Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Tide Pools

I consider Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Tide Pools to be the best tide pools in California. Tide pools are small depressions in the coastal rocks that are typically under water. Sea animals, mostly sea urchins, starfish, sea anemones, hermit crabs, and barnacles flourish in these pools.

Barnacles produce one of the most powerful natural glues in existence to help them stay put. When there is a high tide, the pools are covered with water. When there is a low tide, the pools are exposed. Extreme low tides expose these rocky sea shelves hundreds of feet out into the ocean.

I have visited Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Tide Pools many times as a child, and it is always a fascinating and mesmerizing adventure. The key to viewing wildlife in the tide pools is to go at the lowest tide possible. For Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, I always use the site provided by NOAA for the Pillar Point Harbor location. This site will show you the high and low tides. Click here for tide chart.

Although a tide of +1 is acceptable for viewing, a zero or minus tide is even better. Note there are two low tides every day, however they are not always the same rise and fall. For over 50 years I have witnessed the slow destruction of these tidal pools. In my opinion, it’s a wonder that visitors are even allowed here anymore and many advocate for the closure of these tide pools to the public.

Do your part! Stay out of the tide pools. Look don’t touch. Walk on barren rocks when possible. Do not step on plants or barnacles when exploring. No dogs. No buckets. Absolutely no removal of anything from this beach.

Educate your friends to the rules. Supervise children. Stay 300 feet from marine mammals such as the rare Harbor seals. Be aware of large sneaker waves if you wander out near the edge. Enjoy this attraction as if it were a museum, it is not a playground.

Visit the nearby lighthouses. Both Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Montara Point Lighthouse.