Año Nuevo State Park
1 New Years Creek Road, Pescadero, CA 94060
Hours open
Monday:
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday:
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Photos
Location & Phone number
1 New Years Creek Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060, United States
About the Business
Año Nuevo State Park, located at 1 New Years Creek Road in Pescadero, California, is a popular tourist attraction known for its elephant seal viewing opportunities. From April to November, visitors can enjoy a self-guided walk along the Año Point Trail to observe up to 10,000 elephant seals as they breed, give birth, and molt their skin on the scenic dunes and beaches. The park also features the Marine Education Center, housed in a historic dairy ranch, offering natural history exhibits and a bookstore.
The park's diverse natural and cultural resources attract visitors from around the world, with opportunities for birdwatching, hiking along ocean bluffs, and exploring the remains of a 19th-century lighthouse on Año Nuevo Island. The park's terrain includes coastal prairie, wetland marshes, and dune fields, providing habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, including the endangered San Francisco Garter Snake and California Red-legged Frog.
Visitors can obtain free permits to see the elephant seals at the park entrance from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm daily. Guided tours are not required from April to November, but reservations are necessary from December to March. Rules and regulations are in place to ensure the safety of visitors and protect the park's wildlife, including no pets, drones, or collecting of natural materials.
Whether you're interested in wildlife viewing, hiking, or learning about the area's history, Año Nuevo State Park offers a unique and educational experience for visitors of all ages.
Reviews
"We had a close look at the life scenes of elephant seals on the coast and their status. The tour guide carefully introduced a lot of knowledge about elephant seals. It was a good journey to learn about marine animals. February is the breeding season for elephant seals. You need to book in advance to watch. You can only join the waiting list on site to get a chance. The introduction and tour last for about one hour."
"I took the guided walking tour to observe the elephant seals, and it was incredible! It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced. Wonderful staff from start to finish."
"Seeing the elephant seals is fascinating. I especially like seeing the smaller males trying to sneak in a mating while the alpha males are not looking. It's hilarious to see them trying to crawl with their heads down. I feel like shouting "dude, you weigh 3,000 pounds, you are not sneaking up on anyone." To get to the seal area and back, you end up walking about 3.3 miles, including 0.4 miles on hilly unstable sand. The rest is all flat groomed trails, pretty easy. It is annoying that you have to go with docents (some better than others) and stick to a schedule, instead of being able to choose yourself how much time to spend where."
"It’s was one of the beautiful places. I have visited. Especially the one where all the birds are landing is epic in the one on top of the mountain and next to it is the beach with mountains next to it where all the waves are crashing into it. I saw elephant seals they are very big. They come here for mating season. They are found in very less places in the world."
"A great place to hike pretty much on your own at Franklin Point. The crowd is taking the seal tour while the greater part of the park offers magnificent solitude. Also great birdwatching"
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