Año Nuevo State Park in California, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-23. Check linked official notices before travel.

Año Nuevo State Park protects an elephant seal colony on the California coast north of Santa Cruz. Seeing the seals requires a walk through the dunes. Guided seal walks run December 15–March 31. April–November visits use a free permit issued at the park. Seal viewing closes December 1–14, so check your date before planning around the colony.

Highlights at Año Nuevo

• Elephant seal viewing: Watch northern elephant seals from designated areas in the natural preserve. The open viewing points depend on where the animals are resting.
• Marine Education Center: Explore natural history displays in a former dairy ranch complex.
• Coastal habitats: The park brings together dunes, wetlands, coastal prairie, and scrub. These habitats support more than the seal colony.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for dunes and coastal weather

The seal-viewing route is a moderate 3–4-mile round trip over varied ground, including sand. Wear sturdy shoes and layers. Carry drinking water. Guided walks continue in rain, and winter conditions can be cold and windy.

Stay within roped visitor areas and remain at least 30 feet from elephant seals and bird carcasses. Follow any greater distance required by posted notices or staff. Do not touch live or dead seals or try to move a sick animal. Tell a docent if a seal is in or near the public area. The park's reopening safety guidance gives these updated precautions. Stay with your guided group. Umbrellas are not permitted on guided walks. On winter guided walks, strollers must stay at the staging area after the first 0.9 mile.

Protect the colony

Pets are prohibited in the park and cannot be left in parked vehicles. Food is not allowed on seal tours; use designated picnic areas before or after your walk. Respect closed viewing areas rather than trying to pass resting seals. Bicycles are prohibited on trails. Do not collect natural objects. Fires and drones are prohibited.

Seal walks and access permits

Book winter guided walks through the service linked from the park's seal-viewing instructions. Advance booking is strongly recommended, especially for weekends and holidays. During April–November, obtain the free viewing permit at the park by 3:30 p.m.; advance reservations are not needed for ordinary self-guided viewing.

Maps, location, and access

The park is on Highway 1, about 20 miles north of Santa Cruz. Use 1 New Years Creek Road, Pescadero, California 94060, for the park address. Visitors cannot drive to the seal-viewing areas.

Nearby parks

• Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park: Continue north on Highway 1 to the light station on the same coastal road corridor.
• Bean Hollow State Beach: Farther north on Highway 1, this state beach has roadside entrances south of Pescadero.

Plan your time on the coast

Make the seal walk the main activity if that is your reason for visiting. Winter guided walks take about 2.5 hours. Binoculars help with animals farther from the viewing area. Leave time for the education center or a picnic rather than arriving just before the permit cutoff.

Facilities and mobility access

Año Nuevo is a day-use park without camping. The Marine Education Center includes exhibits, a bookstore, and a theater. Accessible parking, restrooms, and picnic areas are available near the main visitor facilities.

The ordinary dune walk does not suit every mobility need. The Equal Access program uses accessible transport and a boardwalk for visitors who cannot make the usual hike. Reservations are required at least five days in advance. Contact the park to arrange the appropriate visit.

About the park

Cultural history along the shore

The education center occupies restored nineteenth-century Dickerman/Steele dairy ranch buildings. Archaeological sites also record the much longer presence of Quiroste people on this coast.

Wildlife and habitats

Elephant seals use the shore for breeding and molting. Coastal wetlands and scrub also provide habitat for the San Francisco garter snake and California red-legged frog. Look for wildlife from established routes without approaching it.

Contact Año Nuevo State Park

California State Parks manages the park. Call 650-879-2025 for park information. Use the official park page for current visitor notices. The park information number does not handle tour reservations.