Cabrillo Tidepools and Good Tide Times

Cabrillo National Monument Tide Pools are among the best places in Southern California to explore marine life exposed by the ocean. During very low tides, the rocky shoreline reveals colorful sea stars, sea anemones, hermit crabs, octopuses, and many other intertidal creatures. The tide pools are located below the monument’s visitor area and are accessed by a short walk down from the parking lot.

The best tidepool viewing generally occurs when the tide is below 0.7 feet, with even more shoreline exposed during negative tides. TThe table below shows the estimated times when the tide is expected to be below this level based on nearby NOAA tide predictions. The suggested times are based on NOAA tide predictions for La Jolla (Scripps Institution Wharf), which the National Park Service recommends as the closest reference station for the monument. Always wear sturdy footwear, watch for slippery rocks and incoming waves, and avoid disturbing the delicate marine life.

The tidepool area is generally open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, although hours may change seasonally or due to weather. There are typically two high tides and two low tides per day, and they vary seasonally. During the spring and summer, the lowest tides often occur outside park hours, so there may be no recommended visiting times shown in the table below. The best times to visit are usually in the fall and winter, where the lowest tides often occur during open hours and there are more negative (really low) tides.

You can get some more info at the National Park Service’s site. The map on this page has a pin at the parking lot.