Go to the Point Reyes Peninsula, between December and March. There are many ways to reach the area, but no matter which way you enter the peninsula, you will find yourself on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard at the tiny town of Inverness Park, with Tomales Bay to your right.
Continue on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, headed northwest. You will soon pass through a second town, Inverness, and then the road will turn and climb into Point Reyes National Seashore. Stay on the road until you see the turnoff for Drakes Beach, on the left. Take the turn, proceed to Drakes Beach, and park in the large parking lot here.
Take the shuttle bus to the Chimney Rock area, if you arrive on a weekend or holiday between New Year’s and Easter. During this period, traffic is so heavy that parking spaces run short at the Chimney Rock area, and so the National Park Service runs a shuttle from Drakes Beach to Chimney Rock on weekends and holidays. The road is closed to the general public. Call the park service at (415) 464-5100 to see if the shuttle is running.
Continue driving on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, if you arrive on a weekday, and park your car at the Chimney Rock parking lot. From the parking lot, the elephant seal overlook is toward Drakes Bay, at the end of a heavily-traveled trail. During peak visiting periods (the times when the shuttle bus is running, that is), park volunteers are stationed there to answer questions.
Keep your eyes open during a visit to any beach in the vicinity of the Point Reyes headland (where the lighthouse is). The elephant seal colony has expanded so greatly that the seals have begun to spread out. They will appear, for instance, along Drakes Beach. They will even appear right next to the National Park Service visitor center at Drakes Beach, one of the most popular destinations in the national seashore. Give them their space, for their sake as much as your own. If a seal begins to move away from you as you approach, this is a certain sign that you are too close.
