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 9th May 2024 at 6:24am for a low tide of -1.46ft. sunrise is 6:05am and sunset is 8:04pm

Friday 10th May 2024 at 7:18am for a low tide of -1.37ft. sunrise is 6:04am and sunset is 8:05pm

Saturday 11th May 2024 at 8:06am for a low tide of -1.13ft. sunrise is 6:03am and sunset is 8:06pm

Sunday 26th May 2024 at 7:42am for a low tide of -1.07ft. sunrise is 5:53am and sunset is 8:18pm

See more good times to visit

Low tides today

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.51ft at 8:48am

8:48am -0.51ft 7:00pm 3.07ft

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

Sunday 28th April 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.51ft at 8:48am

lowest tide is -0.51ft
8:48am -0.51ft 7:00pm 3.07ft

Monday 29th April 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.50ft at 9:48am

lowest tide is -0.50ft
9:48am -0.50ft 8:12pm 3.21ft

Tuesday 30th April 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.50ft at 10:54am

lowest tide is -0.50ft
10:54am -0.50ft 10:12pm 3.14ft

Wednesday 1st May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.48ft at 11:54am

lowest tide is -0.48ft
11:54am -0.48ft

Thursday 2nd May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.39ft at 12:42pm

lowest tide is -0.39ft
12:00am 2.72ft 12:42pm -0.39ft

Friday 3rd May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.18ft at 1:30pm

lowest tide is -0.18ft
1:12am 2.03ft 1:30pm -0.18ft

Saturday 4th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.16ft at 2:12pm

lowest tide is 0.16ft
2:12am 1.21ft 2:12pm 0.16ft

Sunday 5th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.60ft at 2:54pm

lowest tide is 0.60ft
3:06am 0.37ft 2:54pm 0.60ft

Monday 6th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.10ft at 3:30pm

lowest tide is 1.10ft
4:00am -0.39ft 3:30pm 1.10ft

Tuesday 7th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.60ft at 4:12pm

lowest tide is 1.60ft
4:48am -0.97ft 4:12pm 1.60ft

Wednesday 8th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.06ft at 4:48pm

lowest tide is 2.06ft
5:36am -1.33ft 4:48pm 2.06ft

Thursday 9th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.46ft at 6:24am

lowest tide is -1.46ft
6:24am -1.46ft 5:30pm 2.45ft

Friday 10th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.37ft at 7:18am

lowest tide is -1.37ft
7:18am -1.37ft 6:18pm 2.76ft

Saturday 11th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.13ft at 8:06am

lowest tide is -1.13ft
8:06am -1.13ft 7:12pm 2.99ft

Sunday 12th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.80ft at 9:06am

lowest tide is -0.80ft
9:06am -0.80ft 8:18pm 3.13ft

Monday 13th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.47ft at 10:00am

lowest tide is -0.47ft
10:00am -0.47ft 9:48pm 3.12ft

Tuesday 14th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.15ft at 11:00am

lowest tide is -0.15ft
11:00am -0.15ft 11:24pm 2.89ft

Wednesday 15th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.14ft at 11:54am

lowest tide is 0.14ft
11:54am 0.14ft

Thursday 16th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.44ft at 12:36pm

lowest tide is 0.44ft
12:42am 2.47ft 12:36pm 0.44ft

Friday 17th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 0.76ft at 1:18pm

lowest tide is 0.76ft
1:42am 1.96ft 1:18pm 0.76ft

Saturday 18th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.11ft at 1:48pm

lowest tide is 1.11ft
2:30am 1.42ft 1:48pm 1.11ft

Sunday 19th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.47ft at 2:18pm

lowest tide is 1.47ft
3:06am 0.89ft 2:18pm 1.47ft

Monday 20th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 1.82ft at 2:48pm

lowest tide is 1.82ft
3:42am 0.39ft 2:48pm 1.82ft

Tuesday 21st May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.14ft at 3:18pm

lowest tide is 2.14ft
4:18am -0.05ft 3:18pm 2.14ft

Wednesday 22nd May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.43ft at 3:48pm

lowest tide is 2.43ft
4:54am -0.42ft 3:48pm 2.43ft

Thursday 23rd May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is 2.66ft at 4:18pm

lowest tide is 2.66ft
5:36am -0.71ft 4:18pm 2.66ft

Friday 24th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -0.92ft at 6:12am

lowest tide is -0.92ft
6:12am -0.92ft 4:54pm 2.85ft

Saturday 25th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.04ft at 7:00am

lowest tide is -1.04ft
7:00am -1.04ft 5:30pm 2.99ft

Sunday 26th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.07ft at 7:42am

lowest tide is -1.07ft
7:42am -1.07ft 6:18pm 3.10ft

Monday 27th May 2024

The lowest tide in daylight today is -1.02ft at 8:30am

lowest tide is -1.02ft
8:30am -1.02ft 7:24pm 3.17ft

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.