The arrival of winter meant we could take our children to the seal haul out site in Montauk. When my daughter asked if she could pet them and my son said he’d bring a ball for a seal to play on its nose, I knew it was time for them to observe seals in their natural habitat. 
We followed a trail through a forest and wooden pathways across swamps. My children found sticks and more on the Sea Haul out Trail.
Then one final dash and a path led us to the seal haul-out site in north Montauk.
And there they were. Seals at sea as they should be. Scattered across rocks in the low tide.
Earless seals. True seals. Banana-shaped on rocks. Poking their nose out of the water. Basking on their natural stone docks.
All was quiet apart from the rippling of water and a distant seal bark.
Migrating south from arctic and subarctic regions, the true seals rest, sleep and conserve energy on the rocks near Montauk Point. Harbor seals are most common but sometimes there are also Harp Seals, Ringed Seals, Hooded Seals, and Gray Seals at this seal haul-out site. 
I was tempted to stay until high tide but it started to pour so it was time to head back home. Once again we followed the yellow markers back through the wetlands and deciduous forest, leaving behind the shore’s off-season residents resting on the sea’s boulders.
In the summer you can spot celebrities on the beaches from the Hamptons to the Montauk shores, but I prefer these sightings at the Montauk seal haul out during the winter cooler months.
Montauk Seal Haulout Trail, Long Island, NY
The Seal Haulout Trail and site is located in the Montauk Point State Park.  The nearest parking is on the shoulder of Camp Hero Road just off Montauk Highway (Route 27). The trail begins just a short walking distance to the west on the north side of the highway. Follow the yellow Seal Haulout trail markers on the trees through the woods to the beach observation point. It’s about 0.75 miles hike from the highway to the beach. I would recommend only going on a weekend or national holiday as there is hunting in the area from November to end of February – apart from weekends and holidays – as well as bring binoculars if possible. You can also book a family walk to the Montauk Point seal haul-out site with a local guide or the South Fork Natural History Museum.
The seal haul out observation walk is a perfect outdoors outing with kids if you are visiting in the off-season and wondering what to do in the Hamptons or Montauk in the winter.
Had no idea New York had seals. That’s incredibly cool! Did some search and found out (from NY DEP) that NY state has 5 seal mammal and only “true” seals, no sea lions, etc. So cool!
What a fabulous place to visit, your photos are so beautiful and I really enjoyed reading your post 🙂
We saw some seals earlier this year in Scotland – they’re one of my favourite animals. Montauk looks like a great place to visit!
I’d love to see them in Scotland…on my list!
wow that looks like a beautiful place to visit – great photos
Wow such a beautiful place to visit
Those seals look so close – fanatastic!
They were just off shore and so had to zoom in which is why the shot is quite noisy.
wow look at those seals! i’ve only ever seen them in zoo’s or a sanctuary in cornwall, would love to see them in their natural habitat just chilling like they are here. x
Oh my goodness Kriss, it looks incredible there. Beautiful photos too – just wonderful 🙂
Now, that is really special, what a wonderful place to take the kids. Beautiful photos of the seals, they are such lovely creatures.
It was fantastic Sarah to see the seals haul out! Thanks!
How absolutely lovely to get so close to the seals just basking in the sea! And I’m inclined to agree with you that seal spotting is much more satisfying than celeb spotting 🙂
It really was a lovely family outing. And much more natural residents 🙂
Awesome! What a great thing to show your children seals in their natural habitat. We usually have to go out on a boat here in Scotland to be able to see them up close.
I’d love to take them to see seals in Scotland too – boat trip sounds a bonus.
that looks amazing well worth a trip!
What a wonderful sight, it must have been mesmerising to watch them in their natural habitat. Also a great plcae for the children to burn off some energy and explore the surrounding area. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Thanks Fiona – we loved the walk through the forest too which made the trip even more special.
Oh wow, this is absolutely amazing! And there we were, up on on the Coast Guard’s hut with my husband pointing on what he thought was a “seal sighting”. To be fair, I think it really was one, but just one and here you and your kids saw loads of them 🙂
One or many it’s worth kids seeing seals in their natural habitat.
Oh how wonderful – I’d love to see those! Such memories and great shots too x
It was a cool trip to do with the kids – thanks!
What great captures of the seals. This sounds like a great place to visit with my family.
Wow, that looks great, I’d love to go there! Bit far from me (I’m in the UK!) but would love to go some day
Thanks! I’ve been here over a year and only learnt about it recently.
It looks like a beautiful place and so many seals. I’ve never seen so many at once.
We were lucky to see so many especially before the bad weather arrived here.
What an absolutely wonderful place to visit. Your photos are stunning, though I was disappointed not to see one with a ball on it’s nose ;-)!
Hee hee I think my son was still hoping to see one of the seals spinning one too!
Loving these photographs, what a beautiful place. There were so many pics posted on facebook of friends going to see the seal pups at a place near where I live, really need to go this year.
Oh my goodness I so want to go there! Beautiful!
It was amazing seeing the seals hauling out on the rocks. Thanks!