Seals, Surf, and Sand—Check Out This EPIC California State Park!
Año Nuevo State Park is famous for its massive, blubbering elephant seals, with a whole lot of them lounging around! Located 25 miles south of Half Moon Bay and an hour from San Francisco, this Californian coast state park offers much more than just its marine life.
Spanning over 4,000 diverse acres, the park features stunning landscapes, including sand dunes, freshwater marshes, towering redwoods, and scenic cliffs overlooking the ocean.
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Año Nuevo State Park – How to Get There and Parking
Accessing Año Nuevo State Park is straightforward if you have a car, as it’s located just off the Pacific Coast Highway. The park has a large parking lot with a $10 fee, supporting park maintenance, while entrance is free.
Año Nuevo Point Trail
Distance: 4.1 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 203 feet
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This scenic trail along the bluffs offers stunning views, mostly on paved gravel. Near the end, a boardwalk leads you towards sand dunes, beaches, and an elephant seal overlook. Note that during elephant seal season, parts of the trail may close for guided tours.
This trail is a great way to see the seals from a safe distance, especially during mating season!
Atkinson Bluff and North Whitehouse Creek Trail
Distance: 2.3 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 114 feet
This loop trail explores the rugged parts of the park through dunes and prairies, offering breathtaking coastal views.
Enjoy spectacular views of the coastline and beach below as you walk along the high cliffs.
South Whitehouse Creek Trail
Distance: 2 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 82 feet
The South Whitehouse Creek Trail offers a peaceful hike away from the crowds, leading you down to a small beach across a creek.
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Franklin Point Trail
Distance: 0.7 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 52 feet
On the Franklin Point Trail, wear good shoes as you’ll walk on sand with some sections of boardwalk. You’ll traverse sand dunes to reach Franklin Point, an easy hike that will work your legs a bit.
Visit the Marine Education Center
The historic Seele Brothers Dairy Barn has been transformed into the park’s Marine Education Center, offering multimedia displays and exhibits about the park’s history and wildlife.
Visitors can learn about Año Nuevo’s diverse wildlife through exhibits and even watch live action via webcams on the shore.
Bring the Binoculars for Wildlife Viewing
Besides elephant seals, the park is home to mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, bats, deer, and many bird species. Keep your eyes peeled for kestrels, pelicans, and sandpipers!
Visit the Beaches
While not the typical sunbathing spots, Año Nuevo State Park has beautiful beaches worth exploring. Cove Beach offers a lovely sandy stretch perfect for surfers.
Cove Beach is a prime spot for surfing, boasting beautiful white sands and cliffs in the background.
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