The best time to visit tide pools is when the tide is low. A 1.0 foot
tide is OK, but the best time is when the tide is minus 1.0. Have fun
exploring and learning about shore crabs, hermit crabs, sea anemones and
more. Remember to follow the "Rules of Conservation."

Rules of Conservation:

• Avoid stepping on animals.
• Return all animals, crabs and snails to the tide pool (leave them as you found them).
• Do not remove attached sea anemones and barnacles or any other live form.
• After you have examined rocks, remember to turn them over (leave them as you found them).
• Do not removal or take possession of sea life or artifacts.

Tide Pools

For complete tidal predictions and exact times, see the Scripps Institute tide chart.

Cabrillo National Monument - Hermit crabs are abundant here.
Follow State Highway 209 south, from Interstate Highways I-5 or I-8, to the tip of Point Loma.

Ocean Beach - Shore crabs, hermit crabs, and sea anemones, and lots of small chitons depressions.  Small tide pool at the foot of Newport Avenue under the Ocean Beach pier.

Tourmaline Surfing Park - Hermit crabs and sea snails are abundant. At low tide, you may see sea urchins, brittle stars, or an octopus.
Interstate 5 to Grand Avenue. Follow it west to Mission Boulevard. T urn north (right) and look for on-street parking or continue north on Mission Blvd. to La Jolla Boulevard and turn left onto Tourmaline Street to the public parking lot.

Shell Beach, La Jolla - Star fish or an octopus on a good minus tide.
South end of Ellen Browning Scripps Park in La Jolla at the bottom of a small cement stairway.

Dike Rock - Star fish or an octopus on a good minus tide on the north side.
North of Scripps Pier in La Jolla.

Cardiff State Beach - Tide pool is at the bluffs at the south end of the parking lot at Cardiff State Beach.
Pacific Coast Highway just north of Lomas Santa Fe Drive.

Seacliff Park, or Swami's - Fossil shells in sedimentary rock. Sea hares, brittle stars, and octopi on a good low tide.
North on Pacific Coast Highway from Cardiff State Park

San Onofre State Park - Hermit crabs.
Three miles south of San Clemente on I-5 (Basilone Road.)