Point Loma Tide Pools

I loved playing blackjack with the seagulls, & we found bottle rum. Good times in Saint Diego!

When the tides are low, this is a fun place to walk around and look at the tide pools

I used to come here as a kid. I was finally able to share the experience with my children. I don’t know who was more excited, them or me! They loved it.

Make a trip down to the tip of Point Loma to explore the tide pools! It’s best to go during low tide so you can see the little sea critters. Check the tide schedule before you go @
. Don’t wear flip flops since the rocks can be very slippery. Best to wear sneakers, but they will get wet. I slipped a few times. On that note, probably not great for young children or the elderly if you plan on searching for the secret cave. I didn’t get to the cave because it was closed off when I went.
Even if you don’t go down to the tide pools, the views of the waves and ocean are still gorgeous!
$ 10 per car for entry. We got there around 9:30 on a Friday and had no issue with parking.

Great quick excursion. Google for tide levels and try to go when they are low. 10am ish is low tide as of this review.
The «secret» beach is through a cave maybe 200 yards north of the steps that lead you down from the parking lot. At the moment the path is closed off because the cliffs have eroded and there’s a pretty narrow/​slippery choke point that is risky to cross.
Additionally sea lions periodically live in there and upsetting a whole gang of them is not advised. Maybe there is a different approach from the north side of the parking lot to avoid these troubles?

Intended to come and explore the tidepools but I didn’t think to check the tide report prior so when we arrived around 930am it was high tide. However we probably wouldn’t have been able to make the trek down with my toddler anyway. My kids still had fun hiking along the coast and rock formations. I recommend wearing sneakers or water shoes. Something with a grip as the terrain is very rocky and uneven at times. Flip flops would not be good. The parking lot for the tidepools is relatively small. This place is not huge so an hour or two here max is more than enough time. Bathrooms right near the parking lot are very convenient.

Favorite place in San Diego to have an adventure. Definitely wear tennis shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. There were times I had to walk knee deep water to cross each cliff. (That’s if you’re feeling really adventurous) otherwise there are spots you can just hang around without getting wet.
$ 10 entry fee and go during low tide! Parking is horrible.
The reason why I love this spot is the water is so blue in this area. You are high enough that you can see the ocean above and on the other side you can see downtown San Diego.
You get to see small sea critters like crabs, urchins and more. You may see some sea lions.
The hidden beach or cave is amazing. It’s definitely hidden because you have to sneak inside a hole in order to find it.

Love love love this place! We have been here 3 times already in less than a year. We live in North County it takes us about an hour to get here, so worth it!!! The waves, seals, birds… Love everything! If you had a bad day, come here and it is a great place to mediate!

Overcrowded, and accessibility is difficult for some. An elderly woman hurt herself in a fall here when we last visited. Views are nice and hidden beach is pretty cool if you can get to it in time. We got caught in incoming tide on the way back, and there is nowhere to go with the cliff face behind you, it gets surprisingly dangerous. You can get stuck among the cliffs with no choice but to get wet. And the type of rock here gets very slippery and is always wet. If you have small kids keep them close and be careful. I know this seems like common sense stuff, but this place has more hazards to watch out for than I’m used to at other tide pools.

Absolutely beautiful place to visit. I love everything about this place, the scenery, the sounds and the sea life. Nice little trails along the coastline and many places to sit to take in the gorgeous panoramic views of the ocean. The only thing I say that is disheartening is how I saw little respect for the sea life here, for example, I saw one little girl just poking at a sea anemone with a pointy shovel as if it was something to be played with. I was like, «Oh don’t do that», and she smugly responds with, «they don’t do anything, they just shrivel up.» Well hello, of course they will if you poke them with some pointy object! I’m sure it hurts to get poked by a pointy metal shovel! We went on a Saturday and it definitely is a tourist attraction. Being a local I would more likely go on a weekday and avoid the crowds. The loud crowds just takes away the serene atmosphere.

The place is great. It’s educational, it’s fun, and it’s great for kids. Just make sure to come early when the tides are low and to hold your little ones hand cause it can get slippery.

I’ve come here so many times and every time is just as amazing as the first. The scenery is gorgeous. High tide or low tide you’ll see some beautiful views. Going during low tide is great if you want to look at the mussels, anemones, and small crabs. Wear tennis shoes because the rocks are slippery between the water and the algae covered rocks. If you feel like climbing up and down the rocks, make sure you wear something you don’t mind getting a little dirty.

We stopped here after visiting the lighthouse. It was extremely beautiful and the ride down the cliffs was even fun in the car. Don’t be shy about heading to the next parking lot, the six people in front of us were determined to wait but we drove on and found a spot very easily. I would also recommend tennis shoes you don’t mind getting wet over flip flops. The walk was a little long for flip flops. Lesson learned! We climbed down and explored the area, but didn’t stay a long time as tide was starting to come in. The sights were beautiful, the sun and breeze felt amazing and invigorating. We’ll definitely be back!

Well — I think this is really Cabrillo State Park — so see the review for Cabrillo State Park. The directions brought us to the military base gate. We went through the park gate — turned to the tide pools and parked at the second lot.

Very interesting place to visit. We were told the tide pools were not visible and almost didn’t go see them. Luckily the ranger told us it was still worth a look. He was right!
I can’t wait to come back when the tide pools are actually visable.

It’s beautiful! I go with my BFF, my doggy. :-)
Last time I fell because it’s quite slippery down by the pools, so be cautious!

The Point Loma Tide Pools are the best reason to visit Cabrillo National Monument in my opinion. My husband and I try to visit every time we are in the San Diego area. It is a wonderful spot for ocean lovers to pack a lunch and go exploring.
For the best tidepool viewing, here are some tips:
1. Be there during low tide, if park hours permit. This is when the most sealife will be visible. There are areas that are not accessible if it is not low tide. You can check tide times on this website:
2. Dress appropriately. This should be considered a «no flip-​flop» zone. Reaching the best tide pools requires some maneuvering, shoes with decent grip are a wise choice. Clothing you do not mind getting wet is also a wise choice.
3. Arrive early for the best parking. The monument opens at 9 am, and the parking lot closest to the tide pools fills up fast. Sometimes low tide will not coincide well with the park hours, which is why we typically plan on spending a few hours at Cabrillo and bring along some snacks or lunch.
For those with an adventurous spirit, try to find the «secret beach».
My full review of Cabrillo National Monument can be seen here:

This is a very beautiful place to visit if you are in San Diego vacationing. You should especially come here if you have an appreciation of the ocean. Unlike going to the beach, the tide pools bring you close to the land and the water meeting in a much different way, and you can see the sea life that lives here.
I have terrible balance and I am often scared to climb down rocks, but being that I was here, I was determined and made my way down. It is not hard, as I had some young children running around me barefooted, and they did not have the fear I had inside me of slipping on the rocks, ah, the youths.
I did see some barnacles, and a starfish. I also happened to catch some small sharks swimming near the rocks.
The only downside to this place is there are a lot of people. When my friend and I were here the parking lot was quite packed. However, it is still worth the trip.

There are moments in life that make you feel like you’re in a movie. The magnificence of this place has that affect. The waves, rocks, animal life — all of the elements and landscape — make you reevaluate what it means to be ALIVE. That’s it… I felt alive!
If I didn’t live half the country away, I would visit more often. Please plan accordingly. If you’re like me and like to hike, set aside a few hours, wear comfortable shoes and clothing, and go EXPLORE!

I frikking love this place. I hate the people, but I love this place.
Before you go here, research the time for low tide so you can actually see something worth seeing. Just go on the NOAA Web site it takes a second. Next, try to go during the week. It can be very frustrating when large groups of people and families are here because the kids run and grab/​stomp/​trounce all the animals before you can even see them. Just … no respect for anything.
Now, otherwise, the Tide Pools are spectacular. there are few better places to unwind, read a book, have a picnic, etc. than on these secluded cliffs. Wear some good hiking shoes so you can climb out somewhere untouchable.
For me, I love to park it here and take pictures of the pelicans and cormorants because they congregate on a cliff of the trail. Feeding time is amazing. I posted a few pictures. If you’ve never watched pelicans feed (in the Pacific) then you are seriously missing out.