Big Sur Highway 1 Itinerary: Elephant Seals

The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is a must-top on your Big Sur itinerary. This unique destination south of Big Sur lets visitors see elephant seals up close and in their element. These magnificent marine mammals can be observed year-round on the beach, just off Highway 1. The rookery is easily accessible, free and open to the public. You'll find helpful docents available to answer your questions during peak seasons.
The Northern Elephant Seal, the largest seal in the northern hemisphere, migrates to the rookery twice a year. During their time offshore, they spend eight to ten months diving up to 5,800 feet deep for up to two hours. The rest of the year, they mate, birth, molt, and rest onshore between trips. When they leave the rookery, these elephant seals often swim as far away as 3,000 miles, twice per year.
The Piedras Blancas Rookery hosts almost 25,000 elephant seals each year, ranging from the baby elephant seal to the 5,000-pound adult male. Females weigh up to 1,800 pounds, and the seal pups are about 70 pounds at birth.
The name 'elephant seal' comes from the size of the male nose, which resembles an elephant’s trunk. This bulbous nose impresses other males who compete for female attention during mating season. It also sounds a loud call before an elephant seal fight or challenge. A male’s nose, also known as a proboscis, starts growing at about five years, and develops fully by nine years of age.