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”
",us,37.7893246,-122.4898912,China beach,us_pacific_coast,china-beach,America/Los_Angeles,https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/china-beach,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.
,"Sea Cliff Ave., San Francisco, Ca",,Unknown,Ed Schipul,"[{""filename"": ""2020-08-30 17.16.27.jpg"", ""height"": 481, ""id"": ""att2KorehRBfzeESL"", ""size"": 304819, ""thumbnails"": {""full"": {""height"": 3000, ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/97PmIQyHcQK1znLfGosGWA/pagyrcVrav5B1vbJSiORGsjmzXfLjvnUY8EvdXR9f7qtWl2aPBttfOr5ip_MgEcpyHZz90VQlmJOaWLwTjCShw/EI0eyxqm6e74yU9S_b_aPOUP-5wWgoxY-xWijukTqRo"", ""width"": 3000}, ""large"": {""height"": 481, ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/fOAuoJODnpxSfAP9k0QaTw/LorOrelG7wz0av17vaZE3-IuVISNA5PVfIhplMTMvNdYvZcH1XSVjGVeUawLQcbmxd6s5XoLLbQYZws-jNYCdw/baotbeaLdbh2_UjxlfNyXoC9SZY074oMjoLWbrHt7xc"", ""width"": 855}, ""small"": {""height"": 36, ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/owXYutAz9I2b0_8B-R3Dqg/tcoBpy9JH1za3xMnQg6QgBaOKPl4w2TJn-dp2oO9z2rgwgUQPjsMwm5VyqZBZ8C57mPgOzZ37gGCYLomYPA1rg/nm2pRXGrS4v0Jt3xPtgE8EfmqppI7maiBP-Myd64vyM"", ""width"": 64}}, ""type"": ""image/jpeg"", ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/LsOa0LyDehJDyKXM0kNiEQ/CfoslpDeeAIK0V4X1ehUjJfS_yMyzF9581ZncCI2w8wSK0fEtwGmbMkWZmDD8bqxYQrcwj--TKbkxL0XReqPJejH4j7Dvfn2PqZFdtIsbYw/ilGejEWtajw7fw6eMqqVxJB50Av0NQmJufvx3-vJS6Q"", ""width"": 855}]",Parking can be tricky so arrive early in the day for the best chance of grabbing a spot in the small parking lot.,,"[""National park""]",Yes,,No,Free,,37.7873692,-122.4905996,No,No,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
,"
No fires or glass containers are allowed.
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
","
There are no restrictions on visiting with groups, but be aware access to picnic areas and grills are first-come first-served and no reservations are allowed. If you want to host a wedding, meeting, commercial photography or organised group activities you will likely need a permit.
","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.
",1,,No pets allowed.,0.5,,9414290,Descend the stairs and take a low tide walk from the tiny cove of China beach through to Bakers beach.,1.0,2,"https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Beach,_San_Francisco",James D. Phelan State Beach Park,"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.
",https://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/5987162386/,1,, 2017-11-26T01:40:01.000Z,recCsWfQfsPqjpShK,Half moon bay,"Great selection of tide-pools with an excellent visitors center. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is a 3-mile stretch of protected beach, tide pools, marshes and bluffs.
The volunteer docents are super knowledgeable and on weekends and holidays you’ll find them on hand about the reef to answer any questions and point out the really cool critters that live in the tidepools!
Adjacent to and possibly within the reserve is an endangered species of butterfly, the San Bruno elfin butterfly.
From the Fitzgerald website: at the sheltered sandy cove at the south end of the Reserve, take the trail to the bluff tops to return to the parking lot. Walk through the tangled garden of an old estate and through a century-old forest of wind-sculpted Monterey cypress trees. In the spring, California gray whales migrate north offshore. In the summer and fall, brown pelicans skim wave tops.
",us,37.510556,-122.509722,James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve ,us_pacific_coast,fitzgerald-marine-reserve,America/Los_Angeles,http://fitzgeraldreserve.org/,,"200 Nevada Ave. Moss Beach, Ca",
Bathrooms are at the ranger station near the parking lot
,Yes,Anlace,"[{""filename"": ""2020-08-28 21.59.14.jpg"", ""height"": 960, ""id"": ""attrjkoiKpEvxvSzg"", ""size"": 781759, ""thumbnails"": {""full"": {""height"": 3000, ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/btCUBw4SjPVgnEqnp1HwYw/gsBh-UfqmDn6Vg6ST9YoCJFVsBbCmKPplMOd_neyeQx3Fufiwmip29rxRbnblIxB4OXFu4HbNWWcleCMASoc6Q/aUnj6PN4dA_7DiYmriYazpwpAW9MxEzMmf8VAnbBAiI"", ""width"": 3000}, ""large"": {""height"": 512, ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/7t8GmkEBrtcWxpDZzGwTqQ/KanPLmnLz1KDXqX9Ad5lCyg_8JlBZRFurHsxq7qYic0CBq9_PsEpKRES3Su97W4_g1MR_1SfAm95E_l9NSHF4w/Q1PQ4Ku5LHl4TGGLHfZdsMmfGj6atzTnyBMAge5YgYE"", ""width"": 683}, ""small"": {""height"": 36, ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/hAK1JF1NqQwORQ04nGkSUw/V6MsHnqqRzyoY4gUzPyfIZGeiqnG3VubWbtn_NWsemYH6-LpwvB2b3PDm8TLCSOZ5GBbImqSUAVPsmTL_HYXcw/MWWeJilI4GC-LF-DskgZsdMYwLuuEXBjs9llfqSgMGs"", ""width"": 48}}, ""type"": ""image/jpeg"", ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/SW5Eh9imew-P5Cho1a339g/mVqtp93MPSTF7GpnqDXdc9cg63RvJNBX5bJKfWD7dBKJF0RLIQy0QLxwngGm5C9RQOf1slwf4jTKyBylPTG06413_vmuUBG4xGUPye-t6_M/ZronWBu_E521gAVMsMOc-VaQ6hcAptGS3B9iDpiUwIw"", ""width"": 1280}]","From Highway 1 at Moss Beach, turn west on California Avenue and proceed to the parking lot at the end of the street. The reserve’s main entrance is at the end of California Avenue.
Allow 45 minutes to reach the reserve from the intersection of Highways 280 and 92. (Buses with students can use either Highway 1 or Highway 92).
Buses will be directed where to park upon arrival.
Parking is extremely limited. If your group is traveling by car, carpooling is required.
",,"[""San Mateo County Parks""]",Yes,(650) 728-3584,Yes,Free,"Opens at 8am. Closing time varies seasonally, check the reserve website for specific openings.",,,Yes,No,There are lots of restaurants in the nearby town of Granada or in Half Moon Bay. The historic cliff-top restaurant Moss Beach Distillery is just South of the reserve and has been operating since 1927.
,"Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is in a no-take Marine Protected Area. You are not allowed to collect any sort of organisms, shells, rocks, driftwood, etc. Please do not bring buckets to the reef.
Don’t turn over rocks or put any animals in containers, don’t feed animals or pick them up.
Do not disturb the Harbor seals, Stay a safe 50ft distance away from them. If there are orange cones present on the beach or reef, stay on the side of the cones farthest away from the seals.
USE SPECIAL CAUTION during the March-to-June harbour seal pupping season, because if a mother seal is scared away from her baby, she is very likely to abandon the pup, which will die. If you see a pup that looks abandoned, STAY AWAY and call the reserve staff. They will monitor the pup and contact the Marine Mammal Center for a rescue if necessary.
","If you’re bringing a group of 15 or more, you must reserve a time and date for a docent-led tour. Consult their website for tour dates and reservations.
","The beach and reef are not accessible to walkers and wheelchairs. However, a paved trail through part of the reserve is accessible.
Don’t run on beach or reef as you could easily slip. There are often landslides so please stay away from the bottom of the fragile cliffs, don’t dig at the cliffs.
Always watch the ocean and be aware of the rising tide. Stay with your group and your volunteer naturalist guide.
The creek is polluted. Please cross the creek, but do not play in it.
",1,1,"No dogs at all, do not bring dogs with you.",0.5,http://www.fitzgeraldreserve.org/newffmrsite/good-tidepooler-rules-of-conduct/,9414131,Magnificent reef to visit for first-time tidepoolers and experienced naturalists alike.,1.0,2,https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitzgerald_Marine_Reserve,,,,,, 2020-08-31T04:23:35.000Z,rec9KANo9J4mnl6in,Anacapa Island,"This site is a solid rocky bench located on the south side of West Anacapa Island, within the Channel Islands National Park. Human disturbances include trampling from light visitor use. Travel to and from Anacapa Island offers the opportunity for marine mammal sightings aboard the Island Packers boats.",us,34.0064594,-119.4113714,Frenchy’s Cove,us_pacific_coast,frenchys-cove,America/Los_Angeles,,"Frenchy’s Cove is located on West Anacapa Island. Boat transportation to this site from Ventura Harbor is provided through Island Packers. To make reservations call (805) 642-1393. The site is accessed by a five-minute hike from one side of the island to the other, past a site monitored by the Channel Islands National Park. Boat transportation to Frenchy’s Cove, Anacapa Island, is provided through Island Packers. From the beach, take the five-minute hike from the north side of the island through the gap to the south side. There is a trail located at Frenchy’s Cove. Head west across the sandy beach to the second rocky bench. ","West Anacapa Island, CA",There are no restrooms at Frenchy’s Cove. Use restrooms on the boat before going ashore.,No,,,,,"[""National park""]",,,No,,,34.2441623,-119.2651822,No,No,"There is no food available on the island, you’ll need to bring food with you.","Collecting is not permitted in the National Park.No permit is required for monitoring, but it is important that groups do not disturb the National Park monitoring site.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 2020-09-01T17:34:17.000Z,recbzrTCPYnWVhpAd,Santa Cruz,"This is a really pretty beach with shallow pools on algae covered rock benches.
The large Shark fin shaped rock used to be part of the mudstone cliff and got its shape from erosion by the wind and waves
There are also a small cave on the south east of the beach to explore.
",us,37.003824,-122.1855372,Shark Fin Cove,us_pacific_coast,shark-fin-cove,America/Los_Angeles,,From the parking lot walk south (left if you face the ocean) down a wide path over railroad tracks to a rather scrambley steep poison-oak lined path that takes you to the beach. You’ll be able to see the shark fin rock from the path. There are three rocky outcrops on the left hand side that have some small tidepools and kelp.
,,,No,Natalie Downe,"[{""filename"": ""2020-09-01 11.23.24.jpg"", ""height"": 2508, ""id"": ""attZW4523qQbUtDKy"", ""size"": 7264655, ""thumbnails"": {""full"": {""height"": 3000, ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/TcDaf6XDlQIEhpBjWd_ERQ/FtCj7WOkHFP_Sek_eHiQ--wGqOFVlL_aCD-W78UVbqYsvf9kHyV1R0U3UsYafpzX-Vpxwg7oEg_MzT0wDUnhaw/ekx-ZyEWTTxjqfy0du5xCtVu2LlS41-UzyYNJXCVZZ8"", ""width"": 3000}, ""large"": {""height"": 512, ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/i3b2pFKdYOQUO-ugafbhSQ/6y9co7PVNJl3boT8jgEKE8llBp4HEUmg4dwmJVcs1_sGfXnomRJfnp0EgnQUKDfOQSH-uuQbhH-AissmQy3EgQ/AETIJK04MF6F55_rku2k37mQ3V_2sorNfmneja6zBo0"", ""width"": 747}, ""small"": {""height"": 36, ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/f2D29e1wz2wb2SA6ew1g6w/yw-_hfSL9c0lwYcslkZLKvyYvX_N8sq9l_x8Nsbffn0Q6gsnpstcxGEQbB2cX1z_ZoVKcgZsWNxfVVW-XygwnQ/MscbxvRDftFKCsbgBQS62RrHuLUej6S1KBn8fcIiXJU"", ""width"": 53}}, ""type"": ""image/jpeg"", ""url"": ""https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/13/13/1672632000000/sjnVyHIAA-BUq7sv3WtDnQ/1XFHNfLtWZG3MxcUVo9kH27CO2kOz_rC9GVmzOD_CMCniOjtpujGW1w5AtbfgGC5wuIrgoCB-tFWbZNZTiJ2l5EuqhXg9q_h--ZM_NyKGf8/HrEyVnlulh-aW71vmlqBxNHHfhScIflrRDXS3LPGA9c"", ""width"": 3660}]",Parking is available in a small dirt lot on the ocean side of highway 1
,,"[""California State Park""]",Yes,,No,Free,Sunrise to sunset,37.005745,-122.1856066,No,No,There are some restaurants north in Davenport
,This beach forms part of Coast Dairies State Park. No collecting unless you have permission from the state park,Groups are allowed,"The path to the beach is quite steep, if you have difficulty walking you will appreciate the use of a stick to get down. Be careful of the prolific poison oak that lines this trail. Once you are on the beach the rocky outcrops are flat but slippery.
If you go exploring in the caves be careful of the tide because the sea stacks create dangerous currents and you could be swept away.
",1,1,There is a lovely sandy beach here, great for a picnic! No fires allowed.
",http://blog.natbat.net/,1,,