Rocky Beaches

Redondo beach

Quiet Tidepooling spot with lots of little pools on a rocky ledge with some stretching out further

Beautiful sandstone erosion creates gullies in the cliff face. The tidepool area is quite high and accessible even when the tide isn’t all that low. This makes it a great place for summer Tidepooling.

Often one of the less popular beaches in half moon bay, it offers stunning cliff views and exciting wildlife in the tidepools.

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 Quiet Tidepooling spot with lots of little pools on a rocky ledge with some stretching out further in the next 30 days during daylight hours.

Thursday 9th May 2024 at 6:30am for a low tide of -1.66ft. sunrise is 6:05am and sunset is 8:06pm

Friday 10th May 2024 at 7:18am for a low tide of -1.50ft. sunrise is 6:04am and sunset is 8:07pm

Saturday 11th May 2024 at 8:12am for a low tide of -1.18ft. sunrise is 6:03am and sunset is 8:08pm

Saturday 25th May 2024 at 6:54am for a low tide of -1.12ft. sunrise is 5:53am and sunset is 8:19pm

See more good times to visit

Low tides today

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.38ft at 9:36am

9:36am -0.38ft 8:36pm 3.29ft

What you could see

Tidepooling tips

Stay safe

  • Never turn your back on the ocean.
  • Wear water shoes and watch your step.
  • Pack water and sunscreen.

Respect the reef

  • Don't take anything from the reef, leave it for others to enjoy.
  • Leave the reef as you found it, careful where you step and try not to break the reef or step on living things'
  • Take all your litter back home with you.

Have fun!

  • Take lots of photos, upload to iNaturalist for help identifying.
  • If you don't see anything, sit very still, wait and watch!

How to get there

Parking

There is a larger paid parking spot at the Poplar State beach parking on Poplar st but if you are lucky you will be able to get a spot in the small, free, unpaved (and rather bumpy) parking at the end of Redondo Beach Road. Careful how you drive if your car has a low chassis. People park on the side of the road leading up to the carpark also.

Directions to tidepools

The smoothest way down to the tidepools is to walk along the scenic bluff trail to Poplar beach (or park there) and take the steps down. It’s a bit of a scrabble but it’s also possible to get closer access from the Redondo parking down one of the many steep ravines that the rain has carved out of the cliff. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a walking stick if you have one.

About Redondo beach

Redondo Beach Road, Half Moon Bay,

  • Get directions
  • Open to the public: Yes
  • Bathrooms nearby: No
  • Visitor center: No
  • Docents and guides: No
  • Dogs allowed: Yes

When to visit

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

Monday 29th April 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.38ft at 9:36am

lowest tide is -0.38ft
9:36am -0.38ft 8:36pm 3.29ft

Tuesday 30th April 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.31ft at 10:42am

lowest tide is -0.31ft
10:42am -0.31ft 10:24pm 3.23ft

Wednesday 1st May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.25ft at 11:48am

lowest tide is -0.25ft
11:48am -0.25ft

Thursday 2nd May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.13ft at 12:42pm

lowest tide is -0.13ft
12:06am 2.76ft 12:42pm -0.13ft

Friday 3rd May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.08ft at 1:30pm

lowest tide is 0.08ft
1:24am 2.02ft 1:30pm 0.08ft

Saturday 4th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.38ft at 2:24pm

lowest tide is 0.38ft
2:24am 1.11ft 2:24pm 0.38ft

Sunday 5th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.76ft at 3:06pm

lowest tide is 0.76ft
3:18am 0.18ft 3:06pm 0.76ft

Monday 6th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.19ft at 3:48pm

lowest tide is 1.19ft
4:06am -0.65ft 3:48pm 1.19ft

Tuesday 7th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.62ft at 4:30pm

lowest tide is 1.62ft
4:54am -1.25ft 4:30pm 1.62ft

Wednesday 8th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.04ft at 5:06pm

lowest tide is 2.04ft
5:42am -1.59ft 5:06pm 2.04ft

Thursday 9th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.66ft at 6:30am

lowest tide is -1.66ft
6:30am -1.66ft 5:54pm 2.41ft

Friday 10th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.50ft at 7:18am

lowest tide is -1.50ft
7:18am -1.50ft 6:36pm 2.73ft

Saturday 11th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.18ft at 8:12am

lowest tide is -1.18ft
8:12am -1.18ft 7:24pm 2.97ft

Sunday 12th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.77ft at 9:06am

lowest tide is -0.77ft
9:06am -0.77ft 8:24pm 3.15ft

Monday 13th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.36ft at 10:00am

lowest tide is -0.36ft
10:00am -0.36ft 9:54pm 3.19ft

Tuesday 14th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.00ft at 11:00am

lowest tide is 0.00ft
11:00am 0.00ft 11:30pm 2.96ft

Wednesday 15th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.31ft at 11:54am

lowest tide is 0.31ft
11:54am 0.31ft

Thursday 16th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.60ft at 12:42pm

lowest tide is 0.60ft
12:42am 2.54ft 12:42pm 0.60ft

Friday 17th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.91ft at 1:18pm

lowest tide is 0.91ft
1:42am 1.99ft 1:18pm 0.91ft

Saturday 18th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.21ft at 2:00pm

lowest tide is 1.21ft
2:30am 1.39ft 2:00pm 1.21ft

Sunday 19th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.51ft at 2:36pm

lowest tide is 1.51ft
3:12am 0.78ft 2:36pm 1.51ft

Monday 20th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.81ft at 3:12pm

lowest tide is 1.81ft
3:48am 0.22ft 3:12pm 1.81ft

Tuesday 21st May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.09ft at 3:42pm

lowest tide is 2.09ft
4:24am -0.26ft 3:42pm 2.09ft

Wednesday 22nd May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.36ft at 4:12pm

lowest tide is 2.36ft
5:00am -0.63ft 4:12pm 2.36ft

Thursday 23rd May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.61ft at 4:48pm

lowest tide is 2.61ft
5:36am -0.90ft 4:48pm 2.61ft

Friday 24th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.06ft at 6:18am

lowest tide is -1.06ft
6:18am -1.06ft 5:18pm 2.82ft

Saturday 25th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.12ft at 6:54am

lowest tide is -1.12ft
6:54am -1.12ft 5:54pm 3.00ft

Sunday 26th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.10ft at 7:42am

lowest tide is -1.10ft
7:42am -1.10ft 6:42pm 3.14ft

Monday 27th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.98ft at 8:24am

lowest tide is -0.98ft
8:24am -0.98ft 7:42pm 3.20ft

Tuesday 28th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.77ft at 9:18am

lowest tide is -0.77ft
9:18am -0.77ft 9:00pm 3.14ft

Recent observations at Redondo beach

Other considerations

Rules

Please be respectful of the reef, don’t pry any shellfish or creatures off their homes. You’ll need a Fishing license if you want to fish and bear in mind that depending on the time of year shellfish may be poisonous and you could get Paralytic Shellfish poisoning.

Watch where you step and don’t step on living things if you can possibly avoid it.

Information on rules for this location

Accessibility and Safety

Depending on the route you take down to the beach it can be quite treacherous. Be careful especially if you are going down or back when it is dark. Always watch your step and never turn your back on the tide.

Pet Policy

Dogs must be on leash

Food options

Close to Cameron’s Inn but also only about a 10 min drive from lots of dining options in Half Moon Bay.

Picnics

Definitely take a picnic here! Sit on the cliff and soak up the incredible views or navigate down to the beach and eat there. No fires allowed.