blustery spot to scan for
breaching gray whales.
4 p167
The Drive » Back at Hwy
1, turn right and cruise south
along the coastline, curving
slightly inland as the wind howls
all around you, for about 5 miles
to Año Nuevo State Park’s main
entrance.
6 Año Nuevo
State Park
During winter and
early spring, thousands
of enormous northern
elephant seals noisily
mate, give birth, learn
to swim, battle for
dominance or just laze
around on the sands
at Año Nuevo State
Park (%650-879-0227,
tour reservations 800-444-
4445; http://anonuevo.
reserveamerica.com; entry per
car $10, tour per person $7;
hpublic entry 8:30am-3:30pm
daily Apr-Nov, guided tours only
mid-Dec–Mar; c). Join park
rangers for a guided hike
(reservations required)
through the sand dunes
for up-close views of
the huge pinnipeds – a
mature male weighs twice
as much as your car!The Drive » Over the next 6
miles, Hwy 1 southbound traces
the coast. As you descend a long
hill bordered by a sheer cliff facethat recalls Devil’s Slide, look for
Waddell Beach on your right.7 Waddell Beach
These thrilling breaks
are usually alive with
windsurfers, kitesurfers
and other daredevils.
Wander the chilly sands,
get blasted by the winds
and you’ll quickly
understand that without
a wet suit, you won’t
be hankering to swim
here. Across Hwy 1 is
the end of the popular
Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
that descends from the
redwoods of Big Basin
State Park. Just inland,
Rancho Del Oso NatureTRIP HIGHLIGHT
Half Moon Bay Mavericks surf break