These little pockets of water are a gateway to a whole new world only visible to those who pay extra attention during low tide.
Tide pools offer a closer look at some of the ocean’s smallest creatures. Teeming with fascinating marine wildlife, these little pockets of water are a gateway to a whole new world only visible to those who pay extra attention during low tide. If you live in the Bay Area or are heading up there soon, add these coastal destinations to your bucket list and check out the best tide pools in San Francisco and beyond.
MUST-SEE TIDE POOLS IN SAN FRANCISCO
MOSS BEACH TIDE POOLS
Just 22 miles north of San Francisco is Moss Beach; a romantic coastal retreat with some of the best tide pools in California. Within the Moss Beach area, avid tide pool fans usually head straight to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Located just north of Pillar Point Harbor and Mavericks, this reserve offers the best tide pools in San Francisco by protecting and preserving the complex yet fragile community of sea animals along the coast and beyond. Look for anemones, sea urchins, hermit crabs, and numerous other cool marine life at this coveted spot for tide pools in San Francisco.
PACIFICA TIDE POOLS
A getaway to Pacifica isn’t complete without a tide pooling adventure down at Linda Mar State Beach. Situated super close to San Francisco and a favored kid-friendly tide pool spot, Linda Mar is a must-visit for any and every marine life fan who hasn’t been yet. Head to the southernmost part of the beach to find the isolated rock pools and keep an eye out for the different kinds of crabs and sea anemones visible at low tide.
Besides awesome tide pools in San Francisco, Linda Mar offers plenty of other fun activities you should take part in. Hone your surf skills riding the gentle waves, bike along the scenic trails, go stand-up paddleboarding, and check out the nearby skate park; your day at Pacifica can be anything you like.
MACKERRICHER STATE PARK TIDE POOLS
Mackerricher State Park in Mendocino is a treasure trove of tide pools near San Francisco. To get there, follow the boardwalk out to Laguna Point until you reach the stairs leading down to the bluff. There, you’ll find beaches, bluffs, headlands, dunes, forests, and, of course, little pockets of water teeming with small sea life of all sorts. The variety of sea creatures found here is arguably the most abundant along the Mendocino Coast, and many of the pools are easily accessible for kids of all ages.
You don’t have to bid the Pacific Coast vistas farewell just yet—hike the coastal two-mile trail from Mill Creek to Ward Avenue and you’ll fall deeper in love with the locale that you thought was possible.
