Visit
If your group has 10 or more people, you MUST make a reservation to visit the reserve.
The reserve is located in Moss Beach, CA, about 40 minutes south of San Francisco on Highway 1, or 15 minutes north of the city of Half Moon Bay. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is in a no-take Marine Protected Area; no collecting of organisms, shells, rocks, driftwood, etc. is permitted. Please do not bring buckets to the reef. Dogs are not allowed. The reserve opens at 8 a.m.; closing time varies seasonally and is posted. Click here for driving directions.
The best time to visit the reserve is during a zero or negative low tide, when the rocks are exposed. On weekends and holidays our friendly volunteer naturalists rove the tidepools to answer questions. Use an online tide guide to find a good time to visit.
