Harbor Seal Viewing Point

Harbor seals resting on exposed rocks.

Cristina Flores, Parks Conservancy

Quick Facts

Amenities

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Scenic View/Photo Spot

As you look down at these little guys laying out on the rocks below, try fighting the urge to yell, "Get a job, seals!" Take it easy. These guys do a lot of swimming, and Point Bonita Cove is one of a handful of significant land sites free of human intruders for them to rest and birth pups between the Bay and Pacific Ocean. Harbor seals are important year-round residents of Bay area waters. They're sensitive to their environment and so, useful in gauging the health of the ecosystem.

These aquatic cuties are dapper in their spotted coats, ranging from silver-gray to dark brown. In the San Francisco Bay, some seals have a reddish tinge that may be due to a change in hair follicles or the accumulation of trace elements in ocean waters. Full-grown adults are big boys and gals, sometimes reaching six feet in length and weighing up to 300 pounds.