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Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
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Highway One
Four miles north of Hearst Castle
San Simeon, CA 93452
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Roadside Landmark
Aquarium
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery Description
There's nothing quite so funny as the antics of elephant seals, and few places you can get as close a view as at the Rookery, as it's called, located along Highway 1 at Piedras Blancas (which tranlates as white rocks.) The seals are guarded tenaciously by members of the Friends of the Elephant Seal, who are great guides — they know everything there is to know about elephant seals and are happy to share it.
Kid Tips
Toddlers & Pre-K: Make sure you dress little ones warmly, as it can be windy and they won't be warming up by walking around.
Planning Notes
- Seasonal changes are worth noting. Like whales and other mammals, elephant seals have an annual migration, so what you'll see at the rookery varies considerably depending on the time of year, but there's something to see year-round. In the fall there's something called the "juvenile haul out"; then, in December, the adults begin arriving at the beach in the winter for birthing and breeding (the most exciting time by far); the females then return to sea in February, leaving the pups on the beach, guarded by the males. In April comes another peak period when the seals return to the beach to molt.
Just the Facts
Hours: Anytime.
Fees: Free
Recommended Time: Less than 1 hour
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