Winter is a good time to drive California’s coast and view amazing wildlife, from elephant seals to monarch butterflies. Take a journey to explore a few of the state’s best wildlife-viewing areas along California’s main coast. Start a bit south of San Francisco and finish in Santa Barbara, or go with the south-to-north path and sample these spots in reverse.
Nevertheless you choose to visit these areas, always view wildlife from a safe, respectful, and legal range (bear in mind laws like the Marine Mammal Protection Act). Be prepared for inclement weather, and constantly understand the ocean by taking care near it and never ever turning your back on it.
This road trip likewise includes a number of spots to explore and learn, consisting of nature museums, a world-renowned fish tank, and a marine life museum right on a wharf. Bring your field glasses and prepare to explore California’s coastal wildlife.
Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park
Image by parks.ca To explore Año Nuevo State Park in winter season, it’s finest to prepare ahead. Explore this park, which lies a little over an hour south of San Francisco, by going on a guided walk to view elephant seals throughout pupping season. Purchase a ticket ahead of time online to sign up with a docent-guided walk. These walks are scheduled in between mid-December and late March and involve walking 3-4 miles. Equal gain access to trips are offered for individuals with mobility obstacles who can not walk this distance. Self-guided elephant seal viewing is likewise readily available from April to November.
Monterey Bay Fish Tank and Pacific Grove Queen Sanctuary
Go to a butterfly sanctuary, a natural history museum, and one of the world’s finest understood aquariums in Monterey and Pacific Grove.
Initially, visit Pacific Grove’s Emperor Grove Butterfly Sanctuary. If you ‘d like to see the queens cluster together, visit early or on cool days. They tend to cluster in the early morning or when the weather is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, specifically on cloudy days. For a chance at seeing these beautiful orange butterflies in flight, come midday or on warm, sunny days. Be mindful of where you step, because monarchs are frequently present on the paths. Monarchs usually start showing up in October and lots of remain over the winter.
Monterey Bay Fish tank is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Be mesmerized by tanks of jellyfish moving themselves around, see Pacific mackerel endlessly circle, and find an array of critters swimming around the 28-foot-tall kelp forest display– from the wolf eel to warty sea cucumbers, red octopus, and more. See an exhibition focusing on deep-sea animals, visit the aviary to see birds, and stop by the touch pools to communicate with animals.
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery near San Simeon
Just a few miles from Hearst Castle, the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery supplies a totally free place to see elephant seals. Park in the lot on the west side of the road and walk a brief boardwalk to the viewing area. Docents are frequently offered on site to share information about the elephant seals.
Hearst San Simeon State Park is launching brand-new educational elephant seal tours that range from January through early March on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. These tours consist of details on the elephant seal life process, as well as viewing opportunities.
Kings in Pismo Beach
Queen fans should make certain to visit Pismo Beach King Butterfly Grove to find some of the thousands of butterflies that visit the site every year. On December 1, 2023, more than 16,000 butterflies were counted in the website’s census. Come by from late October to February to see clusters of butterflies in eucalyptus trees along their migratory route. On cooler days, you might see them clustered together, while on intense sunny days, you may be able to watch the butterflies dance in the sky above your head. Docents on website can help you choose the clusters, which can be tough to see considering that they look like winter foliage.
Whales, Gardens, Birds, Museums, and More in Santa Barbara
In 2023, the new Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Location was designated by the World Cetacean Alliance and World Animal Defense. It is only the 2nd such Whale Heritage Area in the U.S. (following one in Dana Point, California).
The Santa Barbara Channel sees a wide array of whales, including humpbacks, blue whales, fin whales, and lots of others. To see them, think about joining a regional whale-watching tour. A number of whale-watching tour options are offered, consisting of the 75-foot Condor Express, Santa Barbara Cruising Center’s catamaran, and much more. There are likewise a number of areas where you may be able to find whales from land, including the Douglas Household Preserve.
To see a huge blue whale skeleton that is more than 70 feet long, endeavor to the Santa Barbara Museum of Nature, which has the skeleton out front, in addition to a number of exhibits within. The museum’s Sea Center on Stearns Wharf likewise provides a variety of interactive exhibitions like the Wet Deck, where explorers can learn more about ocean research study, as well as a lot of animal exhibitswhere you can observe sea life firsthand. The museum likewise consists of locations where you can watch out over the ocean to expect whales and other wildlife. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum also features various ocean shows about whales, diving, ships, and more.
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a fantastic location to opt for a walk or walking along the more than 5 miles of routes, and you might be able to find wildlife like deer, birds, butterflies, and more. The garden was developed in 1926 and now covers 78 acres and displays around 1,000 plant species. Explore a serene redwood grove, desert habitat, and more, along with fields of wildflower-packed meadows in spring and early summer season. Some spots even have views of the ocean and Channel Islands.
Andrée Clark Bird Refuge is a terrific spot for birders, because more than 200 bird species have actually been found in the 42-acre park. It includes a lake and estuary, a path for pedestrians and cyclists, along with walking routes. 3 observation platforms are offered for viewing birds and wildlife, and the haven is likewise a good area to search for turtles.
Winter is a fun time to check out the California coast. Take in everything from elephant seals to emperor butterflies on this journey.