Rocky Beaches

Shark Fin Cove

Flat rock outcrops with small tide ‘puddles’ and lots of algae

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.

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 Flat rock outcrops with small tide ‘puddles’ and lots of algae in the next 30 days during daylight hours.

Thursday 26th June 2025 at 6:18am for a low tide of -1.69ft. sunrise is 5:51am and sunset is 8:32pm

Friday 27th June 2025 at 7:06am for a low tide of -1.47ft. sunrise is 5:51am and sunset is 8:32pm

Saturday 28th June 2025 at 7:48am for a low tide of -1.10ft. sunrise is 5:51am and sunset is 8:32pm

Saturday 12th July 2025 at 6:42am for a low tide of -0.93ft. sunrise is 5:59am and sunset is 8:29pm

See more good times to visit

Low tides today

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.87ft at 7:48am

7:48am -0.87ft 6:42pm 3.12ft

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

Parking is available in a small dirt lot on the ocean side of highway 1

Directions to tidepools

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.

About Shark Fin Cove

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

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

Saturday 14th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.87ft at 7:48am

lowest tide is -0.87ft
7:48am -0.87ft 6:42pm 3.12ft

Sunday 15th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.72ft at 8:30am

lowest tide is -0.72ft
8:30am -0.72ft 7:48pm 3.07ft

Monday 16th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.46ft at 9:06am

lowest tide is -0.46ft
9:06am -0.46ft 9:06pm 2.90ft

Tuesday 17th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.08ft at 9:48am

lowest tide is -0.08ft
9:48am -0.08ft 10:36pm 2.49ft

Wednesday 18th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.40ft at 10:30am

lowest tide is 0.40ft
10:30am 0.40ft

Thursday 19th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.95ft at 11:18am

lowest tide is 0.95ft
12:00am 1.83ft 11:18am 0.95ft

Friday 20th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.50ft at 12:00pm

lowest tide is 1.50ft
1:12am 1.00ft 12:00pm 1.50ft

Saturday 21st June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.99ft at 12:48pm

lowest tide is 1.99ft
2:12am 0.15ft 12:48pm 1.99ft

Sunday 22nd June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.38ft at 1:42pm

lowest tide is 2.38ft
3:06am -0.61ft 1:42pm 2.38ft

Monday 23rd June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.63ft at 2:36pm

lowest tide is 2.63ft
3:54am -1.20ft 2:36pm 2.63ft

Tuesday 24th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.77ft at 3:30pm

lowest tide is 2.77ft
4:42am -1.58ft 3:30pm 2.77ft

Wednesday 25th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.81ft at 4:24pm

lowest tide is 2.81ft
5:30am -1.74ft 4:24pm 2.81ft

Thursday 26th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.69ft at 6:18am

lowest tide is -1.69ft
6:18am -1.69ft 5:24pm 2.80ft

Friday 27th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.47ft at 7:06am

lowest tide is -1.47ft
7:06am -1.47ft 6:24pm 2.77ft

Saturday 28th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.10ft at 7:48am

lowest tide is -1.10ft
7:48am -1.10ft 7:24pm 2.72ft

Sunday 29th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.61ft at 8:30am

lowest tide is -0.61ft
8:30am -0.61ft 8:30pm 2.65ft

Monday 30th June 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.05ft at 9:12am

lowest tide is -0.05ft
9:12am -0.05ft 9:48pm 2.49ft

Tuesday 1st July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.57ft at 9:48am

lowest tide is 0.57ft
9:48am 0.57ft 11:12pm 2.18ft

Wednesday 2nd July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.19ft at 10:30am

lowest tide is 1.19ft
10:30am 1.19ft

Thursday 3rd July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.77ft at 11:06am

lowest tide is 1.77ft
12:30am 1.73ft 11:06am 1.77ft

Friday 4th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.27ft at 11:42am

lowest tide is 2.27ft
1:30am 1.23ft 11:42am 2.27ft

Saturday 5th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.65ft at 12:30pm

lowest tide is 2.65ft
2:24am 0.73ft 12:30pm 2.65ft

Sunday 6th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.91ft at 1:18pm

lowest tide is 2.91ft
3:06am 0.30ft 1:18pm 2.91ft

Monday 7th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 3.05ft at 2:06pm

lowest tide is 3.05ft
3:42am -0.07ft 2:06pm 3.05ft

Tuesday 8th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 3.10ft at 2:48pm

lowest tide is 3.10ft
4:24am -0.38ft 2:48pm 3.10ft

Wednesday 9th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 3.08ft at 3:30pm

lowest tide is 3.08ft
5:00am -0.63ft 3:30pm 3.08ft

Thursday 10th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is 3.02ft at 4:18pm

lowest tide is 3.02ft
5:36am -0.82ft 4:18pm 3.02ft

Friday 11th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.93ft at 6:06am

lowest tide is -0.93ft
6:06am -0.93ft 5:00pm 2.94ft

Saturday 12th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.93ft at 6:42am

lowest tide is -0.93ft
6:42am -0.93ft 5:48pm 2.84ft

Sunday 13th July 2025

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.79ft at 7:18am

lowest tide is -0.79ft
7:18am -0.79ft 6:42pm 2.72ft

Recent observations at Shark Fin Cove

Other considerations

Rules

This beach forms part of Coast Dairies State Park. No collecting unless you have permission from the state park

Accessibility and Safety

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.

Pet Policy

Food options

There are some restaurants north in Davenport

Picnics

There is a lovely sandy beach here, great for a picnic! No fires allowed.