S.F. Bay Area — No. California
California Coastside
California Coastside Attractions
Año Nuevo State Reserve
Elephant Seal Walking Tour Tips
and Photography Tips

Walking Tour Tips
Año Nuevo's Guided Nature Walks are considered moderately strenuous and not for people who are out of shape.

Be prepared to walk up and down rolling sand dunes. Paths are sandy and might be muddy on rainy days.

Stay with your group (and docent) at all times and don't get too close to the Elephant Seals. Beware of Ticks and Poison Oak...and watch for Endangered Snakes :(

A good portion of the hiking trail on the way back to the Visitors Center and parking lot is on a slight incline.

Restrooms
Restrooms are located by the parking lot; not in the main Visitor Center building. There are also restrooms at the Staging Area.

NOTE: Unlike San Francisco's Pier 39 Sea Lions which grow to between 350-1,000 lbs, these Elephant Seals can weigh between 3,000-5,000 lbs each and reach up to 16 feet.

According to Wikipedia.com, Male Elephant Seals reach a length of
18 ft (5.5 m) and a weight of 5,000 lbs (2,270 kg), which are much larger than the females that usually measure about 10 ft (3 m) in length.

The largest known Male Elephant Seal measured 30 ft (6.7 m) in length and weighed 7,490 lbs (3400 kg).

Photography Tips
Here are a few Photography Tips to help you get better pictures on your visit:

• Schedule a morning tour to allow for the best photos. By mid-day the sun will be in front of you and reduce the quality of your photos.
• Charge your Digital Camera Batteries the day before the trip & bring an extra battery.
• Bring an extra Digital Memory Card - they're inexpensive and you will want to snap lots of photos.
• Bring a Tripod or Monopod to help steady the camera.
• The Elephant Seals are not constantly active. You will need to be ready to instantly snap the picture when the action starts.
• After your trip, load the photos into a Web Photo Service listed on this page and instantly share your experience with your friends, family and business associates.