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Big Sur
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Seal Beach Scenic Overlook
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Seal Beach Scenic Overlook

See all things to do
See all things to do
Seal Beach Scenic Overlook
4.5
#20 of 40 things to do in Big Sur
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
15 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
4
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Navyguy55
West Hyattsville, MD27 contributions
Worth a Stop
Nov 2022 • Couples
Absolutely worth a stop—these creatures are just amazing and it’s a nice spot with enthusiastic volunteers. Hopefully you’ll be checking out many places on this stretch of the Central Coast— you’ll be glad this is one of them
Written 5 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol M
9 contributions
A must see
Aug 2022
This is an easy drive down from Cambria or Hearst Castle. Don't miss the turn off into the parking lot! It can get crowded at certain times of the day, but people seem to be friendly and there are many places to stand and watch the incredible elephant seals. Allow at least 10 minutes so you can catch the seals trumpeting and "playing" with each other in the water. This is such a great place to take children and learn about these magnificent creators of God. You may have to talk about how animals mate and how some animals are dominant and others are passive. You won't be able to go down on to the beach. There are boardwalk paths from the parking lot making viewing easy.
Written 16 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pat S
Rockville, MD167 contributions
Loved it
Aug 2021 • Couples
This is a must! The elephant seals are doing their thing and are fascinating to watch. Docents are there to answer questions.
Written 18 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
無名
World8,169 contributions
I parked around here...
May 2021
...and got my hike in on Boucher Trail. Hey elephant seals and a lighthouse: isn't this something? I'm gonna upload all my pics so you get a better feel about all this than you can get by reading my review - or something like that. These animals look like they're thriving here so hats off to all the people who help them and monitor this kind of stuff. I was a little pissed about the lighthouse though. Why don't they just let people come by and look at it? I got as close as I could but the sun was in the wrong place and whatever...
Written 20 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Virat Bakhshi
13 contributions
A must Stop
Nov 2020
It was truly amazing how nature finds its perfect grounds for the wildlife. It was a very refreshing stop on our drive. A must see.
Virat Bakhshi
Written 22 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MomJoe
Los Angeles, CA5 contributions
Serene, uncrowded beach
Aug 2020
Clean fresh beach, not like the typical Southern California beach. Lovely rocks with crashing waves. 😍
Written 29 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cc1158
Garland, TX215 contributions
Enjoyable break in a large drive
Mar 2020
Drove up the coast on a rainy day, made a great stop to see and hear the seals. Rocky coast with sand and sea weeds. several others made the stop also.
Written 25 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Backpacker
San Luis Obispo, CA1,092 contributions
Watched a seal giving birth!
Jan 2020
I arrived and literally 2 minutes later a seal gave birth. I saw the baby come out in the sack, the sack burst, and tons of seagulls fighting for the bloody placenta. Yuck. But it was still a huge treat and I know how lucky I am!
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hikinghappily62
South Bend, IN91 contributions
Make sure to stop here
Jan 2020 • Family
Going from south to north this stop is close to the south end of the drive. Clearly marked and will be crowded but well worth it. Parking lot full of deep holes so be careful. No bathrooms that we saw but the elephant seals were covering the beach on a lovely January morning. It was a highlight for us!
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joy
Santa Barbara, CA11 contributions
Beautiful Dreamers
Dec 2019
The parking lot is a bit of a nightmare--bumpy as heck and tricky to maneuver owing to all the comings and goings--but there's a nice pathway along the fence when it isn't flooded out, and the seals are simply sublime to watch. They were resting when we were there, so no loud barking, just snuffling, snuggling, stretching and the occasional raised head. Naptime! Stop by if you can.
Written 27 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Seal Beach Scenic Overlook (Big Sur) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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