Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito: Visit Notes

The Marine Mammal Center is in the Marin Headlands past Sausalito. They rescue sick and injured seals and sea lions. You can visit and see the animals recovering.

We went in winter and only saw three sea lions. Spring is when it gets busy. Young seals wash up during storms or get separated from their mothers. That’s when the pools fill up.

You look down at the outdoor pools from a viewing area. Staff come out for feeding times. They weigh each animal and track what they eat. The whole operation is about getting them healthy enough to release.

The center has been doing this since 1975 and has rehabilitated over 24,000 marine mammals. Some make it, some don’t. They’re honest about that.

It’s a 30-minute drive from SF. Take 101 across the Golden Gate, exit at Bunker Road. The center sits up in the hills above Rodeo Beach. You can stop at the beach after—it’s five minutes down the road.

[!TIP] Go in spring when young seals wash up during storms. Winter visits may have very few animals.

Free to visit—they ask for donations. Go in spring if you want to see actual animals. The facility is clean and well-run even when it’s empty.