Fitzgerald Marine Ranger Station & Parking — Attraction in Pacifica

An awe-inspiring place to look at sea animals in the tide pools. The rangers there as so helpful and informative.

The parking lot gets full quickly, we waited for 10 minutes or so and found a spot.

Walk through the majestic cypress tunnel of tress, or take the bluff trail amidst the cypress forest and enjoy the beach views form the top. On the right side of the Parking lot, the path leads to seals resting area and it is closed off now. On the left side, take the bridge that is 100 yards away from the Parking lot towards the restroom side and go on the Dardenelle trail and take a right at the end to find the set of stairs that lead down to tide pools. These tide pools are accessible in low tides. Check tide charts before you go. There are plenty of mussels, sea stars, sea anemones, urchins, hermit crabs, sea slugs and other animals. Be gentle and mind your step. Don't touch any animal, take care with your children too. No dogs allowed in the tide pool area. Area is open...

*PER THE SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS DIRECTOR TONIGHT (2-10-2021) , VIA ZOOM, THE BEACH AND TIDE POOLS SHALL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL SUMMER BECAUSE THEY ARE SHORT-STAFFED AT THE MOMENT, DUE TO RETIREMENTS AND A HIRING FREEZE BY THE COUNTY. * While I give this place 10 stars, save your trip until the beach opens unless you live close-by. Our TRAFFIC has become a true Nightmare during Covid. I can not blame people for having "Cabin Fever" and wanting to get out, but what the Chamber of Commerce WON'T tell you is that the trip to and from where ever you are will be HORRENDOUS. Save this until it fully re-opens, so you can fully enjoy it as...

Disappointing trip. Drove many hours to get there only to find beach was closed for seal breeding. We spent 4-5 hours at look out point above beach & never saw any seals on beach or in water. Ranger guy had huge ego when telling us about closure. Closure wasn't even posted on website because I looked at it just before we left first thing in the morning. Also access to beach looked like it really needed so serious mantence to safely allow people to get to beach. Maybe Ranger guy should make himself more useful...