The winter shuttle buses are running again at Point Reyes National Seashore in California for visitors interesting in viewing northern elephant seals that come to breed on the seashore's beaches, or hoping to glimpse migrating gray whales.

The shuttles began running the day after Christmas and will continue through late March.

"Winter is a wonderful time, not only to watch the annual Pacific gray whale migration from Alaska to Mexico, but also to celebrate the recovering populations of northern elephant seals as they return to breed at Point Reyes," said seashore Superintendent Cicely Muldoon .

The winter wildlife docent program also begins with volunteers at the Chimney Rock and Lighthouse overlooks to assist visitors with learning more about the northern elephant seals and migrating gray whales.

Elephant seals are easy to spot on the beaches -- males tip the scales at up to 5,000 pounds and then some. They draw their distinctive name from the large snouts sported by the males, according to Friends of the Elephant Seal. While they spend the bulk of their lives out at sea, elephant seals head down to the California coast, and Point Reyes National Seashore, in the winter to breed. During the winter of 2010-2011, thousands of sea elephants hunkered down on the seashore's beaches between December and March. At one point, in early February 2011, there were 1,451 elephant seals counted on the seashore's beaches.

Limited parking is available at prime viewing areas such as the historic Lighthouse and Chimney Rock headlands. Bus service eases congestion in these areas. The shuttle transportation system was identified in the Headlands Management Plan as an important tool to protect the fragile headlands while also allowing access for visitors.

Bus service runs only in good weather on weekends and federal Monday holidays (bus service will operate on December 31 and January 1). Ticket sales open at 9:30 a.m. at the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach and close at 3 p.m. Children 16 and under are free; adult tickets are $7 per person. Federal Interagency Senior and Access pass discounts apply to the purchase.

Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is closed at South Beach junction when the buses are operating. The road closure begins at approximately 9:30 a.m. and the road reopens at approximately 5:15 p.m. For more information, please call the Bear Valley Visitor Center at 415-464-5100.