La Jolla Tides Pools (Bird Rock)

"Bird Rock Tide Pools"

Located at the southern end of La Jolla, Bird Rock has a large intertidal area that is relatively accessible and a popular destination for tidepooling.  One of our favorite access points is at the end of Bird Rock Avenue, west of La Jolla Blvd. There is a staircase and at low tide it provides easy access to tide pools in front of historic ‘Bird Rock’. I would not recommend this activity for children younger than three since the rocks can be slippery. Tide Pooling provides a wonderful sense of adventure for the kids. They hunt, search and focus on finding the ocean’s tiniest creatures. From hermit crabs to urchins, the kids never tire of tide pooling.

Tide Pooling Tips:
-Visit a tide pool at low tide – check tide chart at Bird Rock Surf Shop.
-Show up about one hour ahead of or a bit later than low tide.
-Wear good, rubber-soled shoes; tide pools are slippery and covered with algae.
-Don’t remove animals that are attached to the rocks (sea anemones and barnacles).
-If you touch an animal, be extremely gentle and return animals to the tide   pool where you found them.
-Carefully turn rocks back over after you have examined them.

Just keep in mind there are no restroom facilities and no lifeguards at Bird Rock. Street parking is widely available and free.