Elephant Seals & Hikes North of Cambria

We are staying in Cambria, a charming town of historic buildings, little shops, and delectable eateries on the Pacific coast. We began the day at the Elephant Seal Vista Point, where we saw hundreds of elephant seals. This is their molting time, so they stay on the beach while their hide sloughs off and they grow a new layer of skin. (Who knew?)

Further north on highway 1 was a short trail with the 3 Rs - rocks, roots, and ruts. And uphill. The trail roughly followed Salmon Creek to a boulder-strewn area with a waterful. We explored a side trail for a short way, but noticed the trail became increasingly overgrown with poison oak. Needless to say, we turned around!

Our last stop of the morning was Jade Beach Trail, only 1/2 mile. But - Straight downhill - from a cliff! I went partway down (the more gradual - 30 degree slope), but I balked as it got steeper and I saw you needed a rope to get to the bottom. Hard "no". The photos show Charlie going down the trail, then on the rocky beach.Read more