1. Elephant Seal Vista Point

    1. Elephant Seal Vista Point

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    San Simeon, CA

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    Elephant Seal Vista Point

    4.9 (145 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

    Elephant Seal Vista Point Photos

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    Seals
    Saralee S.

    I was laughing and giggling and hooting and hollering and amazed to see the seals up close! I feel like it's an open air zoo! What could be better? You're just yards away from these giant creatures that dominate this beach and use it as their home away from home. We were up there on a cold, windy, misty kind of day. We pulled over into the Vista point parking lot, which is a couple miles north of Sebastian's in San Simeon, California. I jumped out of the car and walked along the path above the beach and I could see a dozen seals as I walked further and further along the cliff path. It does get loud and windy, so be sure to wear some kind of waterproof jacket and some walking shoes! Bring your phone or camera cause these critters are fascinating!

    Many elephant seals!

    We stumbled upon this place last year with two of our grandkids in the car. It was a short detour in our destination. Well worth the stop! Amazing to see the large animals in their natural habitat! Watching the bulls fight while the females slept and sun bathe was breathtaking. We could hear them growl and hear the impact of the blows taken to each other. The trail hike was a pleasant reprieve from sitting in the car and helped the kids get their bugs out. Going back this year with a different set of grand kids.

    Jennie Z.

    I Visited Elephant Seal Vista Point on a college field trip and it turned into such a great adventure. The drive up alone was beautiful the coastal views, cliffs, and ocean scenery the whole way made it feel like part of the experience. seeing the elephant seals in person was amazing there were so many of them just laying out on the beach, some moving around and making loud sounds. You can get a really close view from the boardwalk areas, which made it even more exciting without disturbing. the area is well set up with paths and signs that explain what you're seeing, we also had a guide with us i learned a lot so it felt both fun and educational. It's also free which is a nice. it was unique and memorable stop. Between the scenic drive and seeing the seals up close it was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

    Ana T.

    This is a great spot to see the elephant seals. There is clear signage to the parking lot. I was there on a weekday. Even in the afternoon, there was plenty of cars going in and out. It was definitely better to go in the early morning when the seals were lying on the sand. They went towards the water in the afternoon.

    Jakaria A.

    Very beautiful place to see those gorgeous creatures elephants seal. The lady there explained that they just come here to mate and breed they will stay here for 4 months. Within this 4 months they don't eat so they lose their 60% of body weight. They usually stay in Alaska and Hawaii. They travel from so far away. Place have enough parking for visitors. But some of the Indians are left their car middle of the parking while their families still taking selfie with the seal. And back has another 7 car waiting so they can exit. Another Indian left his car middle of road while he is on his phone. Behind him another 4 car they want to enter to the parking lot. Please park your car and wait for your family and use your phone and don't treat this place as like your country India. Don't block other people respect the rules thanks.

    Seals
    Ron R.

    The Elephant Seal Vista Point (ESVP) is easy to find off the highway. There is a lot with ample parking. There is a small paved/dirt path at one (north?) end of the lot. The park ranger who services the vista point is super friendly and more than willing to answer questions and talk to visitors. The view of the seals is much better than the comparable venue at Pacific Grove. You are much closer and have an unobstructed view at ESVP compared to Pacific Grove. The trail/path does continue to a nearby historic working lighthouse. However, the path has signage that it is a tick/lime disease area, so go at your own risk. While there is a beautiful view on a nice day and the seals are interesting to look at, there is not much else to do here. So you probably don't want to plan to spend more than 30 min at this location. Definitely worth visiting for a short stop and grabbing some nice pics.

    Cool guy
    Alisha S.

    This is one of those highly trafficked tourist stops, but is worth every moment off Highway 1. The elephant seals are just fascinating to watch. A true medley of grunting, barking and squeaking (if you arrive at baby birthing time.) There are plenty of people, but also plenty of parking and space along the walkway to lean against the fence and take in the show. And the show is superb. If you'd like a bit of a walk, there is a pathway to the North side of the parking lot and you can take it to head out into the bluffs. Pretty long stroll. We never hit the end....granted, it had rained and we were walking in some serious mud at some point unprepared. Enjoy, enjoy one of Highway 1's treasures!

    2 babies in pic
    Bobbie R.

    I have been to this vista area many times. We stopped here yesterday. So many Elephant Seals and so many babies. My friend has seen 2 birth 2 separate visits. Pro tip: look for seagulls gathering and there will most likely be a birth there. Parking lot is unpaved and muddy. No bathrooms. A great stop to see wildlife.

    Elephant seals in beach
    Lisa O.

    We had toured Hearst Castle in the morning and then decided to drive north up Hwy 1 until the road is closed. One of our favorite stops was this elephant seal colony. August is one one the slower months, but there were still a dozen or so elephant seals around. Many birds around too and ground squirrels. Very helpful people around sharing info about all of the wildlife around when we were there. Great trails around to explore, but we didn't have time for that. This is a definite must when in the area!

    Squirrel eating Cheetos
    LJ H.

    Decided to make a quick stop before heading to Hearst Castle. It's crazy how close you get to these elephant seals. There were so many to see. Most were relaxing, but there was definitely action happening everywhere you look. PS.... Don't feed the ground squirrels. They look like they are feed well and aren't afraid of humans.

    Janna L.

    Stinky. Beautiful. Right off the highway. Healing ocean. Close to Hearst Castle. Just stop for a few min just for the view.

    Terri C.

    Snoring, sunbathing, or scooting across the sand are what these elephant seals were doing when stopped by this spot in June. I've never been up close to these massive sea creatures so it was very cool to observe a big group of them like that. Parking is free and so is the experience!

    October
    Kristen N.

    Great spot to view the seals. Free parking and you can get very close. Appreciated the local volunteer guides who were very knowledgeable. Not too many places to sit, and ground is somewhat uneven. A great stop to see the seals along Carrillo Highway 1.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Elephant Seal Vista Point

    What are the visiting hour of this place?

    Sunrise to Sunset. Actually, it's open 24/7 but the best time to go is 1/2 hr before Sunset. Beautiful views.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Elephant Seal Vista Point

    We had toured Hearst Castle in the morning and then decided to drive north up Hwy 1 until the road is closed.

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

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    Moonstone Beach

    Moonstone Beach

    4.6
    (249 reviews)
    10.5 mi

    My family loves this beach. The parking lot is small, but we usually are able to find a spot…read more There's a public restroom connected to the parking lot. I've never needed it, but I'm glad it is there. Beach access is down some stairs that can be hard if you have mobility or balance issues. They are sturdy, and if you are able to navigate them slowly, it is worth it. The beach itself has driftwood that has washed up, and other beach-goers have fashioned into makeshift structures that are fun to explore. The sand is soft, and has tons of rocks and pebbles to investigate. As the name suggests, there are moonstones to find, if you have a bit of luck. Several times when I've visited, I've found these transparent clear and purplish/blue velella velella all over the shore. Other wildlife seen at this beach include moon jellyfish, sea lions (off shore), pelicans, seagulls, cormorants, and cottontail bunnies along the cliffs. There is a creek outlet that washes into the sea that can be a bit stinky, and tends to make traversing the beach hard past that point. Also along the water's edge, there can be some unstable sand areas, so tread carefully. This beach tends to have a nice breeze, and is refreshing even on hot days. If you are in the area and you can find parking, check it out!

    Absolutely beautiful! We walked along the pathway....stunning view! Very peaceful! If you…read morehaven't been to this side, a must try when in Cambria!

    Photos
    Moonstone Beach
    Moonstone Beach
    Moonstone Beach

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    W R Hearst Memorial State Beach

    W R Hearst Memorial State Beach

    4.4
    (41 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    Small beach but lovely and dramatic - tucked away in a little cove in the quaint area of San…read moreSimeon. The tide pools are fantastic - easy to access and there are lots of them! Plus you can walk under San Simeon pier and at sunset, it casts long shadows and makes for some very beautiful photos. The beach sits below some cliffs and is bordered by a small peninsula. The surrounding waters are part of the national marine sanctuary- so the tide pooling is excellent - especially during the king tides in the winter. In the mid 1800s, this area started out as a Portuguese fishing village - but drought forced them to relocate so the surrounding area was bought up by the Hearst family to accompany their castle. Many years later, they gave a lot of the land to the state, but they still own a portion of the beach today - it's their private property but they allow anyone to visit so it's open to the public. You park up on the cliff top or down closer to the beach. In the upper parking lot, there are picnic tables, interesting info signs about the area's history, bathrooms, and a "discovery center". Definitely worth spending some time here if you're in the area - I always make a stop on my visits!

    This was a very nice find on our road trip to Cambria with our husky. The parking lot was a little…read moreconfusing at first, and the restrooms were closed (but portapotties were available). However, once we actually got to the beach itself (down the hill, attached to a lower lot), we had a pleasant time. It was rugged and pretty undeveloped, clean and quiet on a weekday afternoon. It felt tucked away in nature, and was scenic with the pier and view of the mountains in the distance. We even saw a seal riding the waves. Worth a stop if you are in the area.

    Photos
    Nice views of San Simeon pier on the beach!
    Nice views of San Simeon pier on the beach!
    The pier
    The pier
    W R Hearst Memorial State Beach

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    W R Hearst Memorial State Beach
    Pirate's Cove

    Pirate's Cove

    4.2
    (107 reviews)
    45.4 mi

    Ended up taking the long route to Pirate's Cove (parked near homes and took the trail) which we…read morelater found out is the Shell Beach Bluff Trail. We enjoyed this scenic trail, which had multi-million dollar homes to our right, and the beautiful ocean to our left; and a somewhat steep incline up to the dirt parking lot and Cave Landing trailhead. Good thing the weather was perfect and there was a lovely breeze; otherwise I would've stopped walking and demanded to go back to the car. Once we got to the trail, it was a fairly easy short walk to get to the cave. After taking in the stunning views from the cave, we trekked to the cove. Be cautious going down, as it's a steep dirt path and a couple flights of stairs. Also note that clothing is optional, and you may run into people in their birthday suits on this secluded beach.

    While visiting SLO, I was looking for an ocean hike to complete and found this hike on All Trails…read moreso I went for it. I took the long way traversing through a million dollar neighborhood of gorgeous homes lining the street. Once I was in the dirt I could see the cove from above. The beach is beautiful and not crowded. Of course, clothing is optional but I didn't come for the beach. I came to see the cove. You have to hike down to the cove as it sits on the water, but no biggie. Hiking back up and out for some may be challenging for some so just go at your own pace. When I arrived there was a guy playing a guitar so that was nice, not too many peeps around which allowed me to take a couple of pics. The cove itself is picturesque but the graffiti sucks!! Why must people have to paint on rocks in nature?? I just don't get it!! Go paint on abandoned buildings etc. I stayed for a few minutes then I walked out on the rocks and took in the views of the mighty Pacific Ocean. So gorgeous! I could have sat there all day. You can also access this cove and beach by driving directly to it and then following the path down to it, but I preferred the mini hike instead. Remember to Leave No Trace always.

    Photos
    Pirates Cove Beach in Avila.
    Pirates Cove Beach in Avila.
    Pirate's Cove
    Pirate's Cove

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    San Simeon Creek Trail

    San Simeon Creek Trail

    4.5
    (6 reviews)
    8.9 mi

    A nice trail that's part nature walk, part moderate hike. The distance ranges from 3.5 - 3.8 miles…read moreit's a loop trail that goes around Sam Simeon State park/Campground. If you're staying at the camp ground you can easily get to the trail by following the park map. If you're not visiting the campsite there is a pullout area across the campground entrance on the other side near the beach where you can walk the trail under PCH. Coming from the beach trail around the loop you'll get around 450 feet of elevation gain, the trail is pretty simple to follow but if you're looking for direction to follow online there is a map on All Trails under "San Simeon trail to Washburn Campground Loop"

    The first .5 mile has a wooden path but don't try to do the full loop! The trial is quite overgrown…read moreand poison ivy is all along it. There was a small sign that indicated a part of the trail was under maintenance but once on the trail there's little direction other than small signs that tell about the trail. With no warning, suddenly you're in a very overgrown part that continues onto a broken bridge. By the point we got here we assumed we were more than halfway and didn't wanna risk more poison ivy which he had hardly gotten past. I'm glad we chose to continue because after getting past the broken bridge which was blocked off at the end (not the end we had come on) it was open, far less poison ivy and we made it to a road intended for vehicles to grt to the campground I think? It had some beautiful parts but not the sort of thing to bring kids out ages. Very narrow path for most of it!

    Photos
    Walk way from the campground goes under PCH right to the beach.
    Walk way from the campground goes under PCH right to the beach.
    The trail head right next to the path that leads to the beach. This trail goes around Washburn campground.
    The trail head right next to the path that leads to the beach. This trail goes around Washburn campground.
    Watch out for the bugs.

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    Watch out for the bugs.

    Elephant Seal Vista Point - beaches - Updated July 2026

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