If you’re looking for somewhere to see sea lions in California then you’re in the right place.
There’s plenty of places to see sea lions in their natural habitat all over California, from Los Angeles to San Diego.
This post will tell you all of the best places to see sea lions in California and includes all the information you’ll need for a fun day out.
Did you know you can also see wild seals in California?
Best Places To See Sea Lions In California
Below I have listed all of the best places in California where you can see sea lions.
Keep reading for more detail on each location including useful tips and advice on the best spots to see them.
Where To See Sea Lions In San Diego
San Diego Harbor
You’ll find sea lions in San Diego Harbor all year round.
One of the most popular ways to see the sea lions is by taking a boat cruise around San Diego Harbor, the guides will take you right past the resident flock of sea lions that live in the bay and tell you all about them.
You’ll see the sea lions sunbathing on the rocks of the bay where they tend to hang out in the day time.
Address: 990 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is an excellent sea lion beach located within the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego.
They have a resident population of sea lions that you’ll find either lounging on the beach or swimming along the shore.
You can either view the sea lions from above at Point La Jolla or join them down on the beach.
Most people get out onto the sea and go kayaking! This allows you to get closer to the sea lions and ride alongside them.
If you’re not into kayaking, there’s plenty of other options including riding a segway!
Address: La Jolla Cove, 1100 Coast Blvd. (at Girard Ave), La Jolla, CA 92037
Check out the sea lions at La Jolla Cove in the video below:
Children’s Pool Beach
Children’s Pool Beach is one of the best places to see sea lions in San Diego.
It’s also located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego. The sea lions can be often seen lounging on the beach here.
This is also the location where lots of sea lions give birth during pupping season, so if you’re lucky, you might even spot a baby sea lion.
Address: Children’s Pool La Jolla, 834 Coast Blvd S, La Jolla, CA 92037
Check out the sea lions at Children’s Pool Beach in the video below:
If you need a little help finding the sea lions, you can join a self-guided walking tour of La Jolla. These are super helpful and make sure you don’t miss anything!
You’ll also learn lots of great facts about the marine life in La Jolla.
Find out where you can see sloths in California.
Shell Beach, La Jolla
Shell Beach, also located in La Jolla, San Diego is a great spot to see sea lions in California.
You’ll often find the sea lions here lying on the rocks or sunbathing on the sand.
One of their favorite spots is on Seal Rock which is located about 100ft from the shore.
Address: Shell Beach, San Diego, CA 92037
Check out the sea lions at Shell Beach in the video below:
Boomer Beach, La Jolla
Boomer Beach, located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego is a hotspot for sea lions!
Here you can often find sea lions relaxing or playing on the beach. The northern point of the beach is the best place to see the sea lions.
Address: Boomer Beach, San Diego, CA 92037
Where To See Sea Lions In Los Angeles
Aquarium Of The Pacific
Aquarium Of The Pacific is an aquarium located in Long Beach where you can see sea lions swimming around. There’s plenty of other animals to see here too.
They also offer a package where the animal care staff will take you into the sea lion enclosure to meet them.
You can even help to feed them!
Address: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
King Harbor in Redondo Beach
King Harbor in Redondo Beach has its own colony of sea lions that love to gather in the marina.
The Portofino Hotel offers their guests a front-row viewing of the sea lions basking in their natural habitat and also has a gift shop with stuffed sea lion dolls (complete with a donation to the Marine Mammal Care Center).
You can see the sea lions from the harbor or you could go kayaking and get even closer!
Address: King Harbor, 208 Yacht Club Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Check out the sea lions at King Harbor, Redondo Beach in the video below:
Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island has been home to sea lions for a very long time.
Old Ben was a super friendly (and now legendary) sea lion who was a regular visitor of Avalon Harbor in Santa Catalina Island in the late 1800’s.
Old Ben now has been immortalized in the form of a bronze statue which you can see by the harbor.
Today, there’s plenty of places to see live sea lions on Santa Catalina Island.
You can often see them in Avalon Harbor but the best place to see them is at Seal Rocks, at the east end of the island.
At Seal Rocks, sea lions gather in their hundreds all over the beaches and the rocks.
You could head out on a sealife safari on Santa Catalina Island where you’ll see both sea lions and dolphins too.
You can sit back and relax and enjoy the beauty of Santa Catalina Island’s marine life. This island is also one of the best places to see dolphins in Los Angeles.
Check out the sea lions on Santa Catalina Island in the video below:
Marina del Rey
Fisherman’s Village, located in Marina del Rey, is a replica of a New England seaport and fishing town.
It’s an excellent place to watch sea lions lounging on the docks.
Lots of people like to get into the water and go kayaking or paddle boarding in Marina del Rey.
This is a great opportunity to get closer to the sea lions and is also super fun.
Another great place to see sea lions in Marina del Rey is Burton W. Chace Park.
The sea lions love to sunbathe on the docks of the marina and you’ll get an excellent view of them from the park.
Address: Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Check out the sea lions at Marina del Rey in the video below:
Crescent Bay Beach
Crescent Bay Beach in Laguna Beach is a great spot to see sea lions in California.
Crescent Bay is a large cove with a long sandy stretch and rocky areas at the north and south ends.
At the north end of the beach is a large rock just offshore called Seal Rock.
Sea lions love to hang out here on the rock and also swim in the ocean, you’ll get a fantastic view from the beach.
For the best view, get out onto the water and go kayaking around Laguna Beach! You can’t get any closer to the sea lions than this and you’ll also see lots of other marine life too including dolphins!
Alternatively, you can also try stand up paddle boarding.
Address: Crescent Bay Beach, Cliff Drive and Barranca St, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Check out the sea lions at Crescent Bay Beach in the video below:
Los Angeles Zoo
You can see California sea lions at the Los Angeles Zoo. This is a fun day out and a great place to see lots of different animals including sea lions.
Address: 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Check out the sea lions at Los Angeles Zoo in the video below:
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, located off the Santa Barbara coast on the Channel Islands, is home to California sea lions!
You can access the islands by boat. They offer lots of different activities including kayaking, diving and boat trips where you can see lots of wildlife including sea lions!
Check out the sea lions at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in the video below:
Where To See Sea Lions In San Francisco
Pier 39
The sea lions of Pier 39, locally referred to as the ‘Sea Lebrities’, can be found on Pier 39’s West Marina in San Francisco. In the winter, up to 900 sea lions can be found here!
To find out more about the sea lions you can visit the Sea Lion Center at Aquarium of the Bay where they have fun displays and presentations, you can then step out onto their dock for the best view of the sea lions.
Address: Pier 39, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133
Check out the sea lions at Pier 39 in the video below:
Where Else Can I See Sea Lions In California?
Monterey Bay
California sea lions can be spotted all year round in Monterey Bay. Some of the best spots include Coast Guard Pier, just next to the Reeside Access Beach Park where you’ll see lots of sea lions and baby sea lions.
Another good place is all around the docks and boats at Fisherman’s Wharf right next to Del Monte Beach.
You can go kayaking around the bay for the best view of the sea lions up close!
Address: 1 Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, CA 93940
Check out the sea lions at Monterey Bay in the video below:
Monterey Bay is easily accessible from San Francisco. The easiest way to get there is by joining a tour that will take you there and back from San Francisco.
This makes the day super easy (you don’t have to worry about parking) and you can just sit back and enjoy your day.
Sea Lion Point Trail, Point Lobos State Park
The Sea Lion Point Trail at Point Lobos State Park is a fun hiking route that offers fantastic views of sea lions from above.
If you follow the trail, you’ll be able to see the Sea Lion Cove.
The best spot to see it is Sea Lion Point where you can see and hear hundreds of sea lions that huddle together on the rocky islands just off the shore.
Their loud barking can be heard long before you reach Sea Lion Point so you’ll know when you’re close.
Address: Point Lobos Parking Lot, 2 Point Lobos, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Please note: the address above is for the parking lot where you can start the hike.
Moonstone Beach
Moonstone Beach in Cambria is another popular place to see sea lions in California.
You can take a walk along the boardwalk which overlooks the ocean and sea lions below.
You can also walk down to the beach itself for a closer look.
Address: Moonstone Beach Dr, Cambria, CA 93428
Thanks for reading this post on where to see sea lions in California.
Wherever you are in California, there’s plenty of options here to see sea lions in their natural habitat in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and more.
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