Ano Nuevo State Park

Ano Nuevo State Park is located along Highway 1, about 20 miles north of Santa Cruz, 35 miles south of Half Moon Bay. The Park spreads across 4,209 acres from Ano Nuevo Point, up the San Mateo County coast and across to the western slope of the coastal mountains. While the park is best known for the elephant seals that visit there every year, other parts of the park are well-worth visiting.

Note that no pets are allowed in the park, not even confined in vehicles in the parking lot.

North of Ano Nuevo Point is a coastal region of the park between Cascade Creek and Gazos Creek with trails, picnic areas, and beach access. South of the park headquarters is Cove Beach. East of Highway 1 a large parcel of land extends up Gazos, Whitehouse, and Cascade creeks and merging with Butano and Big Basin Redwoods state parks.

Cove Beach

Cove Beach is a half-mile-long stretch of sand, often void of people. Use caution along the rugged trail as you may encounter poison oak. You are likely to run into flocks of pelicans on the beach as well as solitary elephant seals and occasional harbor seals. Stay at least 25 feet back from elephant seals on the beach. Look for a narrow opening through a rock jutting into the waves.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible areas include parking, restrooms, the picnic area, the Marine Education Center, and a quarter-mile of boardwalk at the elephant seal view area. Wheelchair accessible vans can transport those in wheelchairs the 3-4 miles to the boardwalk. Reserve vans at (650) 879-2033.

Elephant Seals 101

The peak time to observe the elephant seals on Bight Beach is during the Breeding Season from December 15 to March 31, although there are elephant seals on the beach at most other times of the year. During the Breeding Season the only way to visit the beach is as a member of a guided tour.

Reservations are needed for the guided tours and they fill up quickly. To make a reservation, read the information at Ano Nuevo State Park. Then you can either call the phone numbers provided or make your reservation online.

It is possible to show up and hope that all the tours were not full or that someone does not show up for their reserved tour. Some visitors have suggested that on rainy days your chances of getting a spot on a tour are better than when the sun is shining.

During non-peak times (April 1 - November 30) guided tours are not offered. During those months you may visit the beach on your own to observe the elephant seals. Simply pick up a free pass to visit Bight Beach at the park headquarters.

The beach is closed from December 1 - 14 when elephant seals are first arriving, settling in, and giving birth.

Elephant Seal Tour Information

For more information, including how to make a tour reservation, see
ANO NUEV0 ACTIVITIES

Special Park Regulations

No pets allowed in the park
No disturbing wild animals
Stay at least 25 feet away from elephant seals
No collecting of anything, including shells
No smoking, no fires

Nearby Beaches

Waddell Beach, 3 miles south
Scott Creek Beach, 8 miles south
Davenport Landing Beach, 9 miles south

Webcams

Ano Nuevo Island Webcam

Ano Nuevo State Park, San Mateo County, CA

Ano Nuevo Facilities

At the main entrance to the park, visitors stop at a kiosk to pay entrance fees and park in a paved lot. Adjacent to the parking area are a picnic area and restrooms. The park's visitor center is in the historic Dickerman Barn, a short distance from the parking lot. More restrooms are found there

Dickerman Barn

Gazos Creek Day Use Area

At Gazos Creek there is a large parking area owned by the California Department of Fish and Game. There are chemical toilets next to the parking lot. A public access trail leads to the beach. Surf fishing is not allowed south of Gazos Creek.

Gazos Creek Day Use Area

Franklin Point

Franklin Point was the site of several ship wrecks during the 19th century. The point is named after the San Francisco bound clipper ship Sir John Franklin which struck rocks on the point in 1865. The captain and eleven crewmen died. Four of the crewmen were buried on the point.

A year later the Coya ran aground near Ano Nuevo Island and 27 people lost their lives. Thirteen of the bodies recovered were buried on Franklin Point. More wrecks followed in 1868 and 1897.

When eroding sand exposed human skeletons in 1980 a series of archaeological excavations were authorized and six graves were uncovered. Four were believed to have been from the Franklin and two from the Coya.

Franklin Point's Treacherous Rocks

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Ocean Safety

California State Parks and Recreation cautions that "large surf, cold water temperatures, backwash, sudden drop-offs, pounding shorebreak, and dangerous rip currents can turn what seem like safe activities such as playing near the surf line, wading, or climbing on rock outcroppings, deadly." Learn more about ocean safety at CA State Parks: Ocean Safety