywhere nearby this is an amazing sight whether just a few or thousands of these mammoth creatures.

Beautiful state park tucked away inside one of the turns along Highway 1! You first pay for parking (which can be waived if you have a California State Parks pass) and then you can also get a permit to see the elephant seals (which is free of charge). There is a big pond with many birds of various kinds flocking about, including some impressively large pelicans. Proceeding past the birds you'll eventually come to a few viewing spots -- when I visited, the northern spots had the highest concentration of elephant seals. It's really entertaining to watch the elephant seals play in the sand and fight each other. Coming out of the park you'll have plenty of opportunities to continue your adventure including strawberry picking at Swanton Berry Farm as well as sushi dinner in Half Moon Bay.

I had such a magical visit to Año Nuevo! I booked a tour to see the elephant seals and it did not disappoint. The etrance fee is $10 (credit cards accepted). There was plenty of parking, restrooms, and a water fountain. Out on the trails, there was only a port-a-potty. My tour was early January. Dress warmly - the coast is cold and windy. And wear comfortable walking shoes - we hiked for 2+ miles out through the dunes. I recommend bringing binoculars to view the seals, as well as the fun variety of birds. I loved our tour guide Sarah - she was enthusiastic and I learned a lot from her. Such a unique winter day trip for nature lovers!

LIZARDS! Reptilian beauty after reptilian beauty observed us humans traveling on foot along the side of the trails on my visit in the spring of 2018. When I used my Nikon Coolpix camera to take some pictures of the little cuties, they perked up and looked at their reflection in the lens of my camera. They scurried off when we got too close. Along the water's edge, seals slumbered and played chest bump with each other. Helpful park guides yielded information about different animal whereabouts and were friendly and ready to hold conservation with those interested. Trails were easy to navigate and traverse. Grounds were well maintained and a main information center was open. The parking lot was large with open spots easy to find.

4.5 stars. Nice hike. Wonderful secluded beach with a few surfers. Several viewing points for elephant seals. Bathrooms located at the parking lot and another one that's located a short walk from the staging area. Docents are stationed at various viewing points to provide you information regarding the area. $10 parking fee but you will also need to obtain a permit to continue on to the elephant seal viewing areas. The permit is free. We got ours at the staging area. Great place to view wildlife and practice walking on sand. Some areas are muddy so wear appropriate shoes.

Fantastic docent led tour. Saw so many elephant seals. Was not expecting to see them as close as we did. Must do!

It was the perfect day to be out and about. Grab your set of binoculars and head out to the coastline. You will spot all kind of wild life. It was a good walk in bright sun. There is still buy of mud on the way to Brighton beach so wear correct gear. You can stop at white barn and trick up free permit to enjoy viewing elephant seal pups lying on the shores. Definitely worth going!

Beautiful park and an amazing way to see 100s if not thousands of elephant seals up close. Definitely plan your trip between December and March during mating season. I've heard tours book up months in advance, but I found mid-week availability only a few weeks away. And you have to book a tour to get to the trail to see the elephant seals. Tours are cheap--I think only about $8 a person. You can book them through the state park site. Walking tours take about 2 1/2-3 hours. They're not strenuous, but they are long and no eating or drinking (except water) is allowed. Definitely wear sunscreen, take a sun hat, and bring layers. Also, use the bathroom beforehand. We brought our 6 and 3 year olds--my six year old is a nature fanatic and can recite about 100 facts off the tip of her tongue about elephant seals or pretty much any other species you can think of. She was the inspiration for our trip. But, note to parents: the walk is definitely not too tough for young kids, but they might not have the patience. And that's a long time to go without snacks. My kids dropped to the ground at every opportunity to play in the sand, which made us wonder if we should have just gone to China camp beach a few minutes down the road. But the other tour goers were nice retirees and didn't mind the distraction. All in all, while the tour challenged our kids' attention span, it was worth it.

Beautiful beach, would love to come back to do the guided tour. However, the gift shop was closed because the clerk behind the counter had to do "inventory " .... and put up a sign that said "do not disturb "! Maybe don't do inventory while people are trying the visit the Center and paid $10 to enjoy it, AND would like to peruse the gift shop.

Such a beautiful and well kept state park! I visited here for the 2nd time that I could remember (excluding going as a child) in November, on what was the most spectacular day, and basically had the park to ourselves! When we arrived at the kiosk the park ranger asked if we were there to see the elephant seals and then provided us with a permit that included a map. She gave directions on how to get to the seals from the parking lot and then we were off. As with most state parks there is a $10 entrance fee, but we have a stat park pass so it was free. Parking lot is pretty large, since it's a stat park they will not let you in once it's full. Typically it will be one car in one car out at that point. There were both restrooms and port-o-potties available before you headed out on the trail. The trail starts as a gravel path and eventually turns into a boardwalk, then to sand dunes, then back into a boardwalk. When we went the second viewing area was closed due to flooding, so we were only able to stop at the first. I believe there are more dunes on the way to the second. The scenery and views at the park are beautiful. You start surrounded by meadow/grass lands, then reach the point where the ocean is on you left with meadow on the right, soon you are greeted by a pond, that might just be filled with pelicans if you're lucky! Past the pond you go up a short hill and eventually reach another park ranger station. Here they have a display of different animal skulls and some elephant seal fur. The park rangers here are very knowledgeable and helpful in answering any questions you may have about the park or the wildlife. From here, if you have a permit to go see the elephant seals you continue until you reach the viewing platform. Here there are volunteer docents that are available to answer any questions and help point out the wildlife. When we went it wasn't peak season so there were only about 30 elephant seals off in the distance. They do have some big binoculars set up so we were still able to view the seals. The park does close for periods of time during the year so be sure to check that they are open before making the trek out there. It is also important to note that during peak season you are required to have a reservation and there is an additional per person fee along with the parking fee.

Wonderful hiking trail by the coastline with amazing views leading all the way up to the elephant seal viewing area. Depending on the time of year, the number of elephant seals will differ. During the summer, you'll mostly find the males molting. We also saw a couple of sea otters. The trail, all the way up to the final viewing area, is about 2.5miles one way. It's well maintained and wheelchair accessible up to 1.5 miles, after which it's sand. The entry fee is about $10 or free if you have a state park pass. There are docents at the gift shop, in the staging area, and in all three viewing areas who are very helpful. They also tell you how many seals you can expect to see, so you can decide how far up you want to hike. There are plenty of parking spots; although I'd recommend going early in the day as there are not many trees around for shade and it can get quite sunny.

I can't say enough about my tour today at Ano Nuevo! I have been wanting to do this for so long and it was great! The docent was so knowledgeable, and answered everybody's questions, and was so friendly and sweet. I recommend this to all families I think kids would love this. If you have somebody who maybe can't do the little hike, they can also go via shuttle.. We had a really great weather today so it made it even better but please just go do this because you will not regret!

One of my fav hiking spots in the Bay Area! No admission fee and there's a parking lot with plenty of parking. Love this spot as you get the chance to see all the lazy elephant seals lounging or occasionally play fight around. The hike was on fairly flat grounds with some areas of sand to get to the different lookout points. Took about two hours round trip to reach all the different lookout points. I also liked how there were different rangers stationed at the lookout points who were very informative. Highly recommend this hike!

What an amazing spot to go see awesome wildlife and learn about the coast of California . I would def go and bring the kids. The best time to see activity is in the winter with a guided tour or after April when you can go by yourself. Seeing the animals was so cool. Dress warm, bring a change of clothes and be prepared to walk a pretty good distance

Foremost, if you're interested in the guided elephant seal tours, there's also the Ano Nuevo Elephant Seal Tours Yelp pages for those interested for more reviews, information, and pics. Normally, all the trails eventually circle back to each other. But right now, the park is only partially open, with the northern trail blocked off the day we were there. The southern wetland marsh trail is generally open and relatively flat and an easy if warm walk in the middle of the day and early in the afternoon. I found the latter afternoon and earlier evening to be incredibly comfortable though. Lots of benches and a prime place for birdwatching as a lot of them are flying between the large pond and the ocean during the daytime. Additionally, you can find a staircase just off this trail that takes you done to Cove Beach. The actual beach area is gated and I think you can really only get in there with the guide. Especially important right now as they'll help groups follow the metal stands with the arrows as the rangers will move them around in accordance to where seals' movements and actions. There are additional restrooms just off from the educational station and gate where you meet your guide, but be aware they're simple, sheltered porta-potties. Prime seal season is December through March, though our guide seemed to imply that males come earlier in preparation while females really start coming in during the latter half of January and February. If you're coming into this area, bring shoes you don't mind possibly getting a bit muddy, as there are areas where water has accumulated. WE overall found it to be an easy hike with the worst being a few of the steeper slopes that you'll need to scramble up because of the sand. Parking lot has nice bathrooms, which means you need to go all the way in to get access. The porta-potty near the ticket booth is strictly for the rangers. When you're walking in from the parking lot, there is a set of historical buildings. You'll want to go to the barn for tickets, the Marine Education Center, and the gift shop. Barn is also one of the few spots along this whole stretch of coast that will have wifi. And it is a California STATE PARK. While some do allow dogs, Año Nuevo doesn't even want dogs in the parking lot (we nearly bought ours). Also, no drones and no nature souvenirs. The gift shop has great things. Overall, lovely park. I definitely would love to come hiking here again as well as do some more landscape and wildlife photography

Año Nuevo has been on my bucket list of for a long time, and our family finally visited this magnificent California State Park today. My wife had thoughtfully booked us on the 1 pm docent-led tour, and we got lucky with the weather as there was a break in the rain. My five favorite memories from today: (1) The atmosphere - bracing ocean air, stiff cold wind blowing in from the west, perfect elephant seal watching weather. (2) The size of the male elephant seal - these creatures are as big as a car, with some weighing up to 5000 lbs! (3) Pelicans everywhere I looked! (4) The docent-led tour (see separate review for this), which took us as close to the seals as possible. (5) The sights and sounds of seals interacting with each other - the squeaks, bellows, rattles, and fights! Other Tips: - Leave food in the car, but it is ok to carry water on the tour. - Parking is easy, and there are bathroom facilities inside the park as well as near the parking lot. - The gift shop has several interesting items and I picked up an iron-on patch for my safari jacket.

Elephant seals. This is one of the few places on the west coast where you can see them. It is seasonal so you need to check when they will be there most.

Please take off your website when you do not provide beach wheelchairs. Do not say beach wheelchairs are available when you do not have them. My student with cerebral palsy had a very difficult time & was unable to get a beach wheelchair when the website said they were available. When I called beforehand they would connect you to a different line that did not have anyone answer. Please take off your website if you do not provide or have any of these.

There are multiple viewings available to see the elephant seals. The volunteers have a great information about them, ask questions! The walk isnt too hard but be prepared to walk on sand (sensible footwear and be ready to carry your children). No pets. There is a cute hidden beach half way worth visiting.

Ana Nuevo is a lovely state park with a whole bunch of elephant seals on the beach!! There's a museum, walking path and docent tours available to visitors. Parking is $10 and reservations are needed to see the elephant seals during certain time of year. There are picnic tables and a clean seating area to eat near very close to the parking area with a view of the coast. The trails are pretty flat and easy for anyone. There is a beach you can walk .4 miles to and catch a glimpse of the seals if you get lucky! I've been here two times and have really enjoyed the scenery, weather and seals. Unfortunately, you have to keep a distance of 25 feet away at all times and are not allowed to approach the animals. It's a long drive to get here but worth it.

Ok so here is my honest review .... I am a local so we have been here on numerous occasions and boy oh boy do they upset the experience when you enter the park and pay the 10 fee ... mind you the fee is valid for any State park through sunset sane day but here is my lil rant of honesty fior anyone trying to experience elephant seals . 1. First and foremost they do not tell the amount of trails that are actually closed off 2. The view of the elephant seals are exactly the same whether you go to South or North trail head 3. They have signs saying stay 25ft back but in all honesty you will rarely be close to these creatures as the beach they lie in is in between the 2 lookout points . 4. The hiking trail is literally sand dunes 5. The views are great once you get to a look out point but that's about it 6. If you are not a walker , then don't do the trail... simply enjoy the initial path from parking lot that will take you to a very beautiful beach 7. Sunscreen, trail shoes, water and healthy snacks is recommended as the trails and heat can get to you during peak afternoons It's beautiful here but not exactly what the ranger check in describes it as each time you go... they always lead you on to believe it's gonna be an experience seeing the wildlife ... ok yea if you bring your zoom lens and pro camera buddy.. yeesh so yea my last number 8 item is..... Bring some binoculars or your pro zoom lens camera if you really want to capture anything. Peak times here are during winter and even then these majestic creatures are slim to none up close.

earth day might've passed by but the opportunity to go out and enjoy mother nature is still there! and this park is definitely such an amazing choice as there are plenty of pathways to walk around and scenery to enjoy. there are also a lot of flat bedrocks where you can chill out with friends! it's one of the trails i really enjoy walking on/to - if you're looking for a nice and relaxing place make sure to stop by :) tips: parking is available however, it might be limited and you might have to walk a bit further down. additionally, porta-potty is available for usage near the parking spots.

I've been to Ano Nuevo a few times, both as a casual hiker and a participant in their docent led elephant seal tours. During the pandemic tours are cancelled but last spring I walked the beach and came upon several seals that were lounging on the beach (stay far back, those males are huge and no joke!!) Currently the overlook and going further in to the preserve is off limits, but since I can get in using my CA State Parks pass, it's still worth a trip over to see the beautiful coastal views, the small lagoon and various bird life. Currently, you can see the hillside across Highway 1 to the East of the park charred from the CZU fire of August 2020. It's jarring to see how close the fire got to the coast and to the park headquarter itself. There is a small museum and gift shop (current closed-check back when the state reopens fully on June 15th.) As for the docent led tours, I had the chance to take one in March 2019. Register well in advance -I think I had booked mine in January of that year and March was the soonest I could get. The tour was amazing. It's a short walk out to the areas they pups are born and then weaned. The tour guide was knowledgeable and made the walk fun, despite the cold rainy weather. Plan for wearing layered-even in the summer it gets chilly here! Truly a gem of the state parks system which I hope will come back in full force once things reopen. Review #31 of 100 review goal in 2021

Año Nuevo State Park is really beautiful and offers a lot of wonderful things to see. For instance, right off the parking lot is a visitor center with a gift shop and area where you can do a self guided informational tour. You can learn about the dairy farm that once resided there and learn more about the amimals that call the area home. Outside are picnic tables, bathrooms and hiking trails. Please note that sinks for washing hands are outside of the bathroom. On the main trail to the to the staging area, you can stop to look at the pond, which is home to many birds. Año Nuevo State Park is the site of one of the largest mainland breeding colonies for the northern elephant seals and you will get to see them all year but in different quantities. From what I understand, mid-December through late March, daily access to the reserve is available on guided walks only. It costs $7/person. Tickets can be bought at the barn. If you go on a guided walk, it's 2 1/2 hours. Bring water, warm clothes and be sure to use the bathroom. There is no bathroom nearby, once you are walking. I enjoyed my tour, the guide was very nice. I'd recommend it if you enjoy guided tours. After March, you can still visit and view the animals. However please be careful and remember you have to be 25 feet away from the seals. There are park rangers around at all times to make sure we protect and respect the animals' habitat.

It was so exciting today. I finally felt normal enough to go outdoors. And, the path down to view the elephant seals was open!! The past few times I'd been here it was closed due to the pandemic. I was so excited to be able to walk down and see male elephant seals lounging in the kelp. A docent walked me down and loaned me her binoculars which was so cool as I was fortunate to watch a large male come in from the water. Now, I say large, but have you ever seen a male elephant seal? They are HUUUUGE!! The signage prior to gave information on the elephant seals and currently only males are on the beach molting. There is an echo of the elephant seals making their cooing sounds. So cool to get this close. The boardwalk is above the kelp covered beach. A few harbor seals were lounging far away from the elephant seals. It's very windy out there so I recommend layers. Now that I know the path to the viewing area is open I hope to make it back when the females come back. It is absolutely beautiful here and the walk round trip is just under 3.7 miles. Not too bad. And you can use the state park pass to get into other state parks the same day. Which I did on the way home, worth the $10 entry fee and I also believe in supporting our state parks. There are bathrooms in the parking lot too. Part of the park used to be a dairy farm. Lots of picnic tables available for you to have a, picnic at, and enjoy the gorgeous views. Happy adventures and Yelping.

I arrived around 2-3pm on a Saturday in Mid-Feb. Parking is $10. There were plenty of spots left in the main lot. We walked the Ano Nuevo Point Trail until the staging area where a state park employee was guarding the blocked way to Bight beach. You can only turn left and see the overlook - but the view was very beautiful. So we turned around and went to Cove Beach where there were several elephant seals sleeping sporadically on the sand. It wasn't too crowded but maybe half of the people we encountered weren't wearing masks.

Easily one of the best coastal hikes/beaches I've been to. Although most beaches are beautiful and have the coastal mountains in the distance in California, Año Nuevo State Park distinguishes itself from other beaches because of the amazing elephant seal population and the Año Nuevo island off the shoreline. A state park employee told me and my friend that the building has since been abandoned and has become overrun with seals and sea lions. The only people who go on the island are researchers these days. How awesome! You do have to pay for parking here, but it's worth it. If you're planning to head to the area with elephant seals, the education center will provide you with a permit and map that will send you on a roughly 4 mile round trip to where the elephant seals are. Right now is molting season, so they are shedding their fur! It's really very cool. We had an amazing time here and had the best weather for it. Cloudy, but not too cold with barely any wind. It was the perfect day for an elephant seal adventure!

Awesome coastal hiking trails with really beautiful scenery along the way. We felt like we were in another world, with nobody else around. Very few people on the trails, until we got towards the beach access area. Still, it wasn't too crowded. Maddening to me that so few had masks to put on when encountering other hikers. Please be respectful.

been here several times, our favorite place to day trip to ! staff is kind and very informed , hiking trails and views are beautiful, elephant seals are amazing ! :)

Go see the elephant seals they are amazing! The trails and views are added nature viewing bonus. The volunteers are very informative and have bones and pelts to touch. Super cool park for all ages! There is also a beach access.

If you're planning on walking around the park grounds, you're going to need the Visitor Permit. Just be sure the park ranger at the entrance knows so you can get one. You'll also get the Año Nuevo State Park phamphlet that goes over the park's history...or rather, the lands history. The park hasn't been there as long as California. We were lucky to visit during molting season for the Elephant Seals. We didn't get to see them up close, but heard them and were able to see them through a telescope. They were on a little island (Año Nuevo Island) not far off shore. The abandoned lighthouse is also on the island. No one is allowed on that island in order to protect the nesting wildlife. The vistas are breath taking, the hiking is according to your capabilities. We hiked out 1/2 mile on gentle slopes and well paved paths. Very user friendly. Having lived near the coast for 1 year, I've learned the best way to prepare for a visit is to wear a short sleeve shirt, bring a long sleeve shirt, a hoody and a heavy coat. You just never know. And don't forget the sun block even on foggy days. Pic-nic tables are at the parking lot and I think by the Marine Education Center. Bathrooms are also in the parking lot. We enjoyed a pic-nic lunch before our hike. A beautiful green iridescent beetle joined us. They also have a great gift shop to pick up your visit momento.

As the Eagles sing about California: such a lovely place, such a lovely place!! Rain in mid-May in California? Anything and I mean anything is possible.

We went to this state park to watch the sunset on a Friday. We sat for about a half hour at this beach. You can see views and the vista. It's not far from Big Basin. Big Basin is nice for beach views in Norcal.

Beautiful State Park along the coast. Great spot for viewing wildlife. Fairly easy to walk with some incline.

Such a beautiful trail with coastal views and of course the magical elephant seals that are living the life i could wish for! Definitely perfect for family beach trip

Wow! Just another NoCal beach off of northbound 1. I would give them all 5's. How can you not? I suppose you could argue about internet availability. It's not good here but is that bad? No. I would say this. If you literally want to get off the grid it's not that hard. Bring your grill, cooler, and family here if you want to escape any cell abilities. OMG imagine no cell signal! What do we do? Hmmm. I'm sure you can figure it out!

Wonderful place to spend the day or even just a couple of hours if you love nature and the outdoors like I do. We were here last August and it was great - beautiful weather, beautiful location, and we got to see so many Northern Elephant Seals! I was in awe being able to see this amazing pinniped species that was once on the brink of extinction. There's a pretty cool gift shop/visitors center on site, and there were a few docents out by some of the prime viewing spots available to answer questions.

If you told me a few weeks ago that there existed another mammal more derpy and sillier than I was, I would have scoffed at you. With my spontaneous noises and stupid jokes, I couldn't possibly be bested! But alas, my girlfriend and I just encountered the funniest mammal on the planet this past weekend: The elephant seal. You see, for several months now we've been planning to visit Ano Nuevo State Park in Pescadero to see the elephant seals. Unfortunately, it had been near impossible to go during the winter since it was 1. raining and 2. tickets for the guided walks were sold out. But on Sunday, we were finally able to visit the seals for FREE because mating season was over. And boy was it SO WORTH the wait! For those of y'all who aren't familiar with the elephant seal, they are gigantic seals that primarily dwell along the North Pacific (at least as far as Northern seals go). During parts of the year, large groups of them will migrate to the Bay Area. It's here that the males will fight for a mate, and then the females will eventually give birth to pups. So bringing it back to this review ... why visit Ano Nuevo State Park? First off, this state park was legit ELEPHANT SEAL CENTRAL! During our little excursion here, we found giant herds of them at two separate viewing areas. At each one, we were able to get within 25 feet of the elephant seals. From this distance, it was quite easy to witness their playfulness and goofiness. For example, some seals were swimming freely in the water, while others were flapping in the sand. My favorite part had to be when the seals were trying to crawl into the water. Because of their giant blubber, they had to pause every few seconds and take a break! Secondly, the state park was absolutely gorgeous. From the scenic views of the ocean to the vibrancy of the spring flowers, this place was scenic beyond just the elephant seals. If you have time, I definitely recommend checking out Cove Beach for an opportunity to get close and personal with the water. Yep, there was actually a beach inside the park. Furthermore, the trails leading to the seals were very short and accessible for people of all fitness levels. As of April 2018, there were two viewpoints you could get to: Bight Beach and South Point. Each was maybe about 1.5 miles one way; since the paths were flat and paved, it really didn't make long to get there (30 min at most) Best part was probably the final stretch before South Point because it was all sand! People who want more of a challenge, there are also other lengthier trails inside Ano Nuevo ( https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/523/files/AnoNuevoFinalWebLayout2017.pdf). Besides the seals and the landscape of the park, I really appreciated the professionalism and kind-hearted attitude of the workers at Ano Nuevo. For instance, I'm really thankful that one of the docents let us borrow his binoculars to peep on several male elephant seals. And, every one of the employees made sure that any questions we had were answered thoughtfully. Ano Nuevo State Park sounds like it's pretty far away, but to be honest it is quite easy to drive here. The Park is probably around an hour away from either San Jose/South Bay Area or San Francisco. If you're coming from SJ, you can take Highway 17 down to Santa Cruz and then follow Highway 1 North to the park. From SF, you can either take Highway 1 all the way down (longer way), or go on 280, then 84, and then Highway 1 (quicker). In terms of admission, if you come during non-mating season like we did (anytime OUTSIDE of December 15-March 31), you only have to pay $10 for parking. Otherwise, it's $10 for parking + $11 for the guided tour. Personally, I think you'll have just as much fun without the tour because you'll be coming when it's warmer and when the flowers are in bloom! For those of you who have taken Spanish before, you'll know that Ano Nuevo means New Year. Well if you're looking for a New Year's resolution, going to Ano Nuevo State Park should be one of them. This place is stunning, the elephant seals are a sight to see, and the park is pretty easy to get to from anywhere in the Bay. I give it an "Omg, I'd travel 2 hours for this" rating. This has probably been used before, but Ano Nuevo gets my SEAL of approval! Have fun and prosper,

Bring your walking shoes and a hat. Have a great experience. Thank you all the volunteers.

Año Nuevo State Park has more to offer a visitor than Elephant Seals, and they should not be missed if you are able to get a reservation and make the walk. The elephant rookery does set it apart from the other beaches along the coast. for info on the tour see http://www.yelp.com/biz/ano-nuevo-elephant-seal-tours-pescadero However there is much more to enjoy at this windswept often foggy coastal park. In the 19th century dairy farms flourished along the California Coast and some of the historic buildings remain here and are open for exploration. The beach is beautiful. Waves crash against the rocks and birds scurry in and out of the surf. It has been a home to the Ohlone people, dairy farmers, lighthouse keepers and the winter home for elephant seals. It is the perfect spot to visit anytime of the year.

First of all, using 1 New Years Creek Road on my GPS was a fail. That trail is NOT made for cars. Instead, I hesitantly continued northwest on Route 1 at a speed annoying to the vehicle behind me till I spotted a sign clearly marking the park entrance to my left. At the gate, I paid $10 cash for the privilege of parking on state park grounds and received a receipt to tape onto my glass that would grant me parking on all additional state park grounds for no additional charge for 24 hours. Too bad I wasn't able to take advantage, but still, that was a nice bonus. The lady inside the gatehouse also handed me a ticket representing my reserved docent lead tour that I had reserved online. From December 15 - March 31, during the breeding season, access to visit the elephant seals is available only via guided walks, which cost $7, and may be reserved online at http://anonuevo.reserveamerica.com/ Walks are listed as 2 hours and a half long and are noted as being moderate. That's about right, but we surely were not on the go the entire time. Walking uphill on sand isn't that easy, although there were a few wooden trails as well. As elephant seals are living creatures, our path of the day was redirected at one point due to one of those rather large beasties meandering close by. From the Visitor Center we were sent off on a 15-20 min walk down a path to a meet up spot by a shed. There we gathered, and after a while were given an introduction and assigned a guide. To prepare us for our walk, we were instructed - Never pass your guide! Their job is not only to guide the group around the dunes, but also to keep us safe and to get us back out again, and they can't do that if we're falling behind or rushing ahead haphazardly. For our initial planned viewing, we were led to a point rather close to a few dozen by the water, and observed the creatures from a comfortable distance for a bit. Then we were taken to a high point where hundreds were peppering a large stretch of beach, flicking sand upon their bodies. So cool! Park rangers confirmed my notion that there might be ticks in the area, but advised that I stay away from the high grass on either side of the path, and check myself after. I was also told that ticks are more plentiful in the wet season, but due to an enzyme in the lizards that they oft reside on in California, the ticks here are less likely to carry lyme disease. (I found confirmation of this cool little fact here: http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/20/news/la-ol-lyme-disease-lizard-20130820) Bathrooms with flushing toilets are available in a little structure by some picnic tables in a fenced in area. The one for the handicap came with a sink, while the other 3 were toilet only, and so a couple of shared sinks were set outside. Cell phone service is terrible by the lot (but not by the beach where we were instructed to keep the phones off as to not surprise the elephant seals), which explains the payphone I spotted just past the guardhouse as I entered the park. Bring sunglasses, a hat, good comfy shoes, and a bottle of water. Oh, and a camera to take lots and lots of photos of the cute, quizzical animals.

Such a lovely place! I visited this park for the first time to go on an Elephant seal tour. The tour was very interesting and educational, and the pictures I got of elephant seals turned out to be great. I appreciated the fact that the park officials only allow guided tours during this time of the year to protect the wildlife. The park offers beautiful views of the ocean, peaceful areas along the main path to sit down and relax, hidden benches and access to the beach. The entry is $10, the guided tour is limited and should be purchased in advance as it sells out most of the time, although if someone cancels, there is a chance you can get a ticket. By the way, the ticket is $11 (you get a hand bracelet with the date and time of your tour). Tours are not held every month, only during the mating season. Parking in plentiful and the access to the museum and along the main paths is wheelchair accessible.

Such a great experience, highly recommend, especially during this time of year. I've been here before during the off-season, but the guided tour was awesome and there were so many more seals. They said there were about 700 seals in the area, including large 5,000lb fighting males and adorable pups. From the barn, our group was instructed to walk down the path until we reached a building. It was about a mile, mostly flat, and once we arrived we were given a few minutes to explore and use the porta potties. We met our tour guide, Alan, who was very personable and knowledgeable and stopped briefly throughout our walk to explain interesting facts. We then continued on along a mostly flat trail along the bluffs. When we reached the sand dunes, there were a few short but steep climbs through the sand. Another guide met us and instructed which path was best to take to the viewing area, as quite a few seals had ventured into the dunes. There were a few times we had to quickly pass between large seals, less than 20ft away, but luckily they showed no interest in us. When we reached the viewing point another group was just leaving, so the 20 of us had plenty of space. Our guide gave us plenty of time to view the seals and take photos. We then moved on to a different viewing area with hundreds of seals sprawled out throughout the beach. It was incredible to witness. It was a beautiful, clear day, but also cool. Our guide told us the seals like it when it's cool (and love it when it's raining), so the best tours are in the early morning when they're most active. The entire trip was about 3 miles, mostly exposed to sunlight, but also windy so I recommend layers. You can bring water but they ask that you don't bring food in the dunes. Since tickets were sold out months ago, we arrived a little after 8am on a Saturday and asked to be put on the wait list. We paid $10 for parking and were given the "#2" card (we were #2 on the wait list), and instructed to take it to the barn. Inside the barn, we went to the check in window and gave them the number, and were put on a list. We were told if someone misses one of the tours (which happen every 15 minutes), we would be included. If everyone showed up, we would be put on the next new tour they planned to open, which was scheduled for 9:45. We lucked out and had no-shows, so they called our name and we paid $7 each and were included on the 9:00 tour. I recommend going early if you want to get on the wait list, especially because the early tours are the best. When we returned around 11:30, the parking lot was completely filled and cars were circling for spots, which is another reason I recommend going early. The parking lot has restrooms with flushing toilets and running water but no hand soap.

Enjoyed a really amazing few hours at this beautiful state reserve. We booked our guided walk tickets (the only way to visit the elephant seals during mating season) at the beginning of January, and all Jen could tell me about her previous experience here (a school field trip) was that it smelled awful. Fortunately things weren't as bad as she remembered. It was amazing to see the elephant seals up close, and our guide was full of interesting information about the animals and the surrounding area. I still find them ugly but now I find them fascinating as well (they can dive to depths of thousands of feet for up to 45 minutes, and recharge their oxygen supply in 3 minutes at the surface). If you hang out for a bit near the pond, you'll almost certainly see pelicans fly back and forth between the ocean and the pond.

Planned a day trip to go to Año Nuevo state park see the elephant seals and just explore nature. Upon arrival I was accosted verbally by the crotchety old hag State Park booth attendant who was everything but helpful. She was rude, obtuse, unpleasant, and finally after driving two hours I decided it wasn't worth the $10 to be insulted by a 70 year old woman who has no life whatsoever and has nothing better to do than to be rude to paying visitors, I would not recommend this place ever aside from no dogs are allowed and I have a service animal, and she made a comment that no dogs were allowed after showing her the service animal registration card and showing my dog with her vest on she still was very rude upon asking for her name she refused to provide it to me she is by far the worst state park ranger attendant I have ever met her and I would not recommend this place to anyone if I could give us zero rating I would