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San Francisco Sea Lions at Pier 39
by Jill Loeffler •
Published: July 17, 2024
San Francisco is known for many quirky and unique things. One that thrills visitors from around the world is the sea lions at Pier 39.
These loud and stinky visitors sit on platforms on the western side of the pier at Fisherman's Wharf.
I love watching them jockey for positions. Although they are social creatures, they love to fight for their own space on the platforms.
This image is from when we had a record-breaking number of sea lions at Pier 39 in May and June 2024. The platforms at K-Dock don't always look like this!Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
San Francisco Sea Lion Viewing Area at Pier 39
A look down at the main San Francisco sea lion viewing area at Pier 39. I took this picture from the top viewing area, where I like to check them out.The viewing area is open 24 hours a day, so you can visit anytime. You can view them from the main viewing area on the lower level (see this area in the picture above) or from the top viewing area (just up one flight of steps) which is where I took this picture.
Both areas are free, so you can stop by several times during your visit.
I like to visit them early in the morning before Pier 39 opens, as there aren't as many people around. I typically head over between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. so I can get a front-row look at them as they play around.
Most of the population here are male sea lions. Males can grow up to 7 feet in length and weigh up to 850 pounds.
You can tell them apart from the females as the males develop a hump on their head when they are about five years old.
Best Times to See the California Sea Lions at Pier 39
When is the best time of year to see the California sea lions at Pier 39? While I wish I could tell you that there is an abundance of sea lions here all year long, this is not the case.
They leave during mating season and when there is less food in the waters around Pier 39. At certain times of the year, I'll stop by and only a handful will be on the platforms.
The peak season for seeing sea lions in San Francisco is from March to May and August to October. These are the two times of year you will usually see the largest number of sea lions around Pier 39.
The sea lions migrate south for breeding, usually during the months of June and July. This is typically when you will only see a handful of our famous sea lions hanging around near Fisherman's Wharf.
In May 2024, we started to see an unusually large number of sea lions at Pier 39 due to an increase in the food supply in the nearby waters. They stayed later in the season than normal and the herd started to thin out in mid-June and they were almost all gone a week later.
This picture shows two small sea lions on K-Dock at Pier 39, this was in July 2024, just two weeks after the record-breaking number of sea lions were in San Francisco.From November to February, you will also see fewer sea lions at Pier 39. Sometimes, when I visit during these months, I see only three or four, but at other times, I'll see up to a dozen on the platforms.
Pier 39 Sea Lion Live Cam
Pier 39 set up a live cam of the sea lions a few years ago. This allows you to check out the action on the K-Dock from anywhere, 24 hours a day!
You will find the live camera here.
When you get to the page, scroll down past the YouTube video. You will see an image with a point in time capture of the sea lions at Pier 39.
Hover over the image and in the upper right hand corner, click on the "Go Live" button. That will take you to the live camera!
When Did They First Arrive in San Francisco?
Most people think the sea lions have been a San Francisco attraction forever. They first arrived at the K-Dock in the Fisherman's Wharf area shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
There were a few dozen in late 1989, but by January 1990, more and more started to arrive in the area.
Why did they become so interested in being around Pier 39? The herring supply became abundant in the area, so more and more were drawn to spend time in the SF Bay.
Other Fun Facts about California Sea Lions
Here are a few other fun facts about the California sea lions.
- The females are also quite large. They can reach up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 220 pounds.
- California sea lions are known for being intelligent, playful, and noisy!
- Most of the shows that feature "seals" are actually sea lions because of their intelligence.
- Sea lions have external ear flaps, but seals don't. This makes it easier to tell them apart.
- Sea lions are protected in California, so feeding or trying to touch them is unlawful.
- The largest number on record was in May and June 2024, when more than 2,000 were here at one time.
- The second largest herd of sea lions at Pier 39 was in November 2009. This was when they counted more than 1,700 of them on the platforms at one time.
- They have several breeding grounds. They usually breed between the Southern California Channel Island and Mexico, but they have also been known to breed near the Farallon Islands and Año Nuevo State Park.
Other Places in the SF Bay Area to See California Sea Lions
In addition to Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf, there are a few other places where you can view California sea lions.
Two other spots that they love are Point Lobos State Park and Point Reyes National Park.
Point Lobos State Park
Point Lobos State Park is located just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea along Highway 1. This is a beautiful park and worth a visit to see the sea lions and soak in the beauty of this waterfront gem.
Point Reyes National Park
Point Reyes National Park is another of my favorites. It's about an hour and 15 minutes north of San Francisco. It's a fantastic park with tons of hiking trails, beaches, a famous lighthouse, and other fun outdoor activities.
Marine Mammal Center in Marin County
This is where they keep the sick animals at the Marine Mammal Center. I'm looking down from the designated viewing area. Most are kept in individual cages until they improve, after which one or two others join them. Since sea lions are social animals, having companions aids their recovery.The Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands is another place to see them.
This animal sanctuary is where they take the sick or struggling sea lions to help rehab them and, hopefully, return them to their natural habitat.
They usually have the largest number of patients in their care between early March and mid-August.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!