During the winter season, Año Nuevo State Park requires the usual self guided elephant seal viewing to be only led by a tour guide. This is because the winter season is when you can expect to see the males in all their winter bulk of 3,000 to 5,000 lbs.! As spring starts to arrive, so do the babies, who need the extra protection.
Año Nuevo docents go through extensive training and are highly knowledgeable in the natural and cultural history of the park. Elephant seal activities and population counts can vary widely throughout the guided walk season.
Who: During the guided walk season, walks are offered daily for families, individuals, or groups. Children age 17 and under require one adult chaperone for each 10 children. Each walk has a capacity of 15 people, including chaperones.
Length: The trail to see the elephant seals includes a 3-4 mile hike and is considered moderate with varied terrain including sand dunes.
Time Needed: Guided walks run 2.5 hours from start to finish and operate daily from early morning to mid-afternoon, rain or shine.
Price: $7.00 + $3.99 reservation fee for public walks. Children age 4 and under are free. There is also a $10 parking fee. Hold on to your receipt for parking! Once you have paid for parking at one state park, you have paid for all of them for the day, and there are 14 in Santa Cruz County alone.
How: Online/phone reservations are highly recommended, especially weekends and holidays. Visit Reserve California or call 1-800-444-4445. No tours available December 15, January 31, and February 1.