Elephant Seal Pups

On a recent return trip from California we took the time to come up Highway 1 or “PCH” as it is known. Pacific Coast Highway is a crooked, narrow and up and down road in most places. By narrow I mean it is as narrow as The Old McKenzie if you have been across it. You also want to watch for bicycles. There are no shoulders in most places so they will be in the roadway. Most of them ride from North to South but you do get a few in the northbound lanes.

Twelve miles North of Cambria and four miles North of the entrance to Hearst Castle you will find the rookery at Piedras Blancas. More information on the rookery is here. The pull out area is close enough that a 400mm lens is all you will need for any of the seals on the beach. Even if you are not into photography it is worth stopping. The older males get into some real sparring matches and the pups try their best to intimate the adults.

Click on the small images to see them in a larger size.