La Jolla Tide Pools

La Jolla’s rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, and tide pools offer plenty of space to see marine wildlife.

La Jolla is located on the Northwest side of San Diego and is a beautiful place to enjoy the wonders of the ocean. Whether you enjoy beachcombing, photography, or tide pooling, the La Jolla limestone cliffs are the best. Wildlife creatures at the tide pools include sea lions, crabs, sea anemones, mussels, barnacles, starfish, and more. There are several areas along the La Jolla Coast Boulevard shoreline that are abundant with tide pool life. Dike Rock is located north of Scripps Pier and the Birch Aquarium even hosts guided tide pool tours for guests.

La Jolla Cove is La Jolla’s classic all-encompassing beach spot with tide pools at the northern end of the Cove, wrapping around the point. Hospitals Reef is located south of Wipeout Beach and is a beautiful photography area. Shell Beach is an often less crowded area for tide pooling at the end of Ellen Browning Scripps Park. South Casa Beach is a triangle shaped cove just south of Children’s Pool Beach and is a favorite area for sea lions and seals, and tide pools are located down the stairs just south of the lifeguard tower. Windansea Beach is a surfer’s haven which is also home to some great tide pools located just below Neptune Place. False Point is one of La Jolla’s best tide pooling spots located at Sea Ridge Drive and Linda Way in La Jolla. The optimal time for tide pooling is from December to March.

Before you head out on your tide pooling adventure, be sure to bring a jacket, long pants, close-toed shoes with good grip, and a camera. Be sure to check the local tide charts and plan your trip around low tide to get the best sights from the tide pools, and always be watchful of the incoming tides. While visiting the tide pools, be respectful of the wildlife. Keep your distance and never touch, feed, or harass the creatures you find. It’s best to leave pets behind as wild animals can injure and spread disease to pets and pets. If you do bring pets, keep them on leashes away from areas frequented by wildlife. Take a trash bag with you, and be sure to take any garbage with you as it is a significant threat to marine wildlife. With basic etiquette and some planning, you can have an amazing experience at the La Jolla tide pools and help care for them so they can be enjoyed for decades to come!