Harbor Seal

Phoca vitulina

Montauk Point State Park

Light tan to blue-gray seal with dark speckling, commonly seen resting on rocks along the coast through the colder months.

Best time of day

Low tide, midday

How to see

Watch from the rocks below Montauk Lighthouse — the park is open sunrise to sunset year-round. For a guided walk, CRESLI runs registered seal walks at Cupsogue Beach in Moriches Bay from mid-November to mid-April. CRESLI also runs a seal-watching boat cruise on Shinnecock Bay aboard Stony Brook University's R/V Peconic, co-sponsored by the South Fork Natural History Museum.

Operator

NYS Parks (self-guided) / CRESLI seal walks at Cupsogue Beach / CRESLI seal cruise on Shinnecock Bay@cresli_inc📞 +1 631-319-6003Book a trip ↗

Cost

$8/car at Montauk Point; CRESLI Cupsogue walks free (suggested $5 adult, $3 under 18); CRESLI Shinnecock Bay seal cruise $40/person, about 2 hr, aboard the R/V Peconic

Age

All ages

Accessibility

Rocky uneven terrain at Montauk Point; the CRESLI Cupsogue walk is 1.2 miles round trip on sand; the Shinnecock Bay cruise boards at Stony Brook Marine Station.

Responsible viewing

Stay at least 150 ft (50 yards) back and keep it under 30 minutes; never approach a hauled-out seal.

Weather / sea state

Dress warm; CRESLI walks and cruises require advance registration and can cancel for ice, extreme cold or snow.