

Rocks can do great damage when they land in the water, and continue to do damage as they are tossed by wave action. Nothing, especially rocks, should be thrown in any area of the park. Organisms living under the rocks have adapted to a certain environment, and rock-turning can harm them. Rocks should not be moved and should be left in their original location and orientation. Many animals, such as limpets, chitons, barnacles, mussels, seastars, and urchins are attached directly to rocks (permanently or temporarily) and using force to remove them would be harmful to them.Īnimals that are actively swimming, moving away from people, hiding under rocks, or that resist being handled, should not be pursued or picked up. No organism attached to a surface should be removed by force, however slight. For example, anemones should not be poked and sea hares should not be squeezed. A general guideline is to only touch animals as gently as you would touch your own eyeball. Many tidepool animals can be safely touched as long as it is done with great care and respect. Similarly, approaching or engaging with any marine mammal is prohibited by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. To protect tidepool inhabitants, the following guidelines have been prepared:Ĭollection of any natural item, including living and dead organisms, shells or rocks, is strictly prohibited in any areas within or under the administration of Cabrillo National Monument. To ensure that current and future visitors experience and enjoy the healthy and diverse tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument, guidelines are needed to minimize the human impacts on organisms. The low tide viewing window is an hour or more before and after the low tide time. They are all predictions so you can consider the times shown in the charts and tables as accurate for Cabrillo. They should all be used as guidelines.Īlthough these charts are for the Scripps Pier in La Jolla, there is only a slight difference for the times at Cabrillo. Tide predictions are based on the charts you are using. Please note that the following chart are predictions for the Scripps Pier in La Jolla.

Please keep in mind that the tidepool area closes at 4:30 p.m. A general rule of thumb is that the tidepools can be visited approximately two hours before low tide time (when the tide is receding) and two hours after (when the tide is coming back in). Late fall and winter are the optimum times for a visit to the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument: unlike the summer months, when low tides occur in the middle of the night, the good low tides - including the outstanding negative low tides - in fall and winter occur during daylight hours when the park is open. When is the Best Time to Visit the Tidepools? If your group numbers less than ten, no permit is required. In order to protect this distinct and delicate ecosystem, Tidepool Permits are required for groups of ten or more to visit the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument during low tides of 0.7' and lower. Please keep small children close - a child's enthusiasm and excitement over being in this natural wonderland can quickly translate into a slip or tumble. Sandals or flip flops are strongly discouraged due to their inability to provide a good grip on the slippery rocks.

Shoes with good gripping soles are best, as rocky areas become slippery with water and algae. Please plan for appropriate clothing and footwear.
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The road is narrow without shoulders and drivers may not see you.

We discourage visitors from walking down Cabrillo Road for safety reasons. Please plan your trips to allow for this delay, and thank you for your patience.Ī vehicle is the best way to get to the lower area of the park where the tidepools are located once parked, it's a short walk and scramble down into the tidepools. This temporary closure of the road allows for traffic to flow freely and allows a more pleasant experience for the visitor by reducing the number of people and reducing the damage to the fragile ecosystem. The road to the tidepool area will be closed (usually around 30 minutes) until sufficient capacity in the parking areas becomes available. The road to the tidepools may be closed if the area hits capacity in order to maintain conditions appropriate for social distancing. Otherwise you will not be able to reach anyone, and you may have to hike up the road to the top of the park.
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If you use a driver for hire for transportation, make arrangements to pick you up at a certain time and location. Please be aware that cell phone service is not available at the tidepools.
