A visit to Hearst Castle and San Simeon is not complete without a quick drive up the coast to visit the home of one of California's largest populations of elephant seals. Led by trained docents, visitors can get up close and personal with these remarkable creatures as they thrive on the sandy shores of the beautiful Central Coast.

The elephant seal colony at Piedras Blancas is currently 7,500 strong and is a rich educational opportunity for young and old alike. The vista point has a number of excellent educational and interpretive signs and trained docents are on hand to answer your questions. Look for these docents in their blue jackets when you visit.

The reserve is the year-around home of the seals and during the winter months visitors frequently encounter females giving birth to their young. Other highlights of any trip to see the elephant seals include males battling for mates and young pups frolicking in the surf. Next time you visit the Castle, don't miss out on this rare spectacle of nature!

Visit the Seal Cam.

When to Visit
The elephant seals can be visited from 8 am to sunset year round. Special arrangements may be made by tour bus companies and school groups to have docents on hand specifically to assist them. Please call 1-805-924-1628 for more information.

How to Get There
From Hearst Castle take Highway 1 North 4.4 miles until you reach the parking lot on the ocean side of the highway.

The Friends of the Elephant Seal
The Friends of the Elephant Seal is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating people about elephant seals and other marine life and to teaching stewardship for the ocean off this special place, the Central Coast of California. When visiting Hearst Castle be sure to stop by The Friends of the Elephant Seal office in San Simeon located in Plaza de Cavalier next door to the San Simeon Chamber of Commerce. It's a great place to get more information, gifts and other fun elephant seal related goodies.

To learn more about the elephant seals please visit the Friends of the Elephant Seal website.