Piedras Blancas

Located nearly eight miles north of San Simeon on Coastal Highway One, the Piedras Blancas offers a chance for visitors to see elephant seals sunning themselves on the beach. It is a great destination for those who want to enjoy the sights of sea mammal wildlife and for those who are looking for educational opportunities near the ocean. Visitors can enjoy speaking with Friends of the Elephant Seal docents in the area who will answer questions and guide your visit. Their office and visitor center is located on Plaza del Cavalier in the city and is a great place to visit before or after your visit to the rookery. The elephant seal population at Piedras Blancas is alive and well, numbering nearly 2,000 new births some years. The total number of seals in the area is estimated to around 8,000. When mating season begins in December, the male seals engage in violent battles to assert their dominance. The winners of these battles mate the most and it is the most dominant males who have the largest harems when the females begin to arrive in the mating area shortly following the battles. Usually there is just one seal pup born to each femal each year. Seals weigh about 75 pounds when they are born and adult seals can weight as much as 600 pounds.