Explore the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
1 Miles
Chillin, Photography, Hiking
Beginner
Year Round
Out-and-Back
A spectacular oasis of tidal life tucked away next in a quiet residential neighborhood less than 30 minutes away from San Francisco.
Located beside a residential neighborhood, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve offers a rare glimpse of life in the northern California intertidal zones. There are parking spaces and restrooms available, as well as ranger-led guided tours.
Be sure to check the tide charts and go during low tide (preferably 1 foot or less). During elephant seal mating season, much of the beach is blocked off to protect the marine mammals. Plan ahead to ensure the best experience!
Advanced reservations are required for all groups of 10 persons or more to visit the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Doing so limits the number of persons on the reef at any one time, reduces impact on marine life, and helps us protect and preserve the marine resources for future generations. Head to the park's website or call 1-650-363-4021 for more information.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
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Reviews
Overall rating:
Five (Sea) Stars - awesome!
Go at super low tide and find: sea stars, abalone, chitons, hermit crabs, maybe an octopus. The beach is also a protected area for harbor seals.
Great place to explore/hang for several hours
Really enjoyed exploring the tidal pools. Look carefully and you’ll see thousands of crabs of all shapes and sizes, heron and other birds hunting for fish, and who knows what else. I’d recommend going down the staircase nearest the Cypress Ave entrance, and going left towards those tidal pools, which are far leas crowded and just as interesting as the ones pinpointed on the map here. I was glad I brought my hammock (above the beach amongst the cypress trees) and a pair of binoculars, and that I was wearing a pair of old sneakers when walking on the rocks.
This was a lot of fun. There were tons of seals and the JDs really enjoyed exploring the tide pools. Be sure to wear proper foot wear as the rocks are quite slippery.
