Seal and Sea Lion Colonies You Can Watch From Land

From the reserve walkway, scan the rocky shore for Cape fur seals resting close together or swimming through the surf. November and December are breeding months, when the colony is especially crowded. Stay on the walkway to keep the shore open for seals moving between land and water.

Gray seals give birth near the dunes in November and December. Watch from the designated viewing area at the foot of the dunes, where you may see white-coated pups beside their mothers. Leave dogs out of the viewing area and consider a weekday when the lanes and viewing path are less congested.

At the viewing area off Highway 1 north of San Simeon, look for northern elephant seals spread out below the bluff. Late January is a good time to see mothers and pups. Around early May, females and younger seals gather here to molt. Stay on the viewing path above the beach.

The northern elephant seal colony changes with the season. Winter brings mothers, pups, and breeding bulls. Spring and summer bring seals ashore to molt. The preserve closes December 1 to 14. Guided walks are required December 15 through March, and a park permit is required for self-guided viewing when the preserve is open the rest of the year.

Watch gray seals from the marked viewing areas above the beach. The winter pupping season usually runs from late October into February. Use the dune routes when the breeding beach is closed and bring binoculars to look for the white-coated pups among the darker adults.

From the public path behind the barriers near Scripps Park, watch California sea lions resting on the rocks between La Jolla Cove and Boomer Beach. During the pupping season, roughly May through October, you may see mothers with their young. The point itself is closed to visitors year-round.

Look across the rock platforms near the parking lot for New Zealand fur seals, locally known as kekeno. Mid-November to mid-January is their breeding season, though seals also rest here outside that period. Keep at least 20 meters from any seal, including those resting near the parking lot.

The boardwalk crosses dunes to platforms above the Australian sea lion colony. Look for animals resting on the sand or returning through the surf. The breeding cycle lasts about 18 months, so pups are present at different times from one year to the next. The platforms let you watch without entering the beach.

From the roadside overlook near Cape Arago, use binoculars to scan Shell Island and the nearby rocks for harbor seals, California sea lions, and Steller sea lions. Mid to low tide exposes more places for them to rest. Spring and fall can bring large gatherings to the reef.

From the lookout, scan the beach below for South American sea lions. The local pupping season makes January and February good months to look for young animals beside adults. Bring binoculars and stay on the marked visitor routes above the shore.