Hearst San Simeon State Park
High Traffic Alert
This park experiences heavy crowds, especially on weekends.
Check out the similar parks below for a better experience
Very crowded, parking fills up early
Best: Visit in off-season or try alternatives
Protecting the coastal area around the famous Hearst Castle, this park offers sandy beaches, coastal bluffs, and a large elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas. Thousands of elephant seals haul out here year-round, with peak viewing during breeding season (December-March) and molting season (April-August). The beaches provide excellent beachcombing, and the San Simeon Creek Trail follows a riparian corridor through willows and cottonwoods. Zebras from Hearst's private zoo sometimes graze on nearby hillsides.
Accepted Passes
Try These Instead
These parks offer similar experiences with fewer crowds
Sonoma Coast State Park
Seventeen miles of dramatic Sonoma coastline with beaches, bluffs, and seal colony.
Why go: Similar coastal scenery, hiking, wildlife viewing experience
Around 219 miles away
