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Every year hulking sea creatures measuring from 9' to 16' and weighing between 1,300 and 5,000 pounds bellyflop ashore to shed their skin and fur like a battered old coat - Spielberg's got nothing on this. Enjoy the elephant seal molting spectacle at Año Nuevo Natural Preserve, starting today.
Female and juvenile arrivals will peak in May and June while mature males will crowd onto the beach in July and August. After four to six weeks of shedding the old and donning the new coats, the ocean wanderers will shove off for yet another epic northern elephant seal migration.
Free Visitor Permits are required for a self-guided hike out to the molting grounds. Pick it up at the entrance station between 8:30am-3:30pm. No reservations required. Make sure to end the 2-3.5 hr, 3-4 mile hike before closing time at 5pm.
Año Nuevo Natural Preserve. 4/1-8/31. Free Tour, Parking $10. Map to Año Nuevo Natural Preserve.
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
