Año Nuevo State Reserve: Ano Nuevo Trail

One of the best new year’s resolutions a walker could make is to plan a winter trip to Año Nuevo State Reserve. Here you’ll be treated to a wildlife drama that attracts visitors from all over the world—a close-up look at the largest mainland population of elephant seals. From December through April, a colony of the huge creatures visits Año Nuevo island and point in order to breed and bear young. To protect the elephant seals (and the humans who hike out to see them), the reserve is open only through naturalist-guided tours during these months. While the elephant seals are clearly the main attraction when they come ashore during the winter to breed and during the spring and summer to molt, the reserve is even fascinating when the big creatures are not in residence; in fact, Año Nuevo is a year-round destination. Bird-watchers may glimpse a cliff swallow, Western gull, red-tailed hawk and many other inland and shore birds. The beautiful sand dunes of the Reserve are covered with beach grass, morning glory and extensive patches of beach strawberry.