Sea Lion Caves, Florence

3.5

#1 of 9 in Parks in Florence

Cave · Nature / Park

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The largest system of sea caves in the United States, Sea Lion Caves offers the chance to view sea lions up close in their natural habitat. Formed nearly 25 million years ago, the cave measures about 0.8 hectares (2 acres) and is 38 m (125 ft) high. Several caverns connected together by corridors make up the cave system. The Stellar Sea Lions and the California Sea Lions who make this cave their home are truly wild, so they move around freely. Staff can’t guarantee a sighting, but they recommend checking these four areas where the sea lions tend to hang out: in the cave, in the water, at the lookout or rookery, and on nearby rock ledges. Call ahead to confirm whether the sea lions are in the cave on the day of your visit. Even if they’re not, the impressive cave alone is worth a trip. Put Sea Lion Caves into our Florence trip maker site to see other points of interest to visit during your vacation in Florence.

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Sea Lion Caves reviews

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1,647 reviews

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4.3

Google

By Heavenly (Bebs Gufflufle)

The sea lions are really cool. Definitely worth checking out. The facilities are all really well maintained, and the signs are interesting to read. It does smell, though, which is to be expected from a bunch of any animals, but still good to keep in mind. If you have a hard time with smells it might be hard to enjoy. The pathways are also decently steep ramps, which can tire you out quickly. If you don't feel like taking a steep walk or might struggle with it, it's an important thing to understand.

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By Captain Cake

Very cool experience. I loved the Sea Lion Caves as much as I loved the history and construction of the elevator. There was nobody else there when I went so that played a big role in my overall enjoyment. In the summer I bet it's a mad house. Lots of Sea Lions because it's the winter months. 💙

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