![]() ![]() Tucked away in a residential, waterfront strip of Live Oak, this wide sandy beach features a large rocky marine shelf pocked with hundreds of tide pools of varying sizes. To access the pools, use the staircases at 36th Avenue and 38th Avenue. Because these pools occupy a lower intertidal zone, it’s not unusual to enjoy coveted sightings of sea stars and octopuses. Not regularly exposed, the tide pools that line East Cliff Drive in Pleasure Point are a surprising find during a very low tide. After scrambling over a small outflow stream from the adjacent abalone farm, you’ll reach a large mussel-covered reef brimming with hermit crabs, snails, and starfish. To reach the tide pools, head to the left as you walk toward the shore. Rather than scramble down uneven seaside cliffs, you can park in a lot and immediately stroll out to the intertidal pools. ![]() While tide pools adorn much of the North County coast, the pools at Davenport Landing are the most accessible. Yet, dip down closer to the water via any number of spur trails, and you’ll likely discover rocky terraces that fill with tidepools (and the hungry shorebirds who love them). If you’ve ever strolled this seaside promenade, you know how dazzling the views are from the blufftop path. On the beach’s western flank, you’ll find a series of tide pools carved into a rocky slab overlooking the beach. This Westside gem isn’t short on visual spectacles including thousands of migrating monarch butterflies and the beach’s namesake, monumental rock “bridge” (which is now an arch following the collapse of land that once extended to shore). It’s here that you’ll find craggy slabs of ancient mudstone rock that fill with hundreds of tide pools, but for some more specific spots, take a look below. Some of the best tide pools in Santa Cruz County are found along the rocky shores that stretch from Lighthouse Point to Davenport. Intertidal dwellers must withstand hot sun, chilly waters, high salinity (from salt deposits left behind from dried up waters), and the surf’s relentless pounding. Despite their calm appearance, tide pools are an extreme habitat in which to live. It’s here that you’ll discover a diverse community of marine animals that, unlike their human counterparts, aren’t relaxing at the shore with the latest mystery novel. Tide pools are found in what’s referred to as the intertidal zone, the portion of the seashore that is exposed during low tide and submerged at high tide. MAPS TO THE (SEA) STARS IN THE INTERTIDAL ZONE Tide pooling is a great way to experience the wondrous marine life in Monterey Bay, no scuba tanks required! With something new to discover every visit, the following seaside spots will keep you happy as a clam. Explore Santa Cruz County shores, and you’ll delight in rocky tide pools teeming with unique sea creatures that wouldn’t be out of place in a Dr. Not all of Santa Cruz’s colorful characters are found at the Boardwalk. ![]()
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