Año Nuevo State Park in Pescadero, CA, has two sections. The main park is next to the Pacific Ocean coastline, to the west of Highway 1. The Cascade Ranch Unit is inland, a redwood forest, on the east of Highway 1.

Elephant Seals: Año Nuevo is famed for the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for northern elephant seal. Visitors flock the park in winters when males battle for mates on beaches and females give birth on dunes. During the breeding season (Dec thru May), daily access to the park is available via guided walks only. Advance reservation is necessary. The guided tours get booked many months in advance. Most of the adult seals are gone by early March, leaving behind the weaned pups who remain through April. The elephant seals return to Año Nuevo's beaches during the spring and summer months to molt and can be observed during this time through a permit system.