[…]a short talk about Great Blue Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets, Black Crowned Night Herons and other residents of the Rookery. Walk to the site and observe these magnificent birds. Learn about and watch courtship rituals, nesting habits, and – in spring – adults caring for their young. Binoculars are […]
[…]Elephant Seal migrates thousands of miles twice each year, from the open oceans to a land-based rookery, where it breeds, births, molts, and rests between trips. The Piedras Blancas rookery, on Highway 1, seven miles north of San Simeon is home to about 15,000 animals. The area is open for […]
[…]are late January, late April and late OctoberReservation Needed: No History of the Elephant Seal Rookery The history of the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is inextricably linked to the dramatic rise and fall of the Northern Elephant Seal Population. Starting in the 1700s, the Pacific Northwest maritime fur trade […]
Embark on a journey through nature, spanning over a 100 miles of captivating history, pristine beaches, majestic bluffs, protected preserves, and abundant of wildlife. Get inspired by the beauty that surrounds you, learn from locals and connect deeper to mother nature. Your actions (including family fun “leave-no-trace” beach time) along […]
[…]over a pit of red oak coals, along with all the fixings…and plenty of authenticity.The Blue Heron, BaywoodPerched on the edge of Baywood Park, the Blue Heron provides an intimate farm-to-table and Pacific-to-plate dining experience. Try the oysters paired with excellent local and international wines, whether at a table for two inside […]
[…]seals sunbathe, feed and birth, depending on the season. Free and open to the public, this unique rookery allows visitors to pull off the highway and easily view elephant seals in their natural habitat. The grand Piedras Blancas Lighthouse stands a stone’s throw from the rookery, a remarkable testament to […]
[…]Osos-Baywood Park Head to the patio at Blue Heron for farm-to-table dining, or the Back Bay Cafe for breakfast and lunch with a pierside view. The Clubhouse Grill at Sea Pines Golf Resort restaurant also welcomes pets to the patio. Avila Beach Dine beside your four-legged friend at pet-friendly restaurants […]
[…]are specially protected, including the Sea Otter Sanctuary and the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery near San Simeon. The MBNMS also covers state-protected waters near San Simeon and Cambria, including the Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Cambria State Marine Conservation Area. To explore more of the MBNMS, make a […]
[…]Highway 1’s majestic giants. At the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, visitors are privy to a rare sight: elephant seals in their natural habitat. Free and open to the public, this popular Highway 1 road stop is home to a robust population of migrating elephant seals (viewing is particularly good […]
[…]to see the Elephant Seals at the rookery Best Photo Opportunities Anyone with a camera, a phone, or a social media account will appreciate the photo opps available in Big Sur. Snapping photos of the landscape is irresistible as you drive along Highway 1. Want some of the most pic-worthy […]
[…]for a reason: Enjoy an action-packed itinerary that includes paddling out to a seal haul out area, heron rookery and oyster farm. The tour also includes a stop along the sandspit located on the far side of the estuary, a great opportunity for kids to explore sandy dunes. Along the […]
[…]Museum of Natural History is located in Morro Bay State Park and is within minutes of the Heron Rookery, Montaña de Oro State Park, the El Moro Elfin Forest and Audubon’s Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. The Museum overlooks Morro Bay which is both a State and National Estuary. Looking for […]
[…]will see a family of quail, and the observant and quiet visitor may see bobcat, deer, or a lone heron fishing in the pond. A ranch that typifies the natural beauty of the Central Coast, Shadow Run includes large areas of native plants that paint a spectacular palette in the […]
[…]Drift Studio. And for dining, several options await, including farm-to-table restaurant Blue Heron and Noi’s and Doi’s 2nd Street Cafe. After dining, walk off your meal with a stroll among the ancient pygmy oaks at the Elfin Forest. Downtown Baywood Downtown Avila Beach (The Promenade) Lying directly on the beach, […]
[…]wildlife habitat on the west side of Highway 1 near San Simeon. The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery provides a rare glimpse into the lives of majestic Northern Elephant Seals, mere feet away from the viewing area. The rookery lies right off Highway 1, making it extremely accessible. Thanks to […]
[…]ViewingDepending on what time of year you visit the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, you may find adult males, females or pups. Each of these lives at the rookery at some point during the year, but the population varies greatly from season to season. Generally speaking, early winter is a […]
[…]to see these quirky creatures interacting with one another is at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. A boardwalk lets you get close to the action, while still giving the seals the space they need. Pro tip: The best times to visit the rookery are in late January, late April, […]
[…]you’ll get to experience the best of this conservation area. The free lot at the Elephant Seal Rookery is an ideal place to park. Find it about 13 miles miles south of Ragged Point or 6 miles north of Hearst Castle on Highway 1. The Elephant Seal Rookery Davidson SeamountBeneath […]
[…]to do in San Simeon Elephant Seal Rookery Don’t miss the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, a free wildlife habitat located near San Simeon on the west side of Highway 1. Here, visitors have the rare opportunity to witness majestic Northern Elephant Seals up close, just a few feet from […]
[…](look for the blue jacket) who will astound you with their knowledge. To support them and the rookery trails, leave a donation in the secure box by the trailhead. When to visit: The peak season for elephant seals is December to March, but you’ll be able see at least some […]
[…]the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery. We met John Flaherty of Central Coast Cycling near the rookery, where he fitted us with bikes and took us cruising down a small stretch of Highway 1, cutting through fog and grassy hills and borders of microclimates. We ended back at the rookery, […]
[…]Rookery Dedicated to educating visitors about marine wildlife, the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is a stop everyone will love. Right off the highway, the rookery consists of a boardwalk and other viewing areas, putting you less than 100 feet from one of the most beautiful sea creatures around — […]
[…]of Highway 1, the Piedras Blancas Rookery is the only elephant seal rookery in the world that’s free and open to the public all year. Just pull off the highway and into the parking lot, and you’ll immediately see thousands—yes, thousands!—of elephant seals on the beaches near San Simeon.7. Ride a […]
[…]trailhead) or even at the end of the trail, 2 miles north of that. Options other than the main Rookery parking lot will be less crowded. All parking is free in these lots.There are two lookout spots along the Boucher Trail that provide excellent viewing of the Elephant Seals without […]
[…]thousands of Great Northern Elephant Seals make their home at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon. Throughout the year, visitors can witness the life cycle of this majestic creature, including birth, molting, and mating. Enjoy an elevated viewing area with sightlines of all the action, as well […]
[…]Headlands State Park, six miles north of Cayucos. Best Beach for Seal Viewing Piedras Blancas Rookery For the best in free entertainment on Highway 1, you can’t do better than the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, just north of San Simeon. This beach is a natural habitat and mating ground […]
[…]like you’ve never seen it before. The majestic Great Northern Elephant Seal migrates to a rookery just north of San Simeon each year, transforming quiet beaches into live theater. Males brawl, females give birth, and pups squeal — and visitors can watch them from a safe distance on the elevated […]
[…]of the California coast.Elephant SealsThe northern hemisphere’s largest Northern Elephant Seal rookery stands lies along the San Simeon coast near Piedras Blancas Point. Open to the public, the rookery hosts up to 24,000 elephant seals annually, from newborn pups to 2-ton males. From the safety and proximity of the viewing […]
[…]seals come ashore to mate, give birth, molt and rest. One of the most exciting times at the rookery? December, when bulls fight for proximity and attention from females, as well as the end of January when birthing season peaks. Docents with Piedras Blancas Friends of the Elephant Seal are […]
[…]BCU.) Bird watching and whale watching are excellent here, as is the view at the Elephant Seal Rookery on the north end of the park. Here, visitors can witness the lives of Northern Elephant Seals, which migrate here by the hundreds. The seals mate, pup, and molt here, just feet […]
[…]Elephant Seal migrates thousands of miles twice each year, from the open oceans to a land-based rookery, where it breeds, births, molts, and rests between trips. The Piedras Blancas rookery, on HWY 1, north of San Simeon is home to about 15,000 animals. The area is open for viewing every […]
[…]elephant seals migrate thousands of miles twice each year from the open ocean to this land-based rookery for breeding, birthing, molting, and resting between trips. The Piedras Blancas rookery is located on Highway 1 north of San Simeon, and is home to about 15,000 animals. These mammals can grow up […]
[…]Twice a year, thousands of elephant seals migrate hundreds of miles of ocean to this land-based rookery, where the seals breed, give birth, molt, and rest between trips. The Piedras Blancas rookery, on Highway 1, just a few miles north of Cambria, is home to about 15,000 animals—1,600 pups have […]
[…]and the end of the trail include the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse and Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. Hearst Castle also stands watch over San Simeon to the east, totally visible on a clear day. Enjoy these sights before pedaling the remaining 10 miles back to Moonstone Beach in Cambria.Green Valley […]
[…]food nor drink is offered on the tour, but water bottles are allowed Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery and Marine Life The Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve (SMR) is a no-take zone located between Arroyo De La Cruz at Point Sierra Nevada and Arroyo Laguna, near San Simeon. It is […]
[…]different spectacle lies just west of Hearst Castle at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. Great Northern Elephant Seals migrate to the beaches along this strip of shoreline to mate, give birth, and molt throughout the year. Watch the drama of life unfold from a front row seat at the […]
[…]the coastal rocks, as well as sea ducks and Harlequin Ducks. Continuing north to the Elephant Seal Rookery, find gulls here in winter, or Glaucous-Winged, Mew, and Herring. Just under a half-mile north of the Rookery, in a parking lot on the west side of Highway 1, find the whitewashed […]
[…]on these beaches, all within full public view. In particular, the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery allows close-up views of beached elephant seals by the hundreds during high season. (Visit in late fall or late spring for the least crowded times in the viewing area.) The rookery also offers interpretive […]
[…]ride. All routes include the section of Highway 1 between Cambria and the Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon. Hosted by the Lions Club since 2001, the ride ends with a BBQ meal and no-host pub with local wine and beer. All proceeds go to local charitable causes; registration is […]
[…]from the dangerous shoreline. Just south of the lighthouse, the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery hosts up to 24,000 Northern Elephant Seals each year. Watch these majestic marine mammals play out their life cycle just steps from the viewing area and Highway 1. Then head to the opulent hilltop home […]
[…]a peek at it, but there’s actually a better way. As an alternative, park at the Elephant Seal Rookery viewing area, where thousands of Elephant Seals can be seen mere steps away. Enjoy viewing the wildlife, then walk the adjacent Boucher Trail, which travels to the Piedras Blancas Light Station, built […]
[…]will find books, art and souvenirs related to the Northern Elephant Seals and their migratory rookery here, too. First, see the elephant seals in person at the rookery on Highway 1. Then head 8 miles south to the Plaza del Cavalier in San Simeon for the Friends of the Elephant […]
[…]attractions put wildlife front-and-center the way the Northern Elephant Seal Rookery does. Located just south of Piedras Blancas Light Station, this turnout and viewing area allows visitors to watch elephant seals in their migratory home. Thousands cycle in and out of this beach every year, pupping infants, competing for females, […]
[…]sure to pose for a few keepsake pics. Next up, Highway 1’s popular Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, home to a robust population of Elephant Seals. Free and open to the public all year round, you’ll be able to view these majestic creatures from a safe viewing area as they […]
[…]exciting wildlife viewing opportunity (plus, you won’t have to travel far). The Elephant Seal Rookery is just a short walk from Boucher Trail and a handy Boardwalk and Observation Deck provide a safe and easy way to view these animals in their natural habitat. Enjoy an up-close look as the […]
[…]species really stand out. As one of only a few habitats left in California, the Piedras Blancas Rookery allows visitors to see elephant seals up close. In fact, it’s the only elephant seal rookery in the world that is public and free to access, 365 days a year. Come see […]
[…]Seals Captivating and unreal, these marine mammals come to their rookery in San Simeon throughout the year to mate, pup, and molt. Watch their fascinating life cycle play out before your very eyes, just feet away from the viewing area.GET WILDLIFE MAP Whale Trail The Whale Trail organization identifies the […]
[…]see and track. These include resident local birds like several varieties of grebe, cormorant and herons, as well as migratory birds like finches, sparrows, thrushes and warblers. The best places to see a wide variety of species are marine waterways and forests—both of which provide the ideal climate for a […]
[…]and molt in spring. At the very least, don’t head home without a walk on the Piedras Blancas Rookery boardwalk. You haven’t lived until you’ve looked into the coal-black eyes of an elephant seal. Learn More. Watch National Geographic videos and get tips from Ocean Today. Learn about Orcas on a PBS Nature video. Human garbage is one the greatest threats […]
[…]every day to do just that. But beyond the mansion you’ll find Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, where the beautiful northern elephant seals migrate thousands of miles twice each year from the open ocean to a land-based rookery for breeding, birthing, molting, and resting between trips.More — the nearby Coastal […]
