Coastal Wildlife Sightings Along Highway 1

As intelligent as they are beautiful, it's time to spot the charmers of the sea: dolphins. These fun-loving mammals prefer open water and are known to dodge in and out of waves as if to outdo each other. What fun to watch! Dolphins are commonly spotted frolicking in the waves along the entire stretch of Highway 1 in SLO CAL, so wherever you end up, you're likely to spot a pod. Some popular locations include Avila Beach and the strand between Morro Bay and Cayucos. 

Wild idea: Rise and shine and cast a line. The historic Cayucos Pier is the perfect place to take in a quiet sunrise with your fishing pole and a hot cup of coffee. You'll also likely, especially in the winter, to see dolphins (and surfers) reveling in the epic surf.

One great way to spot an adorable family of furry otters in SLO CAL? Look for floating kelp beds. These patches of vegetation act as protective habitats. Otters are known to hang out on their backs, but they're nothing if not industrious. A pair of binoculars reveals nimble fingers hard at work preparing a meal. Watch the otters as they utilize rocks to open up delicious clams, urchins or crabs. 

Wild idea: After early morning animal spotting in the cool winter breeze, Avila Beach offers up a spectacular way to warm up. Sink into a natural mineral spring tub at Sycamore Mineral Springs, then stroll the beach and take in the calm protected bay, where friendly otters are known to bob in the water.

Once you spot a male Elephant Seal for the first time, you'll understand how he got the name (with a nose that is trunkish, to say the least). A cruise north up Highway 1 is incomplete without a stop at The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon, where you'll get an up-close view of the daily trials and tribulations of these fascinating animals. Depending on the season, you may see males challenge each other to a scuffle or even witness a birth! October through March sees an uptick in population, so winter is a fine time to tune in.

Wild idea: Tour the nearby Piedras Blancas Light Station before taking in the endlessly entertaining saga that is “Life with the Elephant Seals.” And don't worry, you don't have to miss any of the action, simply tune in to the webcam for more elephant seal fun.

One butterfly is pretty. Thousands? That's a downright otherworldly sight. The Monarch Butterfly Grove along Highway 1 is the place to catch these ethereal insects soaring. Thousands of butterflies migrate to this locale annually, escaping cold weather in favor of SLO CAL's temperate climate (just like many of our human visitors). From late October to February, you'll find the most to marvel over. The best time of day to visit is mid-day when the temperature is warmest and the butterflies are moving most. If you can't find fluttering friends, be sure to look up, as they tend to cluster amongst the limbs of the towering Eucalyptus trees when they aren't catching a breeze.

Wild idea: Keep the peaceful afternoon flowing. At the southern end of SLO CAL, within the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, you'll find the Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area Preserve. With a river, freshwater lake, dunes, sweeping ocean views and an array of flora and fauna, there is endless wildlife to see!

Birders flock to SLO CAL for a reason: the entire region is rife with winged wonders. One of the largest state parks in California, Montana de Oro in Los Osos offers up an abundance of seabirds to catalog. Be sure to bring your binoculars (and check out the tide pools beneath your feet)! We recommend checking out “Pecho Road Willows," a primitive trail that offers a number of rare birds throughout the year, including the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-bellied plover and Great Egret.

Wild idea: Every year in January, hundreds of birders visit Morro Bay to see, photograph and swap their latest glory stories. Interested in learning more about birding? The Winter Bird Festival is a great excuse to visit SLO CAL (more than 200 species are consistently sighted during the festival weekend).

Regal, gentle and altogether magnificent, whales have a way of igniting our imaginations like no other. In SLO CAL, you might see any number of species, like blue whales (including Humpbacks, Bryde’s, Sei and Minke whales) and the more commonly spotted Gray whales, which usually migrate south from Alaska October through early spring. While wale watching, you'll also want to keep an eye out for more sealife, including dolphins, California sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters.

Wild idea: While visiting Hearst Castle, the Old San Simeon viewpoint, located at the San Simeon Bay Pier overlooking William Randolph Hearst State Beach, is a superb spot to watch for a massive dorsal fin or fluke emerge from the sea. You'll also want to check out the Highway 1 Whale Trail, your one-stop source for all places to whale watch.