Bay Area Wildlife: Ano Nuevo
The ugliest, smelliest and laziest tourist attractions you will find anywhere are scattered across the beach at Ano Nuevo State Reserve, 55 miles south of San Francisco off Highway 1.
The elephant seals started coming here in the mid 1960s. Since then, the lighthouse on the island nearby has shut down and the state stepped in and bought the beach. It is now one of the major elephant seal rookeries in North America.
The preserve is open to hikers from April to November. During breeding season, you can only visit during a scheduled tour.
And when visiting be careful. These two-ton sacks of blubber are faster than you think. And a nip from a bull can mean 35 stitches.
Ano Nuevo State Preserve
New Years Creek Road, Pescadero, 94060
650-879-2025 or 650-879-0227
•Email: anonuevo@southcoast.net
•Official site
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