Eighty-million-year-old sandstone rocks stand before us, jutting out of the sea. These are the famous Seal Rocks. They lie just off the coast from the Cliff House in San Francisco. They have been here for a long time.
Seal Rocks got its name from the Steller’s and California sea lions. These sea lions used to haul out on the rocks. People often call them seals, though true seals do not sit here.
The Lands End area has been forming for millions of years. Geologists studied the sandstone around Sutro Baths and the Cliff House. They found it to be 80 million years old.
Zircon crystals in the sand came from an ancient mountain range in Idaho. These crystals formed one to two billion years ago. A river carried them to Northern California about 80 million years ago. The river created a large delta in the Sacramento Valley. Sediment was dumped into a deep sea trench in the San Francisco area.
The coastal features here resulted from waves, wind, and sand movement. This coastline looks similar to Oregon’s rugged shores.
Seal Rocks is a group of small rock formation islands. It sits in the Lands End area of the Outer Richmond District. You can appreciate these fascinating rocks from the Cliff House or Ocean Beach.
The best view of Seal Rocks is from Ocean Beach at low tide. From the right angle, you can even see an arch in one of the rocks. If you walk toward Sutro Ruins, you might spot wildlife on the rock islands.
According to some, the seals started reappearing in January 1990. This happened after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.
Lands End marks the western edge of America. It is a place of beauty, fog, and strong winds.
The city developed the first Cliff House in 1863. It was a one-story wooden building on the cliffs. It offered a glamorous view of the shoreline.
Later, Adolph Sutro transformed the coastline. He built a railroad for easy access. A fire destroyed the Cliff House in 1907, but it was rebuilt. The National Park Service acquired it in 1977.
Seal Rocks remains a visible and often overlooked treasure. The rocks remind us of the powerful forces that shaped this coastline. Take a moment to gaze at the rocks. Consider their long history and the wildlife that calls them home. They offer a glimpse into the wild beauty of San Francisco.