How to see La Jolla's seals and sea lions without breaking the law
Watch from the sidewalk and bluffs above La Jolla Cove and Children's Pool, stay at least 50 yards (150 feet) away as NOAA advises, and know the closures: Point La Jolla is closed year-round, and the Children's Pool beach closes every December 15 to May 15 for harbor seal pupping.
- Recommended distance
- 50 yards (150 ft)
- Children's Pool beach closed
- Dec 15 – May 15
- Point La Jolla
- Closed year-round
- Report harassment
- NOAA (800) 853-1964
The short version
- NOAA's West Coast guidance: stay at least 50 yards — about half a football field — from seals and sea lions, on land and in the water, and keep pets back too.
- The Children's Pool beach is closed to the public from December 15 through May 15 each year for harbor seal pupping; the 2026–27 closure starts in about 11 weeks.
- Point La Jolla, the rocky point beside the Cove, has been closed year-round since the City Council's September 2023 ordinance.
- Estimated sea lion pup mortality in 2026 was about 43% at La Jolla Cove versus 6% inside the closed Point La Jolla area (Times of San Diego).
- Harassing a marine mammal violates the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act; an 18-year-old pleaded guilty in August 2026 after a viral video of him kicking a sea lion.
La Jolla is one of the easiest places in California to see wild pinnipeds up close — which is exactly the problem. The animals haul out on public beaches a few steps from a sidewalk, crowds walk right up to them, and every year pups are separated from their mothers. The good news: the best views are from above, and they're free.
Seals or sea lions? You'll see both
| California sea lion | Harbor seal | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | La Jolla Cove rocks and Point La Jolla | Children's Pool beach |
| How to tell | Visible ear flaps; walks on big front flippers; loud barking | No ear flaps, spotted coat; scoots on its belly; quiet |
| Pupping season | Early May to October | Winter to spring — hence the Dec 15–May 15 beach closure |
La Jolla's wildlife closures through the year
City of San Diego (Children's Pool; Point La Jolla). Sea lion pupping season per the City's Point La Jolla page.
Where to watch
- The sidewalk and railing along Coast Boulevard above the Children's Pool — you look straight down onto the harbor seals, and the closure applies to the beach, not the street above it.
- The paths and railings along Coast Boulevard above La Jolla Cove and Point La Jolla, where sea lions pile onto the rocks.
- From a kayak tour, at a legal distance — reputable outfitters keep their groups back.
The rules, and why they're tightening
The City closed Point La Jolla year-round in 2023 because people kept walking among nursing sea lions. The comparison since then is stark: Times of San Diego reported an estimated 43% pup mortality at La Jolla Cove in 2026, against 6% inside the closed area. In August 2026, Coastal Commissioner Matt O'Malley said "a partial closure is the only way to deal with this issue" at the Cove itself; City Council President Joe LaCava opposes a full closure and has floated letting park rangers issue civil citations. Expect rule changes.
43%
Estimated 2026 pup mortality at La Jolla Cove
6%
Same estimate inside closed Point La Jolla
23,000+
Petition signers asking for more protection
- 01
Keep 50 yards back
That's NOAA's guidance for seals and sea lions — farther if an animal lifts its head, moves away or barks at you. That means it's stressed.
- 02
No selfies, no touching, no feeding
NOAA's own words: "No selfies with seals!" Feeding wild marine mammals is illegal.
- 03
Leave the dog home
Dogs aren't allowed in the Point La Jolla area except service dogs in designated corridors.
- 04
Never step between a mother and pup
Mothers leave pups to feed and come back. A pup alone is usually not abandoned.
- 05
Report harassment
NOAA's enforcement hotline is (800) 853-1964. For an injured or stranded animal, call the stranding hotline at (866) 767-6114.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryChildren's Pool
City of San Diego Lifeguard Services · 2026-09-29
Closed Dec 15–May 15 yearly
- PrimaryPoint La Jolla
City of San Diego Parks & Recreation · 2026-09-29
Year-round closure adopted Sept 18, 2023; pupping May–Oct; rules
NOAA Fisheries · 2026-09-29
50 yards; no feeding; enforcement hotline
Times of San Diego · 2026-08-23
Mortality estimates; O'Malley and LaCava positions; guilty plea