Tucked between Lands End and Baker Beach, down a paved drive or stairway from the parking lot, China Beach in San Francisco is a national park site. Well loved for its beach access, tide pools and picnic area it has spectacular views of the Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge. At low tide take a walk north to Baker beach to see anemones and sea stars clinging to the rocks.
The area used to be a campsite for the Chinese fishermen, during and after the 1849 gold rush. You can see a monument to these early residents at the trailhead near the parking area at the end of Sea Cliff Avenue. The monument reads “Their efforts to supply the needs of a young city helped establish one of the area's most important industries and traditions”
Good times to visit in the next 30 days
To get the most out of tidepooling, you'll want to go when the tide
is low so that the rocks of the beaches are visible and as the ocean
tide gets lower it leaves behind little pools of water in which you can
see lots of fun critters!
Try to arrive before the lowest tide time, so that you can have some
fun on the tidepools before the tide rises again. Below are the four
best low tides for Descend the stairs and take a low tide walk from the tiny cove of China beach through to Bakers beach. in the next 30 days during
daylight hours.
Sunday 26th May 2024
at 8:12am for a low tide of -1.16ft.
sunrise is 5:52am and sunset is 8:21pm
Thursday 6th June 2024
at 6:06am for a low tide of -1.48ft.
sunrise is 5:48am and sunset is 8:28pm
Friday 7th June 2024
at 6:48am for a low tide of -1.47ft.
sunrise is 5:48am and sunset is 8:29pm
Saturday 8th June 2024
at 7:36am for a low tide of -1.31ft.
sunrise is 5:47am and sunset is 8:30pm
If you don't see anything, sit very still, wait and watch!
How to get there
Parking
Parking can be tricky so arrive early in the day for the best chance of grabbing a spot in the small parking lot.
Directions to tidepools
Access to the beach is via a paved drive or stairway down from the parking lot to water level. There are some tidepools to the south or you can take a low tide walk north (right) to Baker beach.
As a general rule it is always a good idea to get to the tidepool site
before the lowest tide so that you can have a good time looking at critters
before the tide starts to come in.
Low tides in the next 30 days
Thursday 16th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.56ft at 1:18pm
lowest tide is0.56ft
1:30am2.46ft1:18pm0.56ft
Friday 17th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.89ft at 2:00pm
lowest tide is0.89ft
2:24am1.92ft2:00pm0.89ft
Saturday 18th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.25ft at 2:42pm
lowest tide is1.25ft
3:12am1.35ft2:42pm1.25ft
Sunday 19th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.64ft at 3:18pm
lowest tide is1.64ft
3:54am0.81ft3:18pm1.64ft
Monday 20th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.03ft at 3:54pm
lowest tide is2.03ft
4:30am0.32ft3:54pm2.03ft
Tuesday 21st May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.41ft at 4:24pm
lowest tide is2.41ft
5:00am-0.12ft4:24pm2.41ft
Wednesday 22nd May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.73ft at 5:00pm
lowest tide is2.73ft
5:36am-0.48ft5:00pm2.73ft
Thursday 23rd May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.77ft at 6:12am
lowest tide is-0.77ft
6:12am-0.77ft5:36pm3.00ft
Friday 24th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.99ft at 6:48am
lowest tide is-0.99ft
6:48am-0.99ft6:18pm3.20ft
Saturday 25th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.12ft at 7:30am
lowest tide is-1.12ft
7:30am-1.12ft7:00pm3.33ft
Sunday 26th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.16ft at 8:12am
lowest tide is-1.16ft
8:12am-1.16ft7:48pm3.39ft
Monday 27th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.09ft at 9:00am
lowest tide is-1.09ft
9:00am-1.09ft8:48pm3.38ft
Tuesday 28th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.92ft at 9:54am
lowest tide is-0.92ft
9:54am-0.92ft10:06pm3.22ft
Wednesday 29th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.64ft at 10:48am
lowest tide is-0.64ft
10:48am-0.64ft11:30pm2.83ft
Thursday 30th May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.26ft at 11:42am
lowest tide is-0.26ft
11:42am-0.26ft
Friday 31st May 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.21ft at 12:36pm
lowest tide is0.21ft
12:48am2.18ft12:36pm0.21ft
Saturday 1st June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.75ft at 1:30pm
lowest tide is0.75ft
1:54am1.36ft1:30pm0.75ft
Sunday 2nd June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.32ft at 2:18pm
lowest tide is1.32ft
2:54am0.50ft2:18pm1.32ft
Monday 3rd June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.87ft at 3:06pm
lowest tide is1.87ft
3:48am-0.28ft3:06pm1.87ft
Tuesday 4th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.35ft at 3:54pm
lowest tide is2.35ft
4:36am-0.90ft3:54pm2.35ft
Wednesday 5th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.74ft at 4:48pm
lowest tide is2.74ft
5:18am-1.29ft4:48pm2.74ft
Thursday 6th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.48ft at 6:06am
lowest tide is-1.48ft
6:06am-1.48ft5:36pm3.01ft
Friday 7th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.47ft at 6:48am
lowest tide is-1.47ft
6:48am-1.47ft6:30pm3.17ft
Saturday 8th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.31ft at 7:36am
lowest tide is-1.31ft
7:36am-1.31ft7:24pm3.25ft
Sunday 9th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.06ft at 8:18am
lowest tide is-1.06ft
8:18am-1.06ft8:18pm3.26ft
Monday 10th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.73ft at 9:06am
lowest tide is-0.73ft
9:06am-0.73ft9:18pm3.21ft
Tuesday 11th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.35ft at 9:48am
lowest tide is-0.35ft
9:48am-0.35ft10:30pm3.05ft
Wednesday 12th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.08ft at 10:36am
lowest tide is0.08ft
10:36am0.08ft11:36pm2.76ft
Thursday 13th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.55ft at 11:18am
lowest tide is0.55ft
11:18am0.55ft
Friday 14th June 2024
The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.05ft at 12:06pm
As this is a National Park, there is no collecting of any sort allowed here and you are also not allowed to fly a drone or unmanned vehicle without a special use permit
Accessibility and Safety
There are no lifeguards are on duty And there are really unpredictable surf conditions so swimming is not recommended.
There is a paved path to the beach from the car park but the tidepools themselves may not be wheelchair accessible.
Pet Policy
No pets allowed.
Food options
This site is nestled between lands end and the Presidio so there are some excellent cheap lunch spots on Clement or Geary street just a few blocks south
Picnics
Picnic tables are on a first-come first-served above beach level, there’s a sheltered sandy cove for picnics too.
To sunbathe out of the wind, there is a small deck on top of the lifeguard equipment pick-up station.
There’s no fires allowed on the beach but there are prepared grills and available if you get there early, no reservations are possible.
Restrooms and cold water showers may be open sunrise to sunset but the official website has listed that the bathhouse is not open to the public. Work is undergoing from by the National Park Service to improve facilities.