Año Nuevo State Park

What a beautiful place to explore! We took a morning hike to see the elephant seals and ocean :) tour guide was great very instructional. Turned out to be a beautiful day. Hike isn’t bad at all, book ahead.:) and enjoi

Such a lovely well kept park and trail. Didn’t see a lot of elephant seals but didn’t care. The walk was lovely regardless.

This review is only for the trail to see the Elephant Seals. It is April, so the guided tour is no longer available. After paying $ 10 to park, you get a visitor permit that is also a map, the park ranger will tell you where to see the seals that day.
On my visit, only South Viewing point is open, it is about 1.5 miles one way (3 miles round trip from the parking lot), the trail is easy, only the sand dunes presents a little challenge, but that at the end of the trail. Some people took their shoes off to cross the sand dunes, I didn’t and that’s because if you are going to the South View point, once you climb over the dune, you have walk through mud piles before you reach the view point. My feet are too gentile for that walk.
Depends on the time of the day, Elephant may not be active, when I was there, they were all sleeping, but still, it was fun to see them.
I only wished I had time (I didn’t get there until 3:20PM, the 3 mile hike took about a hour), I would’ve explore the park more.

We came here for a school field trip during the Elephant Seal mating season. We had a docent bring us near the beach where the elephant seals hang out. It’s such a neat experience. The docents are extremely enthusiastic, knowledgeable and gave us great insight of the elephant seals and the area. During our weekday tour, I noticed that there were many different groups led with docents and a tour bus in the lot. It’s a 5 mile hike, round trip. Like other reviewers, know that Dec.-Jan is mating season so that’s what they are doing. Besides sleeping, giving birth, and mating, there’s not much else that they do. This is nature so you’ll see seals, birds, and other wild life too. Bu the main attraction are the elephant seals. This is a great place to bring out of town guests. It really showcases the beauty of the California coastline with the drive there and the wildlife. I’ve been here twice now, once last mating season and this year. I’m hoping to go during the summer to catch the molting season. I hear it’s a whole different experience!
(Note: the pictures show us closer than we actually are. We’re pretty far away but the zoom on my iPhone works pretty well!)

This was a great stop on the way from San Francisco to Big Sur. Very kept up and well marked trails. We saw lots of seals, not real active, but still fun to see. It’s worth a stop!

Majestic. The one word that sums up this park.
From a whirlwind of activities this place brought serenity to my heart and mind. Want to calm down a crazy person? Bring them here.
Are you feeling stressed, overworked, depleted? Take yourself here.
Breathtaking, breathshots of ocean, coves, rocks and birds. We were the only ones on the beach for miles. It was serene and surreal.
There are trails along the water and cliff’s edges that were very clearly marked. Platforms and pedi-​bridges that guide you so well, maybe a blind person could find their way.
There’s nothing like a glimpse of that crazy powerful ocean to make me realize how powerless I truly am.
Heavenly.

Visiting this place different times of the year gains you really good education, experience and appreciation of this beautiful park. Of course the main attraction are the elephant seals, but I’m also captivated of the variation in plants, the other animals (saw sea otters, harbor seals, etc) and hearing the history. I chatted with Diane, one of the docents, who after hearing her felt like she is my older self! Lol. Mainly bulls this time of year. Can’t wait to comeback in Jan!

This is one of my favorite easy peasy routes in the area!
If you pick up a trail of about 4 mi, it will take you 2.5−3 hours to complete. Mostly by beach, with a plenty of info boards about the marine life. Zero elevation gain. But no shade! So if no cloud forecast, do not forget a sun protection. Also in addition to water/​lunch take layered clothing. It gets windy by the ocean!
This route is peaceful and scenic. I always feel so recharged after hiking in here…
Our usual after hike activity: an early dinner at Santa Cruz and hanging out at the beach.
$ 10 parking fee.

Love Año Nuevo!
This park is fantastic for teaching anyone, young or old, about marine life and coastal animals. Home of the Elephant Seals, it’s a magical piece of protected coastline that harbors some truly amazing animals.
The ranger at the gate was very friendly– thanks Megan!- and directed us to the bookstore to get our FREE hiking permit. Why do you have to get a permit if it’s free? They have docents out at the hiking destinations and it’s a safety feature to make sure you and your brood get there and back safely– elephant seals can weigh a few tons (the males) and even smaller females can weigh half a ton– not smart to let unruly people, kids or adults, go running after large, fast-​moving, car-​sized animals, ya dig?
The docents were knowledgable and friendly, and wear red to delineate who they are.
They are working on a more disabled-​friendly pathway to the overlooks, so know that the last quarter mile of the hike is currently through sand dunes, aka not wheelchair friendly. But the first mile is on graded gravel, and easily navigated.
We traipsed out to see the elephant seals and were rewarded with a 10-​year-​old boy’s dream of sound bytes; their «calls» sound like a satisfied Roman emperor just after a victory feast– belching you can hear a mile away, literally. We also saw rabbits, multiple birds, lizards, a few garter snakes (endangered subspecies), as well as whales!
Parking is easy. Bathrooms are at two points, well positioned.
Visitors should familiarize themselves with what coastal poison oak looks like, just as a side note.
Absolutely beautiful place. I’d love to return when the big males are back from Alaska (guided tours only during that time).

Beautiful! Living in California, I sometimes forget how beautiful our state is. Ano Nuevo is about an hour away from Silicon Valley. Parking costs $ 10, but it’s well worth it.
The hike out to the elephant seal beaches is more of a leisurely stroll. Mostly flat, with a little uphill. The walk gets a bit more challenging when you get to the sand dunes. But it was totally doable. Our group probably did the walk to and from the seals in about 2 hours, and this was with multiple photo opp stops and rests.
When it’s wintertime, I’m game to come back to do the hike to see the male elephant seals battle it out on the beach!
We came this past weekend (May), so only the females/​young males were there. Lots of cute (somewhat smelly) seals sunbathing.

As most reviewers say, this place is awesome for the Elephant Seals guided hike. You get to see all different stages of… «sexy time». The act & the outcome. Which results in the most adorable little baby seals.
The only negative is you have to book way early because so many people love this. If you want to go on this hike, I would recommend reserving your spots the month before. Check their website for what days and times are available.
What people don’t seem to realize is that you can actually go to this park just to go… You don’t have to do the seal walk, although its probably the number 1 reason to go…

Great place to watch elephant seals. I can’t believe I saw so many of them and pretty close. It’s a nice hike too.
The staff and volunteers are nice and very helpful.

Review is just about the guided hike during the elephant seal mating season. The docent who led our hike was not very accommodating when it came to those of us who were slower than others — specifically the families with younger children. He told us at least twice that we needed to keep up and that we were slowing down the group — even saying that kids slow them down. But every time we caught up we just had to wait another ten minutes for him to give us information that didn’t feel very useful — so hurry up and wait. Two families with young children ended up leaving the tour midway — most likely because they felt he was so unaccommodating.
Otherwise it was amazing to be out and see the elephant seals! Too bad the docent made it clear he didn’t like young children on the tour.

Know Before You Go: It’s Elephant Seal ‘doing-​it’ season right now so pretty much all the main trails are closed, BUT there’s still a pretty decent chance of encountering one pretending to be a rock on the beach trail then suddenly look up and start growling at you as you attempt to walk by.
Now, I want to make it very clear that I was in no way harassing or pursuing the elephant seal because first and foremost, I cannot afford the tremendous fine and possible jail time that would go along with such a heinous crime, and also I love animals and also ALSO, the thing pretty much scared the poop out of me while it hid right on the trail, lookin’ like a real big rock, then BAM! Growl, sort, terrified as I’m now basically 5-​feet from the thing and it has be backed into rock wall not knowing what to do.
The ranger guy we encountered told us to take the specific route that we did to avoid disturbing elephant seals and the other closed to tour only paths and, well, you now know how that turned out… with my practically being eaten by one.
Even with most of the trails closed, my hiking partner and all around bad-​ass, Steph Y, had a rad as f*ck time. Lightly hill-​y (but barely compared to the rest of the coast) and one gorgeous stretch of beach, bluffs, and beastly elephant seals. There’s basically treasure everywhere.
Parking is easy peasy and you’ll need to fork over $ 10 to do it. Once there, there’s a bunch of pretty clean private bathrooms with very public sinks. There’s no soap so bring your own if you’re into hygiene or whatever.
And don’t forget your camera… you’ll want it if the person you’re hiking with is almost eaten alive by elephant seals.

For my one thousandth review… drumroll please.
I thought I’d give it up for a few things that I love (be prepared for some cheese):
1) Outdoors and hiking. If you know me I love being outside and I love hiking.
2) Unilocal.I love Unilocal and I especially love those I work with. It was my coworker and now great friend, Candice G, the South Bay CM who took me here. I’m sure I’d come here with or without Unilocal,but it’s due to Unilocal that I have so many bad ass people in my life.
3) The Bay Area — damn this place is beautiful.
Ok, lets now cut to the review. If you like outdoors, the ocean, walking/​hiking, elephant seals, beautiful weather and scenery then come on out to Ano Nuevo State Park. The ranger that CG and I were totally crushing on informed us that Ano Nuevo was California’s first state park and I totally know why… it’s absolutely gorgeous. Spanning the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean near Half Moon Bay, the beauty is breath taking.
As we were walking a trail, we were sidetracked a bit since during the winter those elephant seals are mating so you have to take a guided tour or you have to get back in the car and drive to get to the north part of the park. We decided to just cut to the beach and walk on the sand and ended up seeing some up close and personal elephant seals on our beach walk. Pretty bad ass! I mean beach walks are the best, this one being by far one of the most serene.
Plenty of parking, sunshine, the ocean and good company and there you go. Easy for both the youngsters and the old and everyone in between, this is a great walk for anyone.
Thanks for reading y’all!

Pleasant park with a hidden beach and close proximity to elephant seals.
If you come in winter arrive before 3.30 as they do not let you in afterwards. $ 10 lets you in (per car, not passenger). There is one major trail which spans the park (~2.5 miles one way) leading to the main (North) view point of the elephant seals. The paths can be sandy mostly flat (suitable for families with kids).
Overall, it is a lightweight hiking with lots exposure to ocean, elephant seals and succulent-​type plants. If you combine this park with a lunch/​coffee break in Pescadero, it makes a good day together. Don’t forget the bring water as the water in the park tastes über-​horrible.

you don’t expect much from the parking lot, but just let me tell you, this place is beautiful!
The best time to visit is during the summer when you can stroll the trails on your own without a group and guide. There are 3 or so trails you can take to go view the elephant seals, each as beautiful as the others. My favorite is definitely the last one. I don’t remember what it’s called but the trail itself is breathtaking, it’s as if that scenery was taken out from a movie. Pictures don’t do any justice and I am merely one person who has a weakness for beautiful sceneries. So, don’t take my word for it, i encourage you to go out and see it for yourself. Also, the elephant seals are interesting to watch, but not too exciting since most of them are just sleeping or making noises. I also suggest taking some water and extra flippy floppys on the side, in addition to a good pair walking shoes. The trails switch from dirt to beachy sand and makes it difficult to walk with just sandals or walking shoes alone.
In conclusion… this is the perfect place if you want to have a little getaway with your significant other. So cute and romantic! ^^ and DON’T FORGET, theres a fantastic secluded beach with hardly any visitors before you reach the three trails. Absolutely gorgeous!

Whoa, elephant seals and wonderful vistas!
Arrive ready for a hike, to get to the prime spot is a fairly serious sandy trek. I strongly suggest bringing sandals, or even being ready to go barefoot over the sand dunes.
There are three main viewing points each with different advantages. We ended up going all the way to the end and working our way back. I’m glad we did, the North Point is very impressive, with a TON of seals — it can be a little overwhelming. As you progress back you get a more intimate look at the females — closer up, and fewer of them.
Sunblock, windbreaker, good footwear, and plenty of water — required.

Amore is in the air leading up to Valentines day each month. On any one day your likely to see live births, conceptions and altercations between these monstrous seals. They are huge, as much as 5000 lbs, and it’s a site to see them getting it on. These Elephant Seals give renewed meaning to the term «bumping ugglies».
How do? Visit
and book your visit well in advance. Most weekends and holidays are already full. Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time or you may miss your tour group.
Also, bring binoculars, hat, sunglasses and long pants. It’s cold and windy in these dunes. There’s high potential for ticks in the high grasses on the way there too.
Have fun!

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
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:
)
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.

New Year State Park. For sure this is a great meaning since this is where new life begins for Elephant Seals. Since this review has to be only about the park, I say it’s worth the $ 10, if you are willing to pay for the guided tour which is $ 7 per person. Boom they gotcha! Hiking around the park is just okay, but not as amazing as when you are like 20 something feet away from a huge creature.
The park has actual flushing toilets. Running water to wash your hands. Located at the white barn is a gift shop and little self guided museum and a room with a looped DVD playing about the Elephant Seals.
I left this place feeling amazing. Note, the best time to visit is January-​March. This is the peak breading and mating season.

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

However there is much more to enjoy at this windswept often foggy coastal park. In the 19^th 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.

When I get bowled over by stress and silly day-​to-​day drama, I click my heels three times a la Dorothy and wish to come back here.
Año Nuevo State Park is a magical and special place. Physically, it is beautiful, with its coved beaches, windswept promontories, and rolling sand dunes. The elephant seal rookery sets Año Nuevo apart from all of the other stunning California coastal beaches. Throughout the year these heavy weight champs sojourn at Año Nuevo to mate, molt, meander, and mature. The park website will give you all the details about their itinerary, so you can plan accordingly. During our July visit, we were able to spy on many elephant seals loafing around molting their skin. Sometimes they would start sparring and then kerplunk back onto the sand. Life of Riley.
The hike out to the viewing area is about an hour each way. Not a long trek but the dunes will slow you down, which is exactly what we wanted. There isn’t beach access out on the preserve because the seals demand their personal space, but the beach near the parking lot is intensely gorgeous and the ideal place for a slow, romantic walk.
If you want to see the seals getting busy, come during the winter, snuggle up with someone special, and bring a thermos of cocoa. That’s my plan!

I love the smell of Hefalump Seals in the morning! After trekking a decent ways from the parking lot though very soft sandy Dunes and into the rather strong June winds, we were rewarded by the snuffling and snorting of all these big furry bodies.
It was just like being privy to a wildlife show, watching these huge seals roll, lunge, caterpillar, and climb over each other to grab the ideal spot. Lots more colors (and LOTS more smells of pepe le seal) than I was anticipating.
Still it was a wondrous excursion and I recommend any family to take a hike and see these animals in the wild, so close to you that you might need to hold your nose.