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Año Nuevo Point is a low headland of dunes and coastal prairie on the San Mateo County coast, about 20 miles north of Santa Cruz. It is home to one of the largest mainland breeding colonies of northern elephant seals in the world. State Parks says up to 10,000 seals return each year to breed, give birth and molt on its beaches. Few wildlife sights in California match a winter morning here, with two-ton bulls bellowing at each other a short walk from the trail.
Our Pescadero and the coast guide covers Año Nuevo as one stop on a longer loop. This page goes deeper on the seals themselves. It explains the guided walk season and how reservations work, the free permit system for the rest of the year and what you can expect to see in each month. It also covers the 2026 bird flu outbreak and what it means for visitors. All rules come from the Año Nuevo State Park page and its seal viewing page, as checked on October 30, 2026.
Getting there from Palo Alto
The prettiest route is Highway 84 west through Woodside and La Honda to San Gregorio, then Highway 1 south past Pescadero and Pigeon Point. That is about 45 miles and roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. Highway 92 through Half Moon Bay is a little longer but straighter. Coming from Santa Cruz, the park is about 20 miles north on Highway 1.
- Highway 84 is narrow and winding through the redwoods. Allow extra time and watch for cyclists.
- Gas and food are scarce on this stretch of coast. Fill up before you leave the Peninsula.
- Cell service is unreliable. Save your reservation confirmation offline.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before a guided walk. The staging area is almost a mile from the lot.
There is no practical public transit, so you need a car. If you are visiting without one, you can compare rental cars for the day.
Guided walks, December 15 to March 31
During the breeding season the only way to see the seals is on a guided walk led by a trained volunteer docent. Here is how they work according to the park's seal viewing page:
- When: every day from December 15 through March 31, except December 25 and a weekend set aside each winter for the park's Seal Adventure fundraiser. Walks run from early morning to mid-afternoon, rain or shine.
- Group size: up to 15 people per walk. Children 17 and under need one adult chaperone for every 10 kids.
- Length: about 2.5 hours on a moderate 3 to 4 mile route over sand dunes.
- Price: $7 per person plus a $3.99 reservation fee. Children 4 and under are free. The $10 vehicle day use fee is separate.
- Refunds: none for cancellations, no-shows, weather or late arrival. Refunds are given only if park staff cancel a walk.
How booking works
Reservations go through ReserveCalifornia or by phone at 1-800-444-4445, daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Public walks for the 2026 to 2027 season went on sale on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The park's main page adds that tours open 56 days in advance. October 20 is exactly 56 days before the first walk on December 15, so new dates appear to open on a rolling basis each day. Weekend and holiday slots go first, so book as soon as your date comes into range. Visitors who need mobility assistance can reserve an Equal Access Tour by phone.
What to bring and leave behind
Bring hooded rain gear, a warm jacket, layers, sturdy shoes and water. Binoculars help with seals farther out and on the island. Umbrellas are not allowed. Strollers can go only as far as the staging area about 0.9 miles in. No food is allowed on the walk, so picnic before or after. Photography is fine, but you must stay with the group and at least 25 feet from the seals at all times.
Self-guided permits, April to November
From April 1 the guided walks end and you can walk out on your own on the Año Point Trail. The rules are simple:
- Pay the $10 vehicle day use fee at the entrance.
- Pick up a free visitor permit at the park between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. No reservation is needed. No permits are issued after 3:30 p.m. because of the length of the walk.
- Walk to the viewing areas, where docents explain what you are seeing. The closest is about 3 miles round trip and the farthest about 4. Rangers open only the areas that seals are not blocking.
- Leave the viewing area by 5 p.m., even though the rest of the park stays open until sunset.
The Wildlife Viewing Area closes from December 1 to December 14 while bulls arrive and the breeding season begins. Other parts of the park, including Cove Beach, stay open until sunset during that window.
What you see by month
Elephant seals spend most of the year at sea, diving deep to feed far out in the Pacific. They come ashore twice a year: once to breed and once to molt. That gives Año Nuevo a clear calendar.
| Months | Access | What is happening |
|---|---|---|
| Early December | Viewing area closed Dec 1 to 14 | Adult males arrive and start fighting for space on the beach |
| Mid-December to January | Guided walks | Pregnant females arrive and give birth; bulls battle and the beaches fill |
| February | Guided walks | Mating peaks, then adult females head back to sea and leave weaned pups behind |
| March | Guided walks | Weaned pups, often called weaners, teach themselves to swim in the shallows |
| April to August | Self-guided permit | Molting season: females and juveniles in May and June, older males in July and August |
| September to November | Self-guided permit | Juvenile haul-out: young seals rest on the beach in the fall |
Molting takes four to six weeks per animal, so the beaches can be busy all summer. The timing of births and departures shifts a little each year. The park notes that seal numbers and activity can vary widely through the guided walk season.
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The 2026 bird flu outbreak
In February 2026 researchers from UC Santa Cruz noticed seals at Año Nuevo with breathing problems and tremors. On February 25, State Parks announced that federal lab tests had confirmed seven weaned pups positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1. It was the first detection in California marine mammals and the first ever in northern elephant seals. The same virus had devastated southern elephant seals in Argentina in 2023.
The park closed the seal viewing areas and cancelled guided walks for the rest of the 2025 to 2026 season. Scientists were cautiously optimistic, since most adult females had already left the beach and most seals looked healthy. The risk to people is low, but the advice is firm: never touch a live or dead seal and keep pets away. If you find a sick or stranded marine mammal, call the NOAA stranding hotline at 866-767-6114. Reservations for the 2026 to 2027 season opened on schedule in October 2026. Check the park page for any changes before your walk.
More to see at the park
- Marine Education Center: exhibits, a bookstore and a theater in the restored buildings of the Dickerman and Steele dairy ranch.
- Año Nuevo Island: just offshore, with the ruins of an 1872 light station. Sea lions and cormorants now live in the old keeper's house.
- Cove Beach: a short walk from the visitor area for a beach stroll after your walk.
- Birding: the point lies on a major migration route. See our birdwatching guide for spots near home.
The land here was home to the Quiroste people for thousands of years and their midden sites are protected within the Natural Preserve.
Rules and practical tips
Good to know
- No pets anywhere in the park. They cannot be left in parked cars either. Leave dogs at home.
- No bikes on trails, no drones and no collecting.
- Stay at least 25 feet from every seal. Sleeping seals can look dead but are almost always alive.
- Winter walks are cold and windy even on sunny days. Our weather guide explains coastal conditions.
- Make a weekend of it. Santa Cruz is 20 miles south and you can compare hotels in Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. See our Santa Cruz guide for the rest of the trip.
- Some coastal and wildlife tours cover this stretch of coast, but the seal walks themselves are run by the park, so check what a tour includes.
For more ideas on this coast, see our guides to Half Moon Bay and beaches near Palo Alto.
Frequently asked questions
When can you see elephant seals at Año Nuevo?
Year round, but the experience changes. From December 15 to March 31 you can only visit on a guided walk during the breeding season. From April through August seals come ashore to molt and from September through November young seals haul out to rest. The viewing area closes from December 1 to December 14 each year.
How do you book an Año Nuevo guided walk?
Book through ReserveCalifornia online or by phone at 1-800-444-4445. Public walks for the 2026 to 2027 season went on sale on October 20, 2026 and the park says tours open 56 days in advance. Walks cost $7 plus a $3.99 reservation fee, children 4 and under are free and tickets are not refundable unless the park cancels.
Do you need a permit to see the seals in summer?
Yes, but it is free and needs no reservation. From April through November you pick up a visitor permit at the park between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and walk out on your own. Docents at each viewing area answer questions. You still pay the $10 vehicle day use fee and must leave the viewing area by 5 p.m.
How far is the walk to the elephant seals?
California State Parks describes it as a moderate 3 to 4 mile round trip over varied ground with one tall sand dune. The closest viewing area is about 3 miles round trip and the farthest about 4. Plan on two and a half to three hours. Visitors who cannot make the walk can book an Equal Access Tour by phone.
Did bird flu affect the Año Nuevo elephant seals?
Yes. In February 2026 State Parks confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in seven weaned elephant seal pups at Año Nuevo, the first case in California marine mammals. The park closed the viewing areas and cancelled the rest of that season's guided walks. Reservations for the 2026 to 2027 season opened as usual in October 2026.