We think visitors will
respect the seals - especially if they know that they know
that there is a perfectly safe and wonderful way to watch
the seals in their natural habitat.
You can visit the
Preserve via the bluffs above the rookery rather than via
the beach. The seals are fascinating to watch as
they move in and out of the water, bask in the sun, argue
amongst themselves and dive for fish. There will
usually be a member of Seal
Watch, a volunteer organization whose members monitor
both seal and human activity.
Directions: The
easiest thing to do is take the 101 to the Bailard Avenue
exit. Turn towards the ocean and go into the Bluffs
parking lot. From here you can follow the footpath that
leads to down to the bluff, over the railroad tracks then
along the bluff top to the seal rookery overlook. It is
about a half a mile walk.
If you are around Linden Avenue and the City beach, there
is a bike trail (the Coastal Vista Trail) that leads
through Tar Pits State Park, then along the railroad
tracks out to the seal rookery. From Linden it is more
than a mile.
Click
here to see a picture of the whole colony! (127 K) |