Heading to the Unknown Coast in Point Reyes National Seashore, we made our way over to Elephant Sea Cave—a short but slow and difficult scramble south of rocky McClures Beach—named after nearby Elephant Rock, shaped like, well, an elephant. 

Time your exploring just right and you'll be rewarded with lots of wildlife. Be on the look out for cormorant rookery, deer, birds, seals, and the bounty of sea life exposed on the rocks at low tides. (The area makes for great tidepooling!)

To get a view of Elephant Rock from where it actually looks like an elephant, continue for a couple hundred yards south past the cave. You'll begin to see the elephant come to life. 

To start your adventure, plan around a minus tide (check here for upcoming low tides) and head out to the McClures Beach trailhead. Once on the beach, follow the trail south until you encounter the cave; you can't miss it. Allow 30 to 45 minutes each way. Have fun, be safe, and be sure to take plenty of photos.