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A great run to Ano Nuevo Point - a breeding colony for elephant seals.


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Map Key

1.9

Miles

3.1

KM

99%

Runnable

105' 32 m

High

20' 6 m

Low

38' 12 m

Up

119' 36 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

5%

Max Grade (3°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers

Description

Ano Nuevo Point is one of the few areas along the North American West Coast that is visited every winter by a large colony of elephant seals. During the season, the elephant seals occupy most of the beach and the second half of the trail is closed and can only be done as part of the guided tours that start at the visitor center.

From the parking lot, the trail heads towards the bluffs and the small island of trees. Pass a larger pond on the right and head up the trail through the trees. At 0.8 miles you reach a small hut that has a lot of information about the elephant seal population in the park.

Continue further and the trail will turn into a boardwalk until you reach the sand dunes at 1.2 miles. From here the trail heads up a larger sand dune and then drops down into a flatter beach area with shrubs. The trail continues further along the shore line until it finally reaches the beach.

Flora & Fauna

Elephant seals usually start arriving in Ano Nuevo in December and leave by the end of March. Next to the seals as the main attraction, this trail is also a great place for birders to see plovers, pelicans, terns, and gulls among a series of birds.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tilman Giese

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 3 votes

#7753

Overall
  4.7 from 3 votes
5 Star
67%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#643

in California

#7,753

Overall
3 Views Last Month
413 Since Jul 12, 2018
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

33%
0%
67%
0%
0%
0%

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

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