Visiting the Tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument: A Ranger's Top 10 Tips

The rocky intertidal at Cabrillo National Monument is one of the park's most popular places at low tide. Rangers' top ten tips for a safe, rewarding visit:

1. Dress for it. Wear closed-toe shoes with good tread for grip on slippery rock, sunglasses and sunscreen.
2. Safety first — and second, and third. Know what you plan to do so you can prepare, and check the park's alerts on its website or in the NPS app for closures, hazards and other news.
3. Look, don't touch. Tidepool animals may seem tough, but they are very sensitive to disturbance.
4. No signal. There is no mobile phone service or Wi-Fi on the coast, so plan drop-offs and pick-ups in advance.
5. Be wave-wise. Never turn your back on the sea. Changing tides, uneven swells and the occasional sneaker wave make the coast unpredictable; keep an eye on the water.
6. Time the tide. The best season is December through March. Tides change daily, so check a tide calendar: a tide of 0.7 or lower should expose the pools, and the hour before and after the lowest point is a great time to explore.
7. Stay on the path. Keeping to trails keeps you safe, limits damage to fragile ecosystems and protects park resources.
8. Bring patience. At low tide this area is very busy. If the car parks fill, the road down to the tidepools closes temporarily to ease congestion; ask the ranger at the visitor centre about closures.
9. Know your limits. If scrambling down rocks or standing on uneven ground for a long time doesn't suit you, watch the tidepool film in the park auditorium or walk up to the lighthouse instead.
10. Keep it wild. From octopuses to sea urchins, the tidepools are home to remarkable wildlife. Don't disturb or touch it; take only photographs and leave no trace.

A park ranger in the rocky intertidal at low tide. NPS photo by C. Aurrecoechea.

Sources

• National Park Service, Cabrillo National Monument, "Plan Like a Park Ranger — Top 10 Tips Tidepool Edition!" https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/cabr-tidepools-top-10-tips.htm