Location: San Pedro, CA 90732
Hours:
- Monday-Sunday (Dawn to Dusk)
Overview
The tidepools at White Point Beach are a fabulous place to spend a few hours. Here people can check out and learn about the local sea life that calls this area home.
If you are lucky, you will be able to spot starfish, sea cucumbers, snails, crabs, and anemones, and a variety of other sea life.
While the tidepools are located in San Pedro, they are a hop and a skip away from Palos Verdes. This area has a phenomenal coast line that offers an array of fantastic hikes and activities.
One of the major keys to having a successful and safe visit to the White Point Beach tidepools is preparation. It is essential that visitors check a local tide chart online before visiting. and only visit at low tide. There are multiple reasons that this is imperative for maximizing your time here. First of all, and most importantly, if the tide is higher, you put yourself and group at risk of injury or drowning. This is not a place where you would want to get swept out into the ocean. Higher tides make this area dangerous and nearly impossible to navigate. Secondly, if it is not low tide, the water level will be too high and not only will the local sea life not be visible, but in most cases, the tidepools won’t exist, as the ocean will have overtaken them.
When the tide is low and the levels are just right, tiny swimming holes appear and there are many areas for groups to explore, as there is often sea life hidden around every corner.
Exploring the Tidepools and Scout’s Story
Almost 15 years ago, my wife and I left Hawaii to take a short trip to California to visit her family. It would be my first time visiting California with my wife. One of the first things that my wife took me to do was to visit the tidepools at White Point Beach. Almost 15 years later, I was excited to be able to visit at low tide and to bring our daughter, Scout, with us. Scout will turn 3 in a few weeks and she is also just a matter of weeks from her cancer having been in remission for 1 year.
Scout no longer has a central line in her chest and it feels amazing to be able to watch her do things like play in the water and sand, things she could not do a year ago while she was undergoing cancer treatment.
There was not a cloud in the sky on this day and White Point Beach was spectacular. After parking in the far left parking area, we made our way out to the little tidepools. We immediately found some anemones to put our fingers into and Scout got a kick out of them closing up on her little fingers.
After exploring the area for some time, we eventually got extremely lucky and found an orange starfish.
What a find and a delight to see. As I continued to explore, Scout made her way back towards mom and found a couple perfectly sized pools to swim in that had recently formed.
What a fabulous day we had at White Point Beach. We will absolutely be coming back here for years to come.
Getting to White Point Park Tide Pools
2117 W Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90732
Notes, Questions and Thoughts
Is White Point Park a fee area?
- For those wishing to drive down to the beach, there is a parking fee. The fees range from $3 to $10 depending on the day and time of day.
Are dogs allowed at White Point Park?
- No, dogs are not allowed on the beach at White Point Park.
Are there restrooms at White Point Park?
- Yes, restrooms are located at the playground at the top of the park as well as portable toilets at the beach.
Please recreate responsibly. Respect hikers, fisherman, and all visitors and wildlife. Help make everyone’s experience better by keeping the nature experience as authentic as possible. Leave no trace and pack out everything that you pack in. Please remember that we are visitors and stewards of these special places. Help keep these places as wild as possible while not diminishing the outdoor experience of others.
