Where is there a good tidepooling beach near Berkeley, California?

February 13, 2007 11:09 PM

Where is there a good tidepooling beach near Berkeley, California?

Trying to find a beach good for tidepooling and looking at interesting things (interesting people optional) in or near Berkeley. I like Bolinas, but prefer not to make that twisty drive whenever I feel like rolling up my pants and wading to look at interesting inverts and hermit crabs.

Any advice?

posted by stewiethegreat to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (6 answers total)

Tidepools in Berkeley? Moooo!
You'll need to cross the bridge and head to the ocean (not the Bay) to find good tidepools. Whether you head north up HWY 1 to the Marin/Sonoma coast or south down HWY 1 along the San Mateo County coast, it'll be twisty...and beautiful and fun.
posted by artdrectr at 12:43 AM on February 14, 2007

Notably, Moss Beach off Route 1 has an expansive tidepool area.
posted by mikepop at 6:03 AM on February 14, 2007

The Moss Beach tide pools are here. Note the parking lot, it's across the street from the path down the hill.
posted by doctor_negative at 8:21 AM on February 14, 2007

A smaller beach (and further away than Moss Beach though) is south of Pescadero State Park / Beach. There is a little beach called "Pebble Beach" with volcanic formations on the coast that create a lot of tidepool stuff (and a "pebbly" beach). There are also lots of rock outcroppings where seals and birds hang out. (NB: It's really called Pebble Beach, but it sure isn't that one with a golf course way the hell down the coast). I think this might be it although it's hard for me to tell in a satellite picture. It's quite small, but obviously not as well visited as others.
posted by R343L at 10:45 AM on February 14, 2007

Best answer: Dunno if you call Dillon Beach (extreme north end of Marin County) near Berkeley, but I do know it is great for tidepooling, especially if you like sea stars, urchins and the occasional trapped fish.
posted by Lynsey at 12:05 PM on February 14, 2007

Best answer: I mean, there is the whole Berkeley marina, the Berkeley-Emeryville walkway, and the Emeryville spit & marina. It all has interesting things to look at. The south side of the Emeryville spit has rocks where long-legged birds hang out and further down, at the Emeryville marina, I saw a crazy bird (a kingfisher) diving for fish from the masts of boats. Or if you head north from Berkeley on those bike trails, you can check out the Albany beach & Albany bulb, or keep going up toward the Richmond marina, where there are nice wetlands. None of this is tidepooling, but you can check it out via a 10-minute detour during your errands or on a 45-minute bike ride, rather than a full day's activity, and it keeps you connected to the tides and birds.
posted by salvia at 10:21 PM on February 14, 2007