All groups of 15 or more are required to have a reservation. Trained volunteer naturalists will lead your tour of the Reserve. There is no feefor making a reservation. A total of seventy-five participants may be accommodated on a tour day from a combined maximum of two groups or classrooms. Groups of fewer than 15 people are free to visit on their own without a reservation. In all cases, please familiarize yourself with the Good Tidepooler Rules of Conduct before your visit.
All reservations need to be made through the San Mateo County Parks Department Reservation Desk. Reservations for the 2026-27 tour season will be taken by phone only beginning August 31st using a priority system. Specific information for making a reservation is available on the San Mateo County Parks FMR Reservations website.
Consult the Tide Pool Tour Schedule for available tour dates and times between October 2026 and June 2027. After the initial reservation period, note that some of these dates may no longer be available. Contact the Reservation Desk at the number below to inquire if a date has been assigned.
For grades 3-6, learn about a no-cost opportunity to schedule a “live” online visit by an SMC Park Ranger “to your classroom” before your tour date. Pre-Field Trip Program
Bus scholarships for transportation assistance and a bilingual Spanish tour may both be available through the San Mateo County Parks Foundation. Contact the SMC Parks Foundation directly for more information.
Once the initial reservation period closes in early October, any remaining dates may be reserved by calling the San Mateo County Parks Dept. Reservation Desk: (650) 363-4021, Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Note: The reservation desk is closed on Fridays. All phone reservations must be made before the first day of the month preceding the month you wish to visit. Once again, there is no fee for a Volunteer Naturalist-led tour for your group.