Start here to Plan your Visit.
SELECT EACH GUIDELINE TO LEARN MORE
Come Early For Best Views!
Free To Visit
Docents
10:00AM-4:00PM
Keep Distance From Seals
No Restrooms
No Drones Allowed
Do Not Feed Wildlife
Quiet Leashed Dogs Allowed
Quiet Voices Near Seals
Accessible Viewing Area
Take Your Trash With You
Check Weather Before Visit
Our Locations
Viewing Area
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery spreads out over 8 miles of beach, extending both north and south of Point Piedras Blancas, on the central coast of California. The Elephant Seal Viewing Area is located 90 miles south of Monterey, 4 miles north of Hearst Castle State Historical Monument in San Simeon and 1.5 miles south of Point Piedras Blancas. Check your map program for “Elephant Seal Vista Point.”
The Elephant Seal Viewing Area is open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free and no reservations are required. The wheelchair-accessible viewing platforms offer spectacular views, just above the seals. Bring sure to bring your binoculars and telephoto lens. The seals rest on the beaches both north AND south of the parking area. The ocean and marine environment are protected by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and are part of California’s Marine Protected Area Network.
Elephant Seal Visitor Center
San Simeon
Our Elephant Seal Visitor Center is located 7.8 miles south of the viewing areas in the Plaza del Cavalier in San Simeon and is open daily 10 AM- 4 PM. The Visitor Center offers a live-streaming video from our seal cams at the Piedras Blancas Rookery, informative exhibits, unique elephant seal gifts and more! Friends of the Elephant Seal guides offer viewing tips and information to help you make the most of your visit to see the elephant seals.
Plaza del Cavalier | 250 San Simeon Avenue, Suite 5A | San Simeon, CA 93452 | (805) 924-1628 | Email: [email protected]
Visitor Etiquette
Visitor Guidelines
Keep Your Distance
Elephant seals are dangerous wild animals and are protected by law. Harassment and disturbance of elephant seals is prohibited by state and federal laws. The National Marine Fisheries Service, the Federal agency responsible for enforcing the Marine Mammal Protection Act, recommends a safe viewing distance of 50 to 100 feet. If seals are looking at you, you may be too close!
Look For Our Docents
Your Guide to the Elephant Seals
Friends of the Elephant Seal docents are volunteer guides who are happy to answer your questions and help you to better understand your observations at the Piedras Blancas rookery. Spend some time with the elephant seal experts in royal blue to make your visit even more memorable!
Drone Free Zone
Photographing the seals
Drone use is prohibited at the Piedras Blancas rookery. To photograph or record the elephant seals many people bring a large zoom lens to get the best close-up shots of these fascinating animals.
Our Corporate & Business Partners
We are grateful for the support of our business community. Their generosity makes it possible for The Friends of the Elephant Seal to offer free public education about the Piedras Blancas northern elephant seal colony and the surrounding marine life. Each of our partners enable our volunteers to offer a unique experience for the 1 million visitors per year to the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. We hope you will take some time to explore the area during your visit.
And…we welcome new opportunities for corporate and business partnerships. Join us!
Get the Latest News & Updates
Donate
Friends of the Elephant Seal is a 501(c) (3) non- profit corporation, relying on grants, sponsorships, memberships and your donations. Your charitable contribution supports our programs.
Sign Up for E-mail Updates
Be among the first to receive updates, photos, events and more about the Piedras Blancas northern elephant seal colony. The Friends of the Elephant Seal does not share your personal information with outside advertisers or other organizations.
Follow Us
Follow Friends of the Elephant Seal on our social channels for up-to-the-minute updates and images from the rookery.
Friends of the Elephant Seal is a cooperating association with California State Parks.
Come Early For Best Views!
Elephant seals often rest during the warmest part of the day. Arrive early to beat the crowds and watch more active seals in less windy weather. Watch for the Best View signs and be sure to visit both beaches, north and south of the parking area. Binoculars will enhance your views!
Free To Visit
Both of our locations are free and open to the public daily. No reservations are required. There is ample free parking. Be sure to stop in at the Elephant Seal Visitor Center in San Simeon either before or after your visit to see the seals.
Docents
10:00AM-4:00PM
Knowledgeable docents (guides) are available from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. They will welcome you, answer your questions and invite you to return soon.
Keep Distance From Seals
Disturbance of elephant seals is prohibited by state and federal laws. The National Marine Fisheries Service, the Federal agency responsible for enforcing the Marine Mammal Protection Act, recommends a safe viewing distance of 50 to 100 feet. If seals are looking at you, you may be too close!
If you witness someone disturbing or harassing a marine mammal, call the State Park Rangers at 1-805-927-2068.
No Restrooms
There are NO restrooms at the Elephant Seal Viewing Area, so please plan ahead. You can stop at The Elephant Seal Visitor Center in the Cavalier Plaza, in San Simeon or at William R. Hearst Memorial Beach before your visit.
No Drones Allowed
Drones flying overhead can be frightening and dangerous to wildlife. Drones are not permitted anywhere in the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.
Do Not Feed Wildlife
Human food causes health problems for wild animals. Please do not feed the ground squirrels, gulls or other birds in the area.. There is plenty of food for all wild animals in this ecosystem.
In addition, be aware that they carry fleas and other vectors of disease, and occasionally they bite.
Quiet Leashed Dogs Allowed
Well-behaved dogs on leash are allowed at the Elephant Seal Viewing Area. Be aware that dogs and seals do not mix and should never interact. Keep dogs on a leash and well away from the seals and other wildlife. Dogs may be frightened by the vocalizations of the seals. Always return a barking dog to the car. Please pick up waste and dispose outside the area. And consider registering your pet to be a B.A.R.K. Ranger!
Quiet Voices Near Seals
Watch quietly and keep your voice down. The seals can hear and see you and may be disturbed by your actions.
If you witness someone harassing a marine mammal, call the State Park Rangers at 1-805-927-2068.
Accessible Viewing Area
There are accessible boardwalks, viewing platforms and trails that extend both north and south of the parking area. The viewing walkways at each end of the parking lot are part of the California Coastal Trail and are wheelchair accessible. There are also benches available at each viewing location.
Take Your Trash With You
The Elephant Seal Viewing Area is a “pack-in/ pack-out” area. Please take your belongings and trash with you, as everything left behind will eventually end up on the beach with the seals. There are dumpsters and trashcans nearby at William R. Hearst Memorial Beach. Please help the seals by leaving nothing behind!
Check Weather Before Visit
Check the weather and tides (See buttons below) before your visit. Use sunscreen and wear a hat for sun protection. Dress in layers, wear close-toed shoes. It can be cold and windy year-round.
Remember to bring your binoculars and cameras with telephoto lens for the best images and memories of your visit.