Piedras Blancas Reviews

You just can't beat a drive along Hwy 1 during early February, clear, calm seas and so much wild life.

It was very enjoyable seeing the seals lounging on the beach and even comical seeing them wiggle across the sand. During the time we were there, most of the elephant seals were very sedentary with the occasional seal wiggling its way down the beach. I was hoping to see more male seals on the beach to get an idea of just how big these mammals are. Unfortunately, our trip did not coincide with the timing of the bull elephant seals being there (more research to be done on my part). Also, another thing that I didn't like was the separation created by the fences along the walking path from the seals themselves. I understand the need for them to prevent tourists from approaching or bothering the seals but it would have been nice to get closer to them. The whole reason for stopping at this location was to get a feel for the seals in their habitat and get an idea of how big these animals are. This is something I don't think you get when seeing these animals on television or in an aquatic zoo. However, it was still nice overall seeing these animals.

We saw the signs and had heard about the rookery, but were still amazed at the large number of seals on the beach. There is a nice walkway to see a lot of the beach.

Elephant Seal in their natural hábitat, not to Miss If you are Bear CA 1, my husband, daughter and I really enjoy it, We also see some cute pups too.

Great experience as a family. We enjoyed seeing the animals in the wild and saw lots of sleeping, a tussle and wobbling into the sea.

This is a place not to miss as you get to see thousands of sea lions just sunning themselves on the beach. Just amazing to see

This is an easy stop right along Highway 1. There's a nice boardwalk overlooking the beach. And there are so many elephant seals lounging all along the beach! We really enjoyed watching these big guys.

If you love nature and wild animals then this stop should be one you make happen. It can be defined as the place where nature and wildlife meet. The Seals are not affected by your presence and will simply do what they do. Play, swim, sun bath, rough house, eat, flip up sand upon themselves, and express themselves vocally in growls and groan's. I could just watch the seals for hours, if you allow yourself the time you will be able to distinguish their many different characteristics and attitudes. Don't miss this place. Awesome.

Driving down Highway 1 to Cambria for an overnight stay near Hearst Castle. Passed this gem. Had to turn around to look see. Amazing beach full of Elephant Seals & Seals. Nature full on in your face.

Find time to look at this. Picked up a leaflet at the time , hence the contact details.

FREE.

We showed up at the abandoned Piedras Blancas Motel to drive to the lighthouse tour. PLEASE check their website to make sure you have the correct day, these tours are given by volunteers, though not every day. The tour lasts about 2 hours and gives an excellent description of the flora and fauna, with plenty of explanations and many examples to see. They will lend you some binoculars if you didn't bring your own. There was also a fascinating description of the lighthouse and its history. Well worth a visit.

One word sums it up and that is AWSOME! Most beautiful sight to see animals in their natural environment. They all looked so relaxed didn't even care about all the gawkers they just slept, played, and wrestled each other like no one else was around. Very beautiful!

Thinking I might need binoculars and luck, I was happily surprised hundreds of full grown elephant seals, birthing, resting, nursing, flipping sand, fighting, mating, right there on the beach below the boardwalk! I loved the informational signs. Thank you for this amazingly interesting area.also got a glimpse of the lighthouse!

We did not really know what to expect but when we stopped we were amazed - Elephant seals for a far as the eye could see. Just so lovely and well worth the stop.

We made this beach our destination in January, after we saw the elephant seal females and juveniles here in June and we were NOT disappointed! The huge bulls were there as were the cows and their newly born pups and it was amazing. The action, the smell, the sounds-- all right there for you. The docents volunteering there were so helpful, giving you all the info you want to understand all that you are seeing and experiencing. Do you have to be a nature geek (like me!) to enjoy it? I don't think so, but it certainly doesn't hurt. We did have people with us who were not quite so into nature and they did appreciate seeing thousands of seals on this beach as well. The walkway is wonderfully maintained and puts you right there without interfering with nature.

We had not heard that were completely inspired when heading up Highway one. Definitely an inspiring sight to see. And would recommend a stop here. This time of year it is not very busy so it's a perfect opportunity to make several stops off the highway.

We slept at San Simeon. It is about 5 min by car (I don’t drive fast). This is just off the road and this easy access. The seals were just there in front of us. Volunteers were there to explain things to as. If you see them, go and say hello. You’ll be happy you did.

This is a fantastic place to see Elephant seals up close and personal, they are here yr around so anytime you come down or go up the coast stop by and visit them ,If you have time talk to a docent so you can learn the behavior of these magnificent mammals

No doubt one of the most amazing experiences if you have never seen these marine mammals in the wild. This time of year (December) the huge bulls are jockeying for their place on the beach. Best of all it's "free" to view them from a safe distance.

Interesting spot to stop on the drive, free parking and lots of seals. Worth the stop but we stayed less than 30 minutes. Bring lunch and its better..

SAFE BET: WE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED ABOUT THIS 2 HOUR TOUR! For a great tour experience, don't miss this gem of the California Central Coast.

Honestly, we almost passed on this tour, thinking it might be a little--**boring**--. IT WAS NOT....Our family of 5 (three 20+year olds and two in our 50s) all agreed that this is a bargain for the price of $10/ ticket. It is only available on certain days--Thursdays and Saturdays are always open. The tour starts at the site along Hwy 1, just north of the Elephant Seals area and the Hearst Castle exit at a site that looks like an old abandoned roadside hotel. The tour starts at 10AM, but you need to be in line at 9:45 to get your tickets and then to be escorted to the site.

Our tour started at the lighthouse. It is an impressive site, and is continually undergoing restoration. You will learn all about lighthouses, their construction, how they work, and their importance to California ships (until the 1970s). You'll then tour the oil storage site (fuel for operating equipment), and then see one of the coolest sites, the building that created the various lighthouse horns, including the familiar deep toned BAAAAA--BOHHHH.

Perhaps the best part of the story was touring the coast along a short walking tour. You'll see via binoculars (provided) Elephant Seals, California Seals, Sea Otters, and then learn all about the restoration and local wildlife and plants at this part of the central coast.

The two hour tour went VERY fast, and we were all very pleased with the tour provided by our volunteer tour guide. The guides all volunteer under the Bureau of Land Management.

If you think this is not going to be worth your time, you are wrong. We enjoyed it almost as much as our visit to nearby Hearst Castle. Trust me, you'l be happy you went on this informative tour of one of California's hidden gems.

Definitely worth stopping to see. A fabulous viewpoint and lots of interesting signs to read. No restroom facilities.

What a pleasant surprise! We stopped to visit the elephant seals and could've stayed longer than we did observing and enjoying their behaviors. We were very fortunate to be standing next to a volunteer working the area. He shared an abundance of information about the seals. We loved watching one of the females throwing sand over herself with her fin to try to cool down.

Great nature attraction. Saw giant elephant seal bulls fighting and mating. Pups all over the beach nursing from the cows. Beach was wall to wall with elephant seals. Nice viewing sidewalk, crowds reasonable. Threy could use port a potties or other restroom facilities.

Seeing the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas is a great way for the whole family to see nature up close. In February, you'll find young seals with their mothers, see adult pairs mate, and can listen to all the amazing bellowing sounds they make. Their sizes alone are incredible; males grow to nearly 16 feet and weigh over two tons at their blubbery peak. While it's fun just to watch the seals, learning about their ecology makes a visit so much more enriching. Lolling on the beach is the easiest part of their year. The rest is spent at sea diving to great depths to feed, and avoiding Orca whales which prey on them. The population numbered only 50 in the early 20th Century and their protection spawned a great comeback. Visit them but check the rookery calendar (www.elephantseal.org) before you go. Their numbers vary depending on time of year.

Driving south on Pacific Coast Highway this area is not well marked. We saw the seals first and then found the parking lot. There are some signs posted up with pictures of the seals and some explanations of their behavior that are worth reading. Some of them are huge with males reaching up to 16 feet and 5,000 pounds. They lay peacefully basking in the sun with a few rolling over or travelling along the sandy beach below the shallow cliff. It is really a spectacle to see so many seals in their natural habitat and is a stop not to be missed. Their is a gift shop and visitor center in the nearby town of San Simeon.

Got to stop by to see tons of seals just laying on the shore!
With easy access along the highway, you can't miss this.

The beach was covered with huge elephant seals! They aren't very active so you don't need a long time to stop but they are something to see.

This place is great. Although there were only a few seals at this time of year they are still fascinating to watch. There are guides wandering around that are very knowledgeable and are available to answer questions. There are also lots of squirrels running around that are very cute.

Our docent at Ano Nuevo State Park actually recommended we visit Piedras Blancas to see more elephant seals. We were amazed at how close we were to them on the boardwalk and how many seals were there. Fascinating to watch them, especially during this time of the year. We arrived about an hour before sunset so parked and watched them until the sun went down. Got some beautiful sunset pics and amazing pics of the seals! Best of all, no charge to park or enter the viewing area!!!

Interesting to watch all the elephant seals sleep, interact with one, or protect their property. We were especially grateful for the two docents roaming to answer any questions.

Elephant seals are large, blubbery mammals that go through a regular life cycle. At this long beach, the visitor can observe elephant seals of all ages (depending on the time of the year) and the activities that take place. Most adults are content with enjoying the sunshine, while scratching and covering themselves with sand, perhaps to protect them from the sun, or perhaps because the molting process is associated with considerable itching. Young adults play, pretending to fight, a good exercise for the time they will really need to fight for their partner

they were all lounging around and there were some young bulls playing in the water. Wonderful sight. It was rather windy and cold for July weather, so make sure you have layers

This was absolutely fantastic to see the elephant seals this close. We drove down here to the beach after our morning at the Hearst castle. There's a gravel parking lot that was fairly crowded but we got a spot after a short wait.

We stopped here on a drive down Highway 1 to see the elephant seals and to allow our Queensland heeler to stretch his legs. My husband had never seen elephant seals in person before so he enjoyed their antics and reading the placards regarding their seasonal behavior and patterns. The dog himself didn't seem to care one way or another about the seals on the beach below the walkway.

While any time of year is a good time to visit the elephant seals, the best time (in my opinion) is February....even January. You can see pups (babies) being born and hear them calling out. There are always docents to explain what you're seeing and provide so much information to make the experience even more enjoyable.

This was an interesting tour, but 2 1/2 hours was way too much for one lighthouse. We couldn't even climb up to the lighthouse, and part of it wasn't even there.

Great place to stop and relax and enjoy the beautiful central California coast line. Loved the foggy mornings and constant roar of the ocean

You can spend hours just watching these huge seals interacting and heaving their large bodies around the beach

This place is fantastic! It is a few miles north of Hearst Castle and it was our favorite stop on the California Coast!! we saw at least 500 elephant Seals!! There are volunteers that will explain everything and they are really interesting!!! A must visit!!!

Try to visit during December/January/February. This is when the pups are born. They have improved the site tremendously from when we first began visiting there.

We joined the 2 hour 9:45am tour. The weather was perfect, our volunteer guide volunteers at many of the locations in San Simeon, also having worked at Hearst Castle for a few decades. He was knowledgeable about both the local human and natural history.

We went on the Saturday morning tour of Piedras Blancas lighthouse. It's a guided tour given by the park service. They meet at the old Piedras Blancas hotel at 9:30am and escort drivers in groups to the lighthouse site. Tour guides are knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the Lighthouse and surrounding buildings. Even after 2 hours, I wanted more. We even saw a whale go by the point. Best $10 you can spend while in Sam Simeon. Purchased a carved wooden ornament from the gift shop.

Two days prior we visited the elephant seal colony at Año Nuevo State Park. It was a 3 mile/5K round trip walk; some on gravel paths, but the last sections climbing up and down sand dunes...none of that effort required here! Just park and walk over to the shoreline! Right off the highway with very easy access. The volunteers are very helpful and chatty and the sights are unbelieveable. Do not miss this. Only that would have made it perfect - a porta-potty please!

This is a fantastic place to see slephant seals. The entire viewing area with the trail on one end and boardwalks between parking lots and extending beyond the second (southbound) parking lot is extensive. Be sure to walk along the boardwalk as you can see quite a few elephant seals and they may not all be sleeping! To read more, check out the review for ‘Friends of the Elephant Seals’.

Because the A1 is permanently cut beyond Ragged Point, it was a detour for us, travelling up the west coast. But just to see the elephant seals lolling on the beach and swim around the rocks was worth it. If going, add Ragged Point to the detour. Its a couple of hours extra to Monterey but worth it.
The site is free, no toilets or facilities!

Well worth the stop. Many, ( over 100?) elephant seals on the beach during our visit. You can get fairly close on the walk way.

One of the best free stops on PCH.

Suggest joining Friends of the Elephant Seals to support the effort.

Elephant seals are like a group of 5,000-pound pre-teens, constantly vying for status, location, and attention. Their deep, guttural communications sometimes sound like a major plumbing emergency in a high-rise. In short, they are delightful and endlessly fascinating to watch. The parking lot here is a big one, with great interpretative signs, and the walkway for viewing the seals is long and generous, but if you want to feel you have the place to yourself, come early in the morning. The elephant seals don't know the difference; they put on their "show" 24/7. But there is something very special about sharing space with them without the din of human voices all about.

This was my first time visiting and we (four of us) thoroughly enjoyed it. We spent about 2 hours in cold, rainy, and dreary weather. We learned that there were about 25,000 along a 8+ mile stretch of coastline. We spoke to 2 different docents most of the time we were there, both informative and helpful. It was fascinating to watch them mate, defend their territories and nurse their pups. It was a fabulous experience!

My family and I enjoyed the tour. We wished that we could have seen more of the lighthouse. The scenery was beautiful! We had a very knowledgeable tour guide. It was very nice.

Great place to visit. There is a old lighthouse that you can tour & the guides are really informative.

Want to watch huge elephant seals?
Here you would see tens of them, only a few meters away.
Definitely and interesting and surprising experience!

Elephant seal poop is amazing! Stinky and salty making our visit and stop on Highway 1 memorable and special. Just fun to watch these fascinating creatures. Great rest stop on exploring California.

What an incredible sight awaits the visitor to this natural attraction. Visiting in September we were able to see the young males perform their 'jousting' behaviour, admire the huge males and laugh at the antics of the pups. Fantastic. Congratulations to all those involved in the preservation of this magnificent - a muist for everyone interested in the natural world.

What an amazing sight. A must to visit they were gorgeous . Easy to get acces too. There was a coastal advisor there answering any questions

It was so close to the Road and the white rocks (piedra blancas) were pretty. The seals are a delight to watch. They were active in the evening and laying quiet in the morning sun.

We stopped in the late afternoon and the parking lot was crowded but there was plenty of room to walk down the path without being surrounded by people. It was so cool to watch the seals interact with each other and tossing sand on themselves. The quantity of seals on the beach was unbelievable. It was very chilly and windy which made it difficult to video the noises they made. Its a free attraction and easy to stop in on the way down Highway 1.

Amazing place to see the elephants seals. If you are driving through the California 1, you will see it, it is easy to stop and take some pictures of them. There is a trial than you can walk through.

This is a GREAT place to stop and view elephants seals in the wild. You are not WAY far away from their, either. They are 15 feet away, down the sand dune and you are behind a short fence so it is completely safe

BTW, keep a lookout for the ground squirrels. They are very cute, too

Right off the highway, these are amazing creatures. Watch them in the wild as they sleep on the beach. Not a zoo, or habitat, actual in the wild observation. A must see!!

Being able to safely see the elephant seals was a great experience. The signs explaining their behavior were really interesting. Since the males and females are usually ashore at different times of the year, the information was vital to understanding the biology of these animals. The observation walkways were perfect for viewing, but if you have ever seen a mature elephant seal on the run, you wouldn't want to be any closer. Don't miss this this if you are traveling on Highway 1.

If you are driving along the Big Sur, make sure that you stop off to view the Elephant Seals which come ashore to breed, sleep and occasionally fight.

Wonderful stop in San Simeon. Parked and watch about 100 elephant seals laying around, playing, fighting. The squirrels for some reason are also friendly lol. They will walk up to you and stand up begging for food. The kids got a kick out of it. Very windy, but a great stop while on hwy 1 or visiting Hurst castle.

I read many reviews about how beautiful this place was and they were right. The tour takes place in the same vicinity of the lighthouse so your not walking far away. If your into nature walks then this is for you. Didn't get to see much of the lighthouse itself but everything else was nice. Mostly biology themed tour. It did last a very long time though but there were benches along the way. The staff were very delightful.

This place is right off the Highway, and its nice to see animals in their own environment. You aren't allowed on the beach, but there are plenty of places to take photos of the Seals, or even the squirrels that were all around. You can actually smell the animals, but its nice to just admire these wonderful creatures relaxing in the California sun.

The beach at Piedras Blancas hosts one of the most remarkable sights every winter. There were an estimated 10,000 elephants seals on the short sandy beach south of the lighthouse on the day we visited. .

This creatures are ugly, huge, belligerent, smelly, and totally fascinating.

They come to this beach to give birth and then to mate before returning to the ocean. You'll see brutish males weighing up to 5000 pounds defending their territory and their harems against other males. Even the females aggressively howl at each other to protect their pups. Seagulls fill the beach looking to feast on the afterbirth of the seals. Young pups yelping for their mothers. And the endless crash of waves on the beach.

It is a total riot of action and drama that you won't soon forget.

Prime time for seal viewing is December through February. Just north of the Hearst Castle on Hwy 1

The elephant seals were plentiful here in March when we visited - a tad chilly, but worth the visit!

A little stinky this morning but always something to see here. All during the year different groups of elephant seals converge here. They have docents to tell you more if you engage them. Great spot to see these awesome animals.

This place is a must see off Hwy 1 San Simeon area. Elephant seals are interesting animals to watch.

an awesome stop to enjoy nature. If you are travelling the PCH 101,take the time to stop and take in this spectacular natural spectacle.

This is a great place to spend some time looking down from the bluffs at 100s of elephant seals interacting with each other. There is information available along the way so you can learn about the elephant seals. This is a must see.

You have to go during the birthing months and now is that time.
The beach comes alive with elephant seals. Big monstrous males blowing their own horns letting everybody around know they are here. Timid females just trying to go for a quick swim. And newborn pups just trying to get out of the way and survive.
What a beautiful experience to see nature at its best.

So glad we stopped here to see the elephant seals after our visit to Hearts Castle. So incredible to see all the elephant seals hanging around the beach.

I took my family here on our vacation and drove a little bit out of the way to make this stop as I really wanted to see these seals. We were there in early July so I wasn't sure how many or if any seals would be there but was amazed when we got out of the car and saw a couple hundred seals during their molt. The juvenile males fighting and playing was very entertaining and the sounds they make are sounds you will remember for a long time. It was definitely worth it. My 2 teenage and pre-teen boys loved it. We must have been there for over an hour just watching and taking photos/video. And it's just a parking lot with a walking path where we got to within about 20 feet (below us) of the closest seals.

So you are cruising along Highway 1 taking in the scenery and you get a chance to stop at Piedras Blancas to see the elephant seals. Stop!
This is a free activity, it only takes 10 minutes to wonder and laugh at these huge ugly brutes as they shuffle and wallow about on the beach. This was one of the simple highlights of our trip down the Californian coast road and it is a marvel to be so close and to see so many of these extraordinary creatures.

A great place to stop and view these beautful creatures. You can watch them resting and playing in the ocean. There were over 100 the day we were there and understand more come at different times o the year

We stopped here on the way to our motel in San Simeon and saw a small group of molting elephant seals. It was a welcome rest and an interesting and unusual sight. But honestly, unless you live nearby, don't make this the highlight of your trip. We stayed inn San Simeon to see Hearst Castle. This was just a nice little extra.

We were anxious to see the elephant seals in this area and were afraid that we might drive right by and miss seeing them. Nothing to worry about. You really can't miss this area. It is right along the highway on Route 1, just 5 miles north of the turnoff to Hearst Castle.
The entire rookery is about 7 miles long, and there is plenty of parking on the ocean side of the highway where the viewing walkways are located. Just park and get out of your car, then follow the sound of the seals. They are loud.
Elephant seals began using the rookery in 1990 and now about 25,000 seals come to this area each year. During different seasons of the year various ages and sexes of seals arrive, so you are likely to see seals whenever you come. Males can get as large as 5,000 pounds! The viewing area is actually quite close to the beach so you will get a great view of these magnificent aquatic mammals.

I you are going to Hearst Castle, We highly recommend stopping here to see the Elephant Seals. It is seasonal on how many seals you will see. Best viewing is usaasally in fall or winter.

Stopped on our way South on Rte 1 from Carmel to LA. A large colony of juvenile seals frolicking in the water and laying along beach. The docent was great to listen to and let us ask lots of questions. He had pictures in an album which were helpful to learn so much more about the seals. Lots of parking and room along the railing on the boardwalk.

We stopped to have lunch and enjoy the beach and saw hundreds of elephant seals just basking in the sun. I've never seen one up close much less all of these animals.

Pleasant break on our way from Carmel to Los Angeles. Big colony of the sea lions. Comfortable parking.

Absolutely spectacular. I could not believe how close we could get to the elephant seals. We visited in early February so we got to see the pups and the adults starting to mate. It helped to watch some videos about the seals before visiting. We ended up spending much more time than expected here and it was hard to finally leave.

If you love lighthouses this one is now open 3 mornings a week for tours. We drove by it for years and it was always locked up. But then a couple of years ago we saw a sign on it about the tour and knew next time we were here we had to see it. It's well worth it!

Before going, check out the website elephantseal.org for updates regarding current seal population and activity. This website also has a live webcam. There are many seals here, but only at certain times of the year. And so it's best to go when it's chock-full of seals, because then you see all the dynamics among the animals (birthing, nursing, jostling, sleeping, playing, fighting, etc.). This is well worth the stop along highway 1 up the coast of central California. Few places on earth allow you to come this close to and observe an active population of elephant seals. Boardwalks and barriers are provided for safety. But you get very close to the action. Fascinating, not only for adults, but for children as well.

We had a great time watching the sea lions sunny them selves on the beach. Quite entertaining. We recommend it to all ages.

You will see and hear the elephant seals, dodge joggers, and smell the salty air. It's a beautiful location.

I bring all of my out of town guests to see the elephant seals up here and many have told me that was the highlight of their trip, they are one of a kind.

This is the best location to view elephant seals at any time of year. The view is most exciting during the mating season in January, and you can see the 60 pound pups in February. Even in March, the pups are still hanging around the moms, and a few giant males are lounging near the water. Prepare for cold winds, and bring your camera (or just cell phone camera.) The viewing platform is an easy walk, and there is available a free explanatory newsletter.
Your visit can be shorter than 1 hour if the weather is rainy or windy, but it's worth a visit even in "bad" weather.

If you want to see the seals ensure you check what time of year your going to determine what seals you will see. A great viewing platform allows you to see all the seals just hanging out for weeks at a time.

Beautiful beach ! Loved seeing the elephant seals and trading information on them ! The parking was very organized and the signs along the highway were helpful so we did not miss it .

This was my big surprise this time around. Nature so close to fame and fortune. Maybe Hearst knew where he was building.

Elephant Seals, usually lots of them, check their website for when you will visit to make sure the seals are there.

'A unique way to view the elephant seals, the light station, and epic views, The Boucher Trail is designated as an easy trail that is well-marked and well-maintained. It’s more about the views and wildlife than the workout' is what Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com states about the hike. While I was walking the trail yesterday I enjoyed all of the above plus fields of wild flowers mixed in with the native plants & grasses as well as turkey vultures. There was a posting about ticks, so I was trying to stay on the trail to avoid brushing against the vegetation. There are also several critter holes/dens on the trail. I did notice that there was also skat on the trail. I did not think too much of this because their was also some of this on the grounds of the Piedras Blancas Light Station. I had taken the tour of the Lighthouse in the morning. The tour guide warned the group about not stepping in it. He did mention that he did not know what animal it was from. I was on my way back on the trail when I looked up & saw what I Hoped was the back of a large tan dog. Of course it was not a dog because dogs are not allowed on the trail. The animal did not move like a dog, but more like a cat. It was a Mountain Lion. I decided to stay on the trail rather then walk up to Highway 1 which runs parallel to the trail for some of the hike. When I saw the back of the cat he was making a slight turn on the trail. I must have slowed or even stopped for a minute or two. After I walked a bit more the cat turned & looked at me. I remember his face & round ears in particular. Lucky for me the cat took off into the grass. I walked the trail back to the parking lot as fast as I could looking back & around frequently. The hike is easy & beautiful, BUT do BEWARE!

Wonderful Restoration of decommissioned lighthouse and grounds in a stunning setting. Good presentation of history. Circular staircase is restored but not open to public to climb.

Bones of female blue whale are on exhibit outdoors. Great native landscape restoration. Big waves and windswept bluffs. The site is named for the white rocks offshore (Piedra Blsncas in Spanish).

We enjoyed our tour. Reservation required. Guests meet at offsite parking lot and a guide leads the drove in before they close the gate.

Beautiful spot for pictures and learn about the Elephant Seals. Boardwalk area available to safely watch seals and take pictures. Plenty of parking .

Visited Piedras Blancas in the third week of February and was delighted to see numerous elephant seals, some of them being real gigantic, in their natural habitat. There are some informational signs all over on the viewing platform. The best thing is that this place is free of cost including parking. Certainly would very highly recommend visiting this place to any traveler and spend at least 30 minutes.

Its really good to see the sea elephants so close ... And the best they are free !!!
The place counts with some explanations about the animals!
Loved that !

I've seen harbor seals before but never the elephant variety. They are impressive. And though May is not a month for 1,000's of them there certainly were many. Many were molting, play fighting and sleeping.
Many viewing points.

The elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas is a must-see for anyone driving Route 1 near San Simeon. It’s right next to the highway with plenty of parking. What you see will depend on the time of year that you travel. In early June, when I visited this time, male elephant seals were arrived to undergoing molting. The youngest, and smallest, males arrive first, with the huge ones coming later. I saw several older males but most were younger. The younger ones spent their time lounging on the beach and occasionally flinging sand over themselves (and any other nearby elephant seal). The few larger males started bellowing and fighting with each other. At other times of the year you can see more fighting. If you are lucky enough to be here when the females birth their babies, you’ll have a much different experience.

Elephant seals
Sign posted off PCH1, as Elephant seal viewing not Piedras Blancas.
Incredible place to see these huge animals. So many of them, hundreds, including several males which I didnt expect at this time of year. So the complete package mums dads and babys. The noise is impressive but no smell. We stood for nearly an hour watching the goings on.
Good parking and footpaths to watch safely for you and them.
So good we returned next day and just in time for a face off between two males, thats nature,

Great stop, This is the same place as the elephant seal rookery, so don't look for two locations. Great experience, wish I had my grandkids with me.

This is a great stop to check out the elephant seals. Always something going on and fun to watch. The make crazy noises, fight, etc.

Free parking and viewing. Really enjoyable. Nice walkways to walk along the beach on. Make sure to bring your camera.

Right here where the Elephant Seal Rookery follows the coast to Pideras Blancas Lighthouse is Point Pedras Blancas Beach. Most people here under this category are writing about the Lighthouse tour but most people don't realize that there is a lovely hike right along the coast between the rookery and the lighthouse which is delightful. You can see the elephant seals without the mobs of tourists and you can get great photo's of the lighthouse. Plus potentially see some turkey vultures and hawks (as well as squirrels & rabbits) as we did.

To get to the "hidden" trail you have to enter the "hidden" (AKA unmarked) parking lot.... To find it: Find the big, main "Elephant Seal Rookery Vista Point" - there are signs for this off the road and you can see it on Google Satellite maps. The first pull out just north is an unmarked parking lot. (The next "pull out" is the gated and private entrance to the driveway/street that leads to the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse.) At the end of this small, unmarked parking lot at Point Piedras Blancas Beach (like I said, between the main rookery parking lot and the Lighthouse driveway) you will find the trail head for Boucher Trail with a map sign showing the trail and length.

You can hike as far as 1.9 miles, one way. Mostly flat, if it's rained lately there could be some wet, moist or slightly muddy spots. The few low spots have wood planks over the trail. Lovely and scenic, highly recommend. I posted photos.

We really enjoyed our stop here! There were tons of people here looking, but there was no trouble finding a spot to view from! We saw bulls fighting, pups yelping, moms indolently rolling over to nurse. It was funny to hear my husband and many other men there getting excited about an impending fight, like they were at a WWE match or something! We were there fairly late in the season, but there was still plenty to see.

wow definately a must do! very special place to see and learn about the elephant seals. Great smelly beast :) loved it

I didn't want to write a review about Piedras Blancas, because I wanted to keep this place a secret. When visiting Ojai, I always research the area to see if there were any good hiking places. I stumbled across the Piedras Blancas area from the state park website. What an incredible area. The white rocks were a pillowy wonderland of fun and scrambling. A minimum of 3 hours should be set aside for this easy hike into this large boulder field. A small oasis of water was still percolating from the stream bed and was easy crossing. The reflection of the rocks warmed out bodies and we had to strip down a layer during our February visit. Enjoy and keep an eye out for condors!

Lots of tourists but so excited to see there are still sights like this that are beautiful and free! Really enjoyed it.

Basque in the sounds and movements of these great creatures. Went in November and there were hundreds lying on the beach. This July not so many but still enough to enjoy and take photos. Beware the squirrels have become non afraid of people and they will come right up to you.

We were going to Hearst Castle and found this attraction by accident. Glad we did. There are not too many places where you can view animals in the wild and get this close.

It was just looking at beached seals, but they are amazingly large. There were a lot of them there when we were there.

This is one of the few places in the world where you can stand 50 yards from Elephant Seals in their natural habitat on a sandy Pacific Ocean beach four miles north of Hearst Castle on Calif Route 1. There is a free parking lot a few steps from the low cliff edge overlooking the sea mammals laying about the beach and playing in the shallow surf. In the Spring months, there are thousands of seals on the sand but on any day you will see dozens of the magnificent animals. From 10-4 daily, there are trained volunteer docents on site to answer questions about the seals.This is a memorable experience for all ages. More than 700,000 visitors stop each year to enjoy this unique environment

So glad we heard about this and stopped to see the elephant seals. Really neat experience to watch them on the beach and in the water. The ground squirrels near where you park your car are pretty cute too! There was a volunteer on hand to answer questions about the seals and that was nice.

Amazing and educational. Great job my the fans of the rare Elephant Seals. Go and admire- could hardly leave the place!

This is a great place to stop for a break if driving the West Coast of California or perhaps have a picnic before visiting Hearst Castle. There are lots of Elephant Seals to see from a relatively high and safe view point and you get a great view of the Pacific.

Used to see scene like this ( lots of sea lions) at Pier 39 San Francisco several years ago. Ever since the seal lions were gone overnight at Pier 39, I have never seen this scene. The trails were blocked, so we did not get the chance to go near to look closer.

Pictures aren't made up. 1000's of seals up close and vocal! Can't believe the size of the larger males.

Well worth a stop. Views a just a few feet from the parking lot. It was fun, we liked the North Beach better

Piedras Blancas is a beautiful rugged beach worth a stop and a few photos. It also is home to enormous elephant seals. What an incredible sight! Really worth a stop!

Piedras Blancas is both a famous light station, named for the white rocks offshore that the lighthouse provides warning of, and a wildlife sanctuary. Access to the light station is by guided tour only which departs from the Piedras Blancas Motel, located about 1.5 miles (2.4k) north of the light station, at 9:45am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, September 1st through June 14th, with Mondays and Fridays added during the summer. Cost of the 2 hour tour is $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 – 17 and no charge for those 5 and younger.

However, what drew us to Piedras Blancas was the opportunity so see the huge elephant seals that can be observed up close from a boardwalk along a portion of the rookery that is free to access from a large parking area on the PCH that is impossible to miss about 1.3 miles (2.1k) south of the light station. Elephant seals are present year-round from a peak in January through May when they number in the thousands, to a low in July and August when they still number in the hundreds; the huge males are generally present from late November through mid-March and again in July and August.

Not to be missed if you are traveling Highway # 1. At first you think there is just a bunch of oval, flat rocks lying on the beach and then you hear them! Gargles, grunts, snorts, belches, bleats, whimpers, squeaks, squeals - those rocks are alive! We watched and listened until our noses and toes were cold. What a privilege to be able to get so close to these creatures and yet feel perfectly safe from the fenced off viewing area that has been provided. Thank you to the state of California for providing travelers with this privileged viewing!

This elephant seal viewing area is right at a turnout on Hwy 1. There is a large parking area for the viewing area, and area is very easy to access and enjoy within just a few steps. We were fascinated by the behaviors and sounds of the elephant seals, and ended up spending much longer than we had originally thought we would. There are even docents at the area who have great extra information to share about the elephant seals, their habits and habitat, and the entire area.
We had no idea about this spot when we pulled off (we did so because there were so many others turning in.). We won’t ever drive Hwy1 again without stopping here!

We expected to see a few seals on the beach, but we went at a good time. The beaches were packed with them. The rookery was closed to the public due to new pups being born, but you can see so many other seals that the stop was definitely worth the time.

Stop by this elephant seal colony for a very close view of these amazing animals. The view area, which is right off of the highway, is well marked with plenty of parking. You can walk along the trail which is adjacent to the beach and view the fabulous seals. They are incredible to see.

Do not miss it out! Lots of elephant seals there enjoying the sun on the sandy beach. Very interesting place to visit after your visit to Hearst Castle.

Beautiful sand beach and a great way to see Elephant seals up close. Definitely recommend anyone to visit this site

I was so excited to take my family here, and was not disappointed. We went on a Wedneday evening after seeing the Hearst Castle. We walked along the Elephant Seal Rookery and were able to watch the seals. Bring a jacket and wear warm clothes because it does tend to get chilly. There is a big lot and parking is free.

This place has elephant seals (in spring), a historic lighthouse, beautiful beaches with powerful waves crashing into the rocks, awesome hiking trails and boardwalks, lovely wildflowers and sea grasses and much more. This is one of the most pristine with nature places on earth. Let's all help keep it that way.

We have been here in several different seasons and it is always terrific! Viewing site is right off the parking lot with hundreds of seals entertaining the public. Very knowledgeable docents make it very interesting.
Truly one of the highlights of driving the California coast.

We were there earlier than the tour books said the seals would be, but it was full of elephant seals!
Young males were practicing their jousting but not many of the BIG boys were there yet or at least they were not yet battling over the females.
The best viewpoints where a short walk on the right (North) end of the parking area.
There are no fees charged.

What a delight it is to elephant seal watch. Bring binoculars and a camera. Lots of people come but there is plenty of space to see. We also saw an otter playing which was a bonus.

Great place to see elephant seals and watch their interaction among one another. We watched them for almost an hour. Some on the beach and others in the water playing. Interesting.
Plenty of parking and a long viewing area. Depending on the time you may catch a beautiful sunset.
It is about 5 miles north of Hearst Castle entrance on the Pacific Coast Highway 1.

One of the best stops along Highway 1. Well signposted from the highway with plenty of parking. Elephant seals for as far as the eye could see...simply outstanding! Nature at it's best! There are guides there to give you any extra information you may need.

We went when the elephant seals were delivery babies. Thousands of seals at various locations. The boardwalk and overlooks were excellent. If you're at all interested in these animals this a great place to see them up close (but not too close)

We visited the elephant seal rookery of Piedras Blancas in mid-April. We learned while we were there that the large males (5000 pounds) with the extended noses (proboscis ) would not be on the beach at this time of the year. The elephant seals on the beach would be females and adolescents using the beach as a place to molt. This was a great experience. We visited the boardwalk during the evening and then returned to the same area in the morning. We witnessed more activity in the morning session. The boardwalks extend both north and south of the parking lot. There were seals in the water, seals on the beach, seals sleeping, seals climbing over each other, and seals sparring with each other. This was just a great experience, especially for a person from the Midwest.
The area has great signage on the road so a person can easily find the rookery, located a few miles north of San Simeon. Brochures and informational bulletin boards provides you with education about these sea mammals.
No fee associated with parking or accessing the viewing area.

An elephant seal rookery extends for 6 miles along the coast in the area of Piedras Blancas. You can spot hundreds of them resting on the beach during most times of the year. During June, females, after childbirth, nursing and weaning rest on the sand. They fast for about a month before heading out to sea to hunt.
There's a well marked scenic area staffed by naturalists from a Friends of the Elephant Seal organization. Informative signs are installed along a coastal path linking two parking lots and continuing beyond.
It's quite fun to watch the seals wriggle, dust themselves with sand as they snort, snore and belch. First you hear them, then you smell them and finally you see them.
Another, less obviously marked, scenic area a bit further south is also a seal resting area and may be less crowded.

Certainly a must and if upwind hold your nose! It's really neat to be in their space and respect these creatures. Lots of great things in life are free including this stop and look place on the coast just north of Hearst Castle

I stood and watched the elephant seals for a long time. They pile on top of each other and periodically rise up, smack each other around for a minute and collapse into a heap again. They are fascinating to watch. I’m glad I got to see them.

Nice place for who likes animals - you can observe them in their natural habitat, learn about their behaviours and also see a beautiful landscape.

A relative said she had seen elephant seals just north of Hearst castle and I was therefore hoping to see them too. I had no idea that they were resident on this beach or the numbers of elephant seals to be seen. I had a magnificent view of elephant seals and sea lions and counted 86 animals on the beach whilst I was there. It is amazing to see them in such large numbers. The photo opportunities are endless!
This is certainly something you can do as part of a day out doing other things too. I stayed for half an hour or so and that was long compared to some other people. There is a car park and it is well signposted, so you won't miss it. It is free, with a boardwalk along the beach so you can view the seals without disturbing them. I would say definitely go if you like wildlife, but it is not a day out in itself.

If you are at Hearst Castle, you should stop to see the Elephant seals. This area is undisturbed and you can see Elephant seals in their natural habitat. When we were there only young seals were present and they were in the process of resting and molting. I would like to come back and see the larger Elephant Seals which can way upwards of a ton and look as large as a car. The volunteers were especially helpful in answering questions. A really nice part of California and it is free to visit. Would highly recommend.

Locked gate on April 13, 2017. Can take photos from road. May be able to walk around locked gate and walk down half mile road to lighthouse. No sign indicating reason for closure or any time that it would open in the future.

just a few miles up the road from hearst castle on the beach you can stop and see the elephant seals and their babies from the road side viewing spot and it is an awesome view to see all the seals.

Went to the rookery again with my 8 year old grandson. This time of year the sub-adult and some adult males are molting and sparring . It is a great trip for all .

Perfect stop on your way down Big Sur to take your time and enjoy the elephant seals on their habitat, laying down on the beach while sunbathing.

Wow. We just happened on this, driving along HWY 1. Incredible close viewings of many male elephant seals in molting stage. There are a few volunteer guides along the boardwalk, that are a wealth of knowledge. If you see cars pulled over, you know there is animal action! 4 miles north of Hearst Castle and 14 miles north of Cambria. An easy pull off. Worth the time.

Great place to stop and view the elephant seals. Great time to visit as the young seals are sparing and very active. Nice pullout to view seals and spend some time just enjoying the wildlife and ocean.

We visited at the height of the calving season, so saw lots of babies with their mothers, as well as the impressive dominant males, protecting their territory. The long walkway gives an excellent view to many visitors at once. This is a not-to-be-missed sight for any nature lover.

We passed through in August, when the seal population is at its minimum, but it was still amazing to see them up close in their natural habitat.

A very interesting stop near San Simeon where elephant seals rest on the beaches at all times of year for mating, resting, learning to fight. A fascinating glimpse into nature.

This is a unique place, with the beach being occupied by sea elephants... If you like to see such animals in a big group... GO THERE!

We stopped after tour of Hearst Castle- It was molting season so there were not quite as many seals on the beach, but there were still a lot- and there was activity- they were so interesting and fun to watch. A very nice docent approached us and offered to answer any questions- very informative- delightful way to spend a while- especially before/after touring Hearst Castle. Just down the street.

I believe this is the closest place to view elephant seals in California (also visited Point Reyes and Ano Nuevo and the elephant seals were farther away). For folks with limited mobility, viewing elephant seals at Piedras Blancas is better than at Point Reyes or Ano Nuevo. They have a boardwalk on both North and South sides.

Piedras Blancas is the reason I traveled to the San Simeon region. I visited Piedras Blancas over two days and each day was interesting. Even though one of the days I was there in December was cold and overcast, I am glad I went. San Simeon doesn't have many indoor attractions that were of interest to me, so I decided to dress accordingly and still watch the elephant seals on both north and south viewpoints.

Due to close proximity, the seals can hear and see you. When I was there on one of the days, children were shouting and leashed dogs were barking. The seals play-spar on the beach and this made the dogs bark in response. I noticed the dogs barking scared at least one of the seals. Please be seal sensitive and tell your kids to observe them respectfully and quietly, and please don't bring your dog (leashed or not). Seals also come to the beach to rest and need peace.

Volunteers are there as well to answer questions.

Just along the side of the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway lie hundreds of elephant seals enjoying the sandy beach and basking in the sun. Photographers and nature lovers will enjoy this stop. It is amazing to watch and listen to these amazing creatures.

Must see!!!! The tour of Piedras Blancas Lighthouse was amazing. So much history and info about the wildlife and coast. The weather wasn't that great the day I went but it was still completely worth it.

This stop is easy to make whether you're traveling north or south. The parking lot is large and often very busy, but I've always found a spot. There are plenty of viewing areas to see these giant elephant seals up close. There are viewing decks at both ends, so be sure to explore. Not only will you see these great creatures, but you will hear and smell them too. This is an excellent pit stop for anyone. No problems getting on and off the highway. There are no bathrooms though.

Very nice place to observe elephant seals without disturbing them, very helpful volunteer explaining a lot of things about them

This is one of the highlights of our California trip so far. There were hundreds of elephant seals when we arrived. They were active. It was very windy and chilly, but we still stood and watched for 30 minutes. Loved it!

This is a really nice coastline.
And its free to stop and watch the elephant seals.
There are volunteers who knows a lot about the seals.

Like many of the beaches along the Central California coast, Piedras Blancas has beautiful cliffs and coastline. The bonus are the seals that hang out in this area with their pups. It is a free attraction, unless you go to the Piedras Blancas light house for a tour. Across the hwy look for zebras that come down to graze from the Hearst Ranch. The entire area is full of scenic vistas and wild life.

This stop is such an interesting, fun stop. I, personally, could stay there for hours watching the elephant seals. This was my second visit, and my husband's first. He was in awe. It's just so fascinating! It's pure, genuine, NATURE!

The place really stinks with smell of Seals. Nice place for Elephant Seal lovers.
Not very comfortable as the place is quiet underdeveloped.

An absolutely must see. Thousands of elephant seals sunbathing on the beach or playing in the waves. Really spectacular sightseeing. Well worth you time.

The Seals who only congregate on this stretch of beach is an amazing sight to see. We spent a short time here but next time will set aside half a day to view. We will come back during breeding season. SO cool seeing the seals in their natural habitat.

There are two places to observe elephant seals in California--Ano Nuevo north of Santa Cruze and this one, Piedras Blancas, north of San Simeon, CA. Piedras Blancas is within walking distance of the highway so is very convenient, especially for people with difficulty walking distances or over sandy terrain. Elephant seals everywhere during the early winter!

Great viewing of the elephant seals in late February when the pups & slim downed bulls are still on the beach. Volunteer? seal expert was most helpful. Do you understand why this beach with all this seals does not stink?

Right on Highway One 5 miles North of San Simeon. It's great place to see Elephant Seals in their natural cycle. Births and mating in Dec into March, pups learning learning life skills and gaining strength, juveniles & females start arriving in late March and go into early summer for a month of molting, next are the sub-adult males, then the adult males arrive in August & September. Last the juveniles and yearlings come back in October and November. the place has a regular visitation all year.

A mile north is the lighthouse with 9:45 am tours 3 days a week in the winter and every day from June 15 to Aug 31. Meet at the formal motel near the gate, not at the gate. A fee is involved.

An interesting place to absorb some flavor of the coast both natural & man made with the light station dating back to it's 1875 origin.

If you're travelling the PCH, this is a must see along the way.

Hundreds of seals lazing on the beach. We were lucky to see a newborn as well, pointed out excitedly by one of the devoted volunteers who spend all day watching them.

During the winter months, young males try to muscle in on the older patriarchs, and a chest butting fight ensues.

We were blessed to witness one and caught it on video - what a treat!

Nice area to watch them and especially listen to them. We enjoy our stop there, even if hundred of people do to.

Who needs zoo's? This is how to observe nature in its real place, no animals are harmed here! Just hundreds of elephant seals, and what a wonderful sight.

I like watching surfers riding the waves when the tide comes in. Great "Chill" spot beautiful sunsets !

We watched the seals at the Rookery and here. Fascinating experience and not to be missed! The rookery was a better place to view the seals though

We throughly enjoyed this tour. You can’t climb the lighthouse, so that was a bit disappointing. But you can tour the base of it, and the other historic buildings. The view from the location is breathtaking!

The Piedras Blancas Lighthouse sits on a very scenic point along the Central California coast. You can visit the lighthouse for free and take advantage of docent-led tours.

Especially at dusk. The ocean the light the seals so much peace. An amazing calmness descends as u watch the grandiosity of the ocean.

I have visited the Piedras Blancas elephant seals shore few times, and each time I enjoy it again and again .
I was lucky enough to visit there in various seasons and enjoyed seeing the seals with their newborns as well as at other different status, all are very interesting.
I would definitely recommend it as a must visit place of you are traveling along coastal highway 1 .

Fantastic place to see elephant seals ... pups playing with each other and grown ups relaxing and basking on the sun

Great side trip from Hearst Castle, about 10 minutes North of San Simeon. About one mile South of the lighthouse. Free State Beach access with viewing of Elephant Seals, you can park in the paved lot on the North end or the bigger dirt lot on the South end. Both get you onto the almost level trails and boardwalk. Viewing angle up and down the beach is perfect for seeing the huge marine mammals in their natural state from as close as 25 yards. Informational plaques along walk. Easy walk for kids and mobility devices.

We were there in August and we're pleasantly surprised by how many elephant seals were present, sunning themselves on the beaches or playing in the surf. Was told that the huge males were actually only about half the size of the really big bulls that are present in the breeding season. No pups or females at the end of the summer. Still awesome though.

We stopped here in March. The elephant seals had well-grown pups by this time and the kids went nuts every time we turned a corner on the walking trail . . . "Papa, Papa! Come see, there are even more!" It is a good stop, only about five miles from Hearst Castle so you can combine the experience of man-made and natural beauty.

I was so excited to stop here on my drive up the Pacific Coast Highway and find this amazing congregation of elephant seals! Parking was plentiful and the viewing area was close to the seals and kept up well. At the time I went, there were at least 100 or more seals lazing on the beach and some were very active and seemed to be showing off a bit. The Piedras Blanca lighthouse in the background was an added bonus to this incredible nature gathering.

What a sight to see! Some where very active! There where also cute small squirrels running around. Glad we stopped here and took some pictures.

We were delighted to return to Piedras Blancas on a sunny warm November Day, The elephant seals were happy. Most were sleeping. We listened to some making their sounds. We watched as a couple of them came in from swimming in the ocean. It was a delightful visit.

We loved seeing the male seals interact and a tiny, little baby seal come out of the water! It is very windy, so come prepared. However, it is totally worth it! We stayed at least 15-20 minutes enjoying the seals. It is a little hard to find, so we stopped at the Chamber of Commerce and the nice lady gave us good directions and lots of maps of CA that were very useful!

It is the first time I was so close to elephant seals lying alonside the road in the beach. It was very interesting to watch their moves. The smell was not bearable though. It is 100% nature and the animals were free. Worth stopping by the road and watch these interesting animals.

We explored this area on a beautiful April day. This rugged coastline is spectacular, and a must see for anyone. The air is crisp, and views are amazing. Enjoy!

It was summer, so we thought that we would not see many elephant seals. We were wrong. Lots of them lounging along the beach. First impression alert- they all look like large dead seals that have washed up on the same beach. But after that first impression, watching them throw sand on themselves, belly navigate up the sand, complain to their many neighbors and play-fight in the surf was enjoyable (for about 30 minutes max).

We did not really go onto the beach and as far as I know direct access is prohilbited (not sure) but the view was amazing, it was towards sunset and the elephant seals were numerous. Parking was not such a problem as cars were stopping and leaving all the time.

OMG! they are so adorable. They are all over the beach and this is a must stop on your road trip! There are researchers there to help answer any questions you have about the seals.

I think that Piedras Blancas and the Elephant Seal Rookery are the same thing, but one is to the north of the parking lot and the other is south. For more information look at the Elephant Seal Rookery which is formally called: Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. There are nice docents if you go at the right times.

Completely amazing,great viewing without disturbing nature ,viewing platforms very well placed.There was a nature guide there just chatting to people which gave us much more Insite into the lives of these beautiful creatures

Goooo! Talking seals and a lighthouse! A place everyone can go and check out. Picture taking a must! Great for families too.

An easy stop along the coastal highway that offers up great views of elephant seals (the males are massive in size) while you walk along the boardwalk to stretch your legs.

The parking lot is spacious but can fill up on busy weekend days. However, the parking spaces tend to turnover quickly and if you wait a minute you can usually find a spot.

An added bonus here is that there are usually volunteers around(?friends of the elephant seals?) to answer questions you might have concerning these magnificent creatures.

We stopped here for ~10 minutes to watch the seals and get a break from being in the car while we drove the PCH. Pretty cool spot that appears to be unchanged after our visit nearly 20 years ago.

I stopped at 3 different view points in the Piedras Blancas area to walk along the bluffs, examine the native plants and flowers, and of course observe the elephant seals. It is molting season in late summer, so things are pretty quiet, but there were a number of young males doing mock battle in the water. There were also lots of harbor seals and california sea lions too. I went early in the morning, so it wasn't too crowded but I did notice full parking lots later in the day, so plan ahead.

Loved this quick stop in our way up the coast. Beautiful scenery and wildlife! Very calm and relaxing to just watch the waves, seals, birds and just breathe.

Well signposted and so easy to pull in and park up. So many Elephant seals and is amazing to see and hear them!! We spent around half an hour watching them on the beach and in the water.

While on a recent road trip to California we were able to view a very interesting place known as the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery located a few miles north of San Simeon and Hearst Castle. This is the only place other than the Channel Islands where approximately 17,000 of these mammals spend time resting and doing their thing. They do spend approximately 80% of their life in the open water. There is plenty of parking and there is no charge for this very educational and interesting stop . .

Piedras Blancas, a beach to discover elephant seals! Elephant seals have taken up residence on Central California for about ten kilometres of coastline. They can be found in other places on the coast but this is where they are easiest to observe. The Americans call this place the "Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery". Elephant seals spend most of their year in the open sea but they reach their homeport twice a year to give birth, reproduce, moult and rest. Piedras Blancas is the ideal place to observe them during these times.

Luckily, we passed by the tour meeting place just as the group gathered. We realized what was going on, flipped a U-turn, and sped back to make the tour. Tours are limited to a few days a week and only from 9:45 to noon. Otherwise, there is no entry onto the grounds so we felt very fortunate to be there.

This was a great tour that included ecology, history of the place and the people who served there, and information about the light and lighthouses in general. Well worth the $10 fee.

Wonderful volunteers tell story of this historic lighthouse. Elephant seals, falcons, mama whales w babies.

Right off Rt. 1 California scenic hwy, is an amazing view of hundreds of elephant seal basking under the sun.. No fee, bring lots of sunscreen, hat, snacks and water.. Keep traveling and eating!! Rolly H..

Just north of San Simeon at a pull off called Vista Point, we walked along the fenced path overlooking these sea giants lolling on the beach and some frolicking in the surf. The posted information was very helpful and the docent we met was both friendly and helpful. We walked about a mile in one direction and back and as the day was sunny we got some very good photos. The beach is quite wide here and many pods were snuggled together catching a few rays. Their barking and grunting added to the adventure of the day.
We were so pleased to see everyone obeying the posted rules and no one being a jerk by trying to disturb the wild animals. It was a very delightful experience. Highly recommended

This seaside is really a special place.
There are during whole year several elephant seals in the differente stages of their life.
This kind of wild animal has been endangered species and before the visit, I believed it was very hard to see them so close and so large numbers.
It has been a very amazing visit. I suggest this place to all nature lovers.

It was great to get up close and see these amazing creatures in a natural setting. Parking was easy and great boardwalk to get you up close to observe.

This is nature and wildlife better than any zoo. It is great to watch the animals and their interaction in a natural habitat and even more entertaining than a trip to the zoo. I hope mankind will protect this natural habitat.

What an amazing visit, this place is beautiful, so much to learn about elephant seals , try to visit the website and get in touch with one of their volunteers on site to answer any question ( trust me, you would like to know more about this creatures).

Always an amazing site to see!! We visit often and this weekend there are large males on the beach molting and practice battling.

Just a month ago during Memorial Day weekend, there were hundreds of young females who have now gone out to sea.

There is a nice visitor center in the town of San Simeon 7 miles south so if you are coming north you should stop there first.

Stopped here for a quick visit and it was amazing to see all the seals up close . Kids really enjoyed it

We took a hike toward the lighthouse. They have lighthouse tours as well as viewing areas for the marine life. We ran into some ticks, so
Beware.

Piedras Blancas is a great place to watch a colony of Elephant Seals. It is fascinaying to follow these big marin mammals as they lay on the send and sleep, occasionally covering themselves with some sand, then suddenly getting into the water, swimming a bit and returning to sleep on the sand. Interesting to watch!

We were following a book of walks that took you on a path near this lighthouse and were harassed by employees of the tour company who wanted to insist that we did not follow the path. Rather an unpleasant experience and would certainly put me off ever using their services.

Great stop along Highway One just north of San Simeon to see the elephant seals in their natural environment. We have been there in all seasons.

This time of year there was just a few females and the first bull of the season showed up for the start of the breeding season.

Always a great stop. And always something to see.

Best time of year to see males fighting and breeding is January then the pups are born the same time with their long gestation period and delayed implementation.

This was probably our third or fourth visit here. It's a great place to wander and watch the elephant seals.

I'm so glad we stopped here, as this was one of the highlights of my trip to California. After leaving Hearst Castle (another highlight), we were following the coast road north and saw the turnoff for the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. There is a free parking lot with signs that direct you to the best place to see the seals. Follow the boardwalk that overlooks the beach that was covered in seals the day we were there in early October. It was amazing to see the seals flipping sand over themselves, wriggling through the sand and challenging each other for the prime beach spots. Great photos, don't skip this spot!

Another lovely spot off the PCH just past Hearst Castle. We were there on a misty day, but still enjoyed our visit. Nice pier, adequate parking. Pretty picture spot.

My husband and I have driven past the lighthouse many times and said that we should go on the tour. This time we happen to be there on the day they were giving The tour. You meet at the deserted motel above the lighthouse and pay the $10 fee there. You caravan in your own vehicle behind one of the guides to the lighthouse. Our guide, Dave, was a retiredGuide from Hearst Castle. He was very good. The 30+ people going on the tour were broken up into groups. The guide explains about the vegetation, the wild life and the buildings. It was very, very interesting. I would certainly recommend it to anyone visiting the Central Coast.They have been working very hard to restore this lighthouse. The Fresnel lens is located in Cambria. The view of the staircase inside the lighthouse is spectacular. The grounds and the lighthouse were much more than I expected.

Early March is just the right time to see the rookery. The male elephant seals are at one end of the beach, the females and recently born pups are still together, lazing away the time. The rookery is little more than 25 years old, but the elephant seals have made themselves fully at home. A lovely view!

Woth seeing! Beautiful views bring your camera for sure! Nature at is best lots of visitors when we where there but lots of place so you can take lots of pictures.

From San Simeon CA, head north from Hearst Castle onto California Highway 1, for about four and a half miles.
Located just off the west side of Highway 1, the parking lot is open to the public
and is just a short distance from the Boardwalk overlooking the beach area and the elephant seals. So many elephant seals to see right there in their natural habitats , always stop here when going to Big Sur, which i just right up the way from here , such a beautiful area all the way around !

Right on hwy-1 a beautiful beach & cove filled with huge elephant seals laying around sunning themselves & playing. there were several sea otters eating in the kelp beds just off the beach. Great place to kick back & enjoy some beautiful creatures (for free)

The elephant seals were here when we stopped. Great big huge smelly loud.elephan seals - fun to watch. We didn't stroll the beach because of the seals but it looked wide and beautiful.

The Pacific Ocean and beaches are unparrelleled beauty. Creation at its very best. This is an absolute must see and be on ones itinerary when visiting this part of the world.
Return? Yes.
Recommend? Yes.

We didn't get to see the seals in their active part of the day, but it was sweet to watch them snoozing in the sun. When one snuggled into the other, they would all move like dominos, grunting and grumbling as they did because their sleep was disturbed. It was fun to watch the little ones swim out and coming back so exhausted they could only move a foot at a time, rest, and move another foot. I could have watched for longer than the hour we had there. I'm so glad we got to see them!

I have never had the opportunity to observe elephant seals up close and personal. This wonderful wayside stop along the road is perfect to do just that. We were able to see the animals, resting along the shores and observe behaviors of young males and the females molting. Especially appreciated was the availability of the brochure E-Seal News which provides information on elephant seals, habits during various months of the year, and information on the webcam availability. Definitely a place worth stopping!

Being a Lighthouse lover, I wanted to see the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse. Not much point. The lens was removed and replaced with an automated light. The lens is not housed in downtown Cambria, so the lighthouse looks more like a smokestack with a light on top. Go South of the lighthouse though and see the Elephant Seal Rookery. That is worth the time invested to get here.

Amazing place! You can see the elephant seals swimming, sun basing, sleeping, playing...they are so cute!

Every spring, adult elephant seals come ashore to molt. At peak times, there may be almost no sand visible, because of the population of these creatures! There is a live cam there, so one can preview one's visit. Tripadvisor doesn't allow me to post with a link, but one can find it using search tools. Sometimes impassable from the north on CA Hwy 1, it can be reached from the south. CalTrans has up to the minute reports on highway conditions and closures, search for their toll free phone number.

Pull over off Pacific Highway and check this place out!!
There are 100's of elephant seals here just lying on the beach so close to you.
Watch and photograph them swimming in, flicking sand, fighting for leadership, farting, growling or just simply lying there sun bathing!
Fantastic place and a really must see!!!

Driving down the highway and pulled in, took a walk around and took pictures. Read the literature. The story is incredible how they have survived and recovered from less than 50 to their current herd size.

Come see the hundreds, even thousands of young elephant seals, basking on the beach year-round around Piedras Blancas. (The most raucus time is winter mating season.) In the summer and fall, the juvenile seals practice their sparring along the shoreline while most slumber, kicking sand over their bodies to keep cool and brush flies away. There’s plenty of parking and you can view the seals just steps away or walk along the informative signed boardwalk and dirt trails for plenty of lookouts. The rookery is definitely a must-see when visiting Cambria, San Simeon and Big Sur.

It's easy to park on the lot in front of the beach. Bring a wind jacket; even if the weather was sunny and warm in San Luis, here it was windy and freezing! We could see the lions from a short distance, could not get on the beach. Anyway the smell would prevent me from that. Be warned if you are sensitive to smells. Depending on the time of year you will see males, females or youngsters. In April we could see youngsters molting. No males with their big nasal appendages! Some youngsters practiced fighting. On the way back to San Luis we saw some zebras in the fields with the cows (they used to belong to the zoo of multimillionaire Hearst).

you should definitely stop here. its a great view. nice to witneds wildlife. stunning place with seals

We made a quick stop to view the elephant seals. We were amazed at how many of these creatures were on the beach. It was loud and smelly but we loved watching these creatures in their natural habitat. They are very entertaining to watch!

I did not do a lot of research before but September seems to be a pretty light season for the seals & sea lions. We only saw about 10 but I have heard the beach can be packed. I highly recommend going at a different time because I am sure it is pretty amazing!

Give yourself time to engage with the spectacle.Observe the seal's behavior, walk along the boardwalk as well as the trails north opf the main parking lot.

I love going to the elephant seal rookery and could watch them for hours. This time we were able to see many of the new born seal pups. Several of the "momma seals" seem to be having a discussion on parenting styles! The docents are always so well informed and happy to answer questions. There is also a lighthouse close by to visit.

We drove up to see the seals from Cambria with our grandchildren thinking it would be a great learning experience for them. And us. We were all completely fascinated! There was a docent there who was very knowledgeable and answered all our many questions. She had pictures available as well as hands on items. It is well worth a stop if you are in this area.

As the picture indicates, there are elephant seals almost as far as the eye can see. The entire beach is covered with them. It's amazing to see so many animals at once and in their native habitat. Piedras Blancas is a beautiful spot, apart from the seals. As its name implies, there are impressive white rocks rising from the ocean.

We finally got to see this light house and was worth the wait. You have to meet at a abandon hotel about a mile past the light house. Our tour guide was great and was full of information! My daughter and I enjoyed the trip and was amazed on all the renovations that have been done to this place with donations!!! Worth the trip. Not for kids under the age of 7 or 8 unless they are really interested in lighthouses.

What a fun stop-off! So glad we saw the information about stopping to see the Elephant Seals. It is definitely something to see, smell, and experience.

This is great free tour on the gay to Big Sur or just to complete your visit to the Hearts Castle, is always nice to look to nature on they're natural habitat.Depend on the month of the year you can have a lots of sea elephants, or moms with pup's.Kids all ages really enjoy to visit this place.

Saw the elephant seals here - it was a MUST SEE!! Life changing watching the seals lounge and joust on the shores. The squirrels are plentiful and are cheeky little beggars who can't wait for you to hand them food! This attraction is only good for about 20 minutes before setting down for the day in San Simeon and heading to Hearst Castle in the morning - but it is an essential stop.

We saw the beach for miles with thousands of Elephant Seals lying in the sun. They looked like rocks on the beach until closer look revealed this massive group of animals. Was very worth the stop !!

See Sea Lions in their Natural Habitat! The seals are more active in the morning but they are awesome! 100s of them just hanging out on the beach, swimming, sparring, sleeping.

Sea lions picked up this place to make their own beach, it's like a colony of them enjoying the beautiful area of San Simeon, there is a large parking area, also look out points are adequate and plenty of views of the coast, everyone will enjoy this place. There are a funny gang of skirrels waiting for visitors, beautiful place.

the beach is difficult to navigate and the wind is quite strong. The critters are not that interesting

It was nice to stop and see this. Something you don't see everyday. It was alittle windy that day so you might want to wear something warm. The kids loved it :)

What a wonderful way to respectfully view the amazing elephant seals. Elephant Seals are the largest seals in the northern hemisphere. Friends of the Elephant seal volunteers are on hand to answer questions and enhance your experience.

If you want to see elephant seals as far as your eyes can see, this is the place to go. I went there in February and you could see scores of babies with their mommas. It was cool to see how babies nurse. Yes, they do it the same way! The babies were definitely vocal. Parking is limited but it is a good visit for all ages.

If you are in a party of less than 10, go straight to the Piedras Blancas motel just a few miles past the light house at 9:45 am to join the tour without reservations. Fees are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 6-17. The tour is guided by volunteers who are knowledgeable about the lighthouse and the surrounding flora and fauna. Very educational and kids will love it!

Tours are given Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Our guide was excellent at explaining the animals nearby, the vegetation, the lives of the light house keepers and the importance of light houses. As a bonus, we saw several seals frolicking in and out of the ocean. Nicely done.

We had such a fun time watching the elephant seals. There were lots of them. This is a free area to visit with nice walking paths and free parking.

The elephant seals were either playing, sleeping, making fun noises, walking out to sea, or throwing sand on each other.

Its a MUST SEE if in the area.

Beautiful area. Great views. Lots of Elephant Seals! The volunteers are very knowledgeable. We had a great time.

There were dozens and dozens of elephant seals on this beach. You just cant stop staring at them They own it, they were laying everywhere, some were swimming, some were fighting and the rest were sleeping. Really cool to see so up close.

I've never managed to fit the lighthouse into my travels up and down the coast and I'm a MAJOR lighthouse fan. But, this is the land of all of those elephant seals so read about them on one of my other post. They're a great experience for anyone to see and/or learn about. My mama had traveled all over the world but had never seen an elephant seal until she came to live with us. I called her "disadvantaged"!

I saw the sign for the elephant seals and asked my husband if we could drive in and stop. Boy, I am so glad we did as we were amazed at all the elephant seals and the beauty of the area. We stayed there for over an hour--could have stayed longer-watching the seals interact. I wished we had had more time as I would have enjoyed seeing their behavior and interaction with one another.I would love to go back when the pups were younger!!

Seeing these animals in person was amazing. We had a great time just watching them be lazy and spar occasionally. It gets very cold and windy so take a jacket!

We could have watched these elephant seals ALL day! This FREE attraction, actually it is a vista, along the Pacific Coastal Highway created a memory that we'll always treasure!

Right on the California Route 1, the Pacific Coast Highway...a colony of Elephant Seals...and you can get within 20 feet!

This was a special place to stop off, it was like participating in a David Attenborough wildlife documentary. The seals are right beside the walkway along the beach, fighting, sleeping, jostling for comfy positions and some are even swimming (and fighting) in the sea...amazing!! There must have been more than one hundred seals on the day we were there (end of July).

A really special place and not be missed if you travel on the PCH.

On the Big Sur this is one of the mainland beaches where the Elephant seals have expanded to. Enjoy the scenic view and see the seals. Its free and there is easy parking.

I've gone once a year for the past couple of years - it's wonderful! Things to know: wear layers - sometimes it's cold and windy, sometimes it's sunny and hot, there are no bathroom facilities anywhere near here, so plan ahead for that, and finally, there are always elephant seals here but the population varies during the year. January is pupping season (and mating happens too, so it's a good time to have the talk with your kids!), by February the females are weaning the pups and heading back out to sea. The adults don't feed during this time (pupping/mating season) so they lose a tremendous amount of weight during those 6-8 weeks. Always wonderful, always amazing!

If you are visiting Hearst Castle drive up the road a little ways and stop to see the elephant seals...there are thousands of them resting on the beaches...so interesting....you won't see anything like that in Kansas.

Check out Piedras Blanca State Beach, just south of Piedra Blanca Lighthouse near San Simeon California. The Sea Elephants are so close to the visitors you feel like you couls almost touch them. This time of year there are nearly a thousand on the beach. Every thing from very mature bull males to mothers and their NEW borns. The park and local volunteers provide a wealth of information to enhance you visit. Its only 10 seconds off of Hwy 1.

This is a nice place to stop for a brief break. There are loads of elephant seals and you can walk just a few feet from your car or there is a nice walkway to an area where we found more seals and therefore we saw some of them be more active. You could certainly stand and watch them for quite a while, but after about 15 minutes all 7 people in our party were ready to go. Still worth the stop though.

Located right by the rookery this beach full of elephant seals is a must visit during your drive through the town or while visiting Hearst castle. The antics of the seals and the pups can keep kids of all ages entertained for a while.

Wonderful tour, exceptional docent. Could possibly be a bit shorter but hard too say because docents are so into their subject.

My understanding is this stretch of beach has become known as Elephant Seal Rookery because the elephant seals have pretty much taken over.

We loved our stop here and spent about 45 minutes watching 20-30 of them on the beach. A docent was on hand to answer any questions. Definitely make time to stop here!

This was a wonderful little highway stop with a good trail that had easy viewing access for the elephant seal rookery. Many of them were on the beach, babies, mothers and the big males too.

The elephant seals are such an amazing experience. They are in their natural habitat and not caged in or in a zoo. The weather was windy and in the 60s but only required a jacket. It's peaceful and worth a stop on your ride up
Or down the PCH.

There are parking lots along the highway and you can walk down to the beach towards the lighthouse. What I liked most was the variety of plants blooming in early May. This is a wonderfully scenic area.

Come visit this area after your Hearst Castle tour. dress in layers because it can get chilly with the wind but warm as you walk & hike.

This vista is absolutely gorgeous and very well maintained. We could even see whales playing. There is poison oak near the fence but there is signage. Great for young children. It was windy and cold even on a very sunny day.

Big surprise and fun to view , great viewing platform to walk around and watch these giants that were once thought wiped out

What an amazing experience seeing the seals in a natural environment! We took dozens of pictures and none of us wanted to leave. Definitely worth an extended stop for the animal lover.

What a great stop! There were hundreds upon hundreds of elephant seals. Most were female and lots of pups. They were wonderful to watch. Many were shedding - so… um.. Be prepared to hold your nose :)

This place is great for seeing these creatures among the wonderful views of the central coast. I am jealous that they get to lounge in the sand and surf all day. It's cool to see them laying on the beach and swimming around. If you bring some binoculars you might be able to see sea otters out in the kelp too.

Good viewing of lots and lots of elephant seals. Pups wadling around the beach and bulls barking loudly and jousting with each other.

It is interesting to observe animals but it is good for 5 min especially when this kind are generally not moving.

You see them in close distance , you smell them, it is the open ocean and not a zoo but there is not a lot to do

But....

When you are traveling along the HW with kids it is a very good stop for 10-15 minutes.

Kids love it and there are a lot of squirrels

Stopped en route to Santa Cruz from Morro Bay. What an awesome sight! Very cool to see elephant seals so close by. A volunteer spoke with us and shared great information.
Well worth a visit!

Fun stop after visiting Hearst castle. We spent about an half hour watching all the antics on the beach and shoreline. A docent stopped and talked with us explaining their behaviors.

Just a couple of miles up the coast from Hearst Castle. We saw the sign and decided to stop at the observation site. Hundreds of harbor and elephant seals sunning on the beach. Well worth the few minutes needed to stop.

We walked the path from Vista Point to the Lighthouse. There wasn't much to see as most of the vegetation was dried up, but the ocean was very pretty and clean.... The coves were filled w/ Elephant Seals.

I have never seen so many seals in once place. It was simply amazing. The boise they all made as they lay sunbathing was quite awesome.

Visited this area in 2000 and saw the elephant seals literally hauling out of the sea into a meadow. Nowadays it seems to have become a bigger tourist attraction and they have a car parking area with viewing points of the beach and the many seals covering it. There are also local guides on hand to answer any questions you may have. Worth a short visit to actually see animals in their natural habitat.

I love nature and I love seals. It was well worth the drive up the coast to check out these mommas in the molting season. Definitely grab a flyer and read up on these amazing creatures. I fell in love and hated to leave them. Loved watching them play, fight and sleep.

If you love the ocean and everything in it, you will love this spot. Animals are in their natural habitat, undisturbed by the throngs of people on the bluffs looking down. Feb/March are good times to go as you get to see hundreds of 6-8 week old pups, the daddy Elephant seals etc. Its easy to get to and fun to watch and learn. The docents are a wealth of knowledge.

The day was very windy and a bit chilly. Our docent, Gary was engaging and very knowledgeable. The history, plant life and wild life were all nicely explained. The views along the coastline were stunning. We were also very impressed with the number of dedicated volunteers. A must do tour when in the area.

Amazing watching the many elephant seals with many pups on the beach. Quite noisy but fun to watch them. Many birds around.

Watch out for this beach just before Hearst Castle when driving the CA 1 route south from Carmel. We saw a great many female seals frolicing in the sea and the male elephant seals snorting on the beach about 300 yards further down. There are walkways all along this beach and the elephant seals gather fairly close to them providing good photo ops occasional very loud disputes. In september we found a large group of fledgling Gulls still being fed by their parents and waiting with their heads under their wings for the next meal. Other birds in the vicinity included pelicans and cormorants - unlike the North Sea there must be enough fish to go round

This is another "must do" attraction. You can stay for 5 minutes or you can stay for hours watching the elephant seals in action. There are some great, descriptive signs up so you can learn more about the seals. And it is just fascinating to watch them interact with each other. Going to Cambria and not going here seems like a waste. I went with my 8 and 10 year old and they made up names for the seals, imagined what they were saying to each other, tried to understand if they were playing or fighting - it was great fun.

This is one of those experiences that one remembers for years and years. The site, itself, in addition to the nature study, is a testament to man's commitment to others...it's worth all the time you are given.

who can just lay around on the beach, frolic in the waves, and burrow in the warm sand without a care in the world.

This was a quiet beach to be at mid week in May. We enjoy, the beach, the beautiful multi-colored ice plants, the colorful rocks and driftwood and beautiful vistas. It was very pleasant and peaceful. A great place to unwind.

I never knew this place was here. Used to go up to Big Sur in the 60s and never saw this.

It is well worth a stop!!! You can spend an hour or two here just watching the Elephant Seals. You have to stop.... (see other review on the Rookery)..

Take a camera - cell phone!!! You need pictures!!!

The beach itself is gorgeous.......

It would never have been worth the time and money to drive from Sacramento to Hearst Castle, except for the fact that the elephant seals were awaiting us! I could watch them all day.
The noise they make sound like Chewbacca! I was happy at how close we were able to get from the viewing stand, didn't even need binoculars.

Stop by to see nature at it's best. We were there in April where the seals were "molting". That's when the seals grow new skin. What I thought was amusing & I don't know why it looked like the seals were using their flippers to bury themselves in the sand. From what I read if you visit the beach in mid-January to the end of February that is when the female seals give birth. It's a sight you just can't miss especially if you visit Hearst Castle as it's just 4 miles north.

We've always wanted to visit the Piedras Blancas Light Station but never timed it right until now. We hiked in from the Elephant Seal viewing ares for the open house the last Wednesday of each month. Loved it!

Piedras is just one of the magnificent sights along the coast drive from San Simeon and Monterrey For maximum enjoyment you need to leave San Simeon no later than 6 AM. Traffic on Hwy 1 can be maddening later in the day with motorhomes and gawkers at 20 mph. Leave at 6 and you will have the road to yourself for viewing the sights and freedom from idiot drivers

I usually come here in February or March to see the baby Seals. But this was also great to see the Large males molting, the young males learning to fight . Was great..Also went just 2 mile North to tour the Piedras Blancas Light House State Park..well worth the $10-2 hour walking tour.

This was awesome. Really cool to see. Free. Lots of information posted around to educate you. Kids love it.

Absolutely not access to the beach or seals - just as it should be.

Don't follow google's advice on where the location is. It is not by a Best Western hotel. It IS north of the entrance to Hearst Castle. There are signs on the highway that say seal viewing area (at least coming from the south). So, don't get in a yelling match with your spouse, just follow the road and you will get there.