Photo Adventure - San Francisco and Point Reyes National Seashore
- shephotographsnature
- Mar 13
- 2 min read
The end of last July 2025 I had the opportunity to visit San Francisco for a few days for an interview. I was going to have a few hours after my plane landed to explore prior to getting settled in to prepare a little, so I decided I couldn't possibly be so close to a few known elephant seal rookeries without making a little trip to see if I could spy a wild seal.
After dropping off my things at my room for the next few days, I started my trip up to Point Reyes National Seashore from San Francisco, about 1.5 hour trip north. The route took me past some scenic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, which of course I had to stop for. There was such contrast from the city, to redwoods, to grasslands! I wasn't able to stop for some redwoods photos with the road being narrow, but it is on the list to drive again.
Elephant Seal Overlook trail - https://maps.app.goo.gl/x4MaehaNCkpWzQBN6
Once at the Chimney Rock Trailhead, its a easy little hike to the left to head to the elephant sea overlook. The whole hike is on the cliffside viewing Drake's Bay, so easy viewing of harbor seals, pelicans, and Brandt's cormorants during the whole walk. I lost count of how many harbor seals!
Once at the landing, I spotted two sleepy yearlings! The time of year I was visiting is in-between molt, breeding, and pup seasons, so adults are out int he open ocean hunting. You can see two tiny little "logs" in the above photo of the coast, but of course I had brought my large lens in hopes of getting photos up close. You can see how well their fur and countershading works against the rocky/sandy shore.
The next day was filled with my interview, and afterwards I took some photos of Rodeo Lagoon and Rodeo Beach and Cove on my way back to the house. Rodeo is a brackish water lagoon, located right next to the Pacific Ocean in Marin Headlands.
The beach is a mix of brown sand and rock, which was fun to see.
The morning of my last day and flight out, I got up early to get some morning photos of area, and once the The Marine Mammal Center opened, a few photos there and the view up top as well.
And of course I love when I have a window seat on the plane! The temperature changes from being in the Marin Headlands to outside was pretty dramatic.
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