Elephant Seal Rookery (Piedras Blancas)

About the Attraction

​

A visit to the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery offers an extraordinary wildlife viewing experience along California's central coast. Here's what to expect:

​

• Natural Spectacle: Witness one of nature's most impressive marine mammal colonies, hosting up to 24,000 elephant seals annually. See massive males weighing up to 5,000 pounds, females up to 1,800 pounds, and adorable pups starting at just 70 pounds at birth.

​

• Accessible Viewing: Enjoy free admission to wheelchair-accessible boardwalks and viewing platforms that provide spectacular vantage points just above the seals. The viewing area is open daily from sunrise to sunset with no reservations required.

​

• Educational Experience: Knowledgeable volunteer docents in royal blue jackets are available to answer questions and enhance your understanding of these fascinating creatures. Interpretive panels along the walkways provide additional insights into elephant seal biology and behavior.

​

• Seasonal Highlights: Experience different seal activities throughout the year, with peak viewing during winter (December-March) for birthing and breeding season, and spring/summer for the fascinating molting process when seals shed their fur.

​

It's a remarkable opportunity to observe these magnificent marine mammals in their natural habitat while learning about their incredible adaptations for deep-sea diving and their remarkable recovery from near extinction.