California King Tides are coming to the shores of Santa Cruz County this fall and winter season! These naturally occurring and predictable events are when the highest and lowest tides hit our shores and create an even more dramatic coastline. At high tide, the powerful waves often crash against seawalls and extend beyond their usual natural borders. The extreme low tides expose tide pools rarely seen and allow miles of beach walking and extended exploration. The 2025 official King Tide dates are November 5-7, 2025; December 4-6, 2025; and January 1-3, 2026. Here are the low tide times for December and January:
Take a peek below for more information on timing your visit (yes, timing matters), where to go and what to look for, and for responsible tide pooling information.
And for those from out of the area, California King Tides is the perfect time to plan a winter getaway in Santa Cruz County! Book your stay and don’t miss this extraordinary time of year on the coast!
Time Your Visit
As we mentioned, timing matters! The best thing to do is consult a tide chart where you are able to see the exact times of the highest and lowest tides. For ease, we put the low tides for the official King Tide dates below. At least an hour before and after low and high tides yield extreme tides worthy of exploration! And another Insider’s Tip: as mentioned above, the day(s) before and day(s) after the official King Tides dates often still present extreme tides as well.
December 4: Low tide @ 4:04pm; -1.6
December 5: Low tide @ 4:54pm; -1.8
December 6: Low tide @ 5:45pm; -1.7
January 1: Low tide @ 3:08pm; -1.5
January 2: Low tide @ 3:55pm; -1.7
January 3: Low tide @ 4:41pm; -1.7
Where to Go and What to Look For
TIDE POOL AT LOW TIDE
Tide pooling is at its best during King Tides. The exceptionally low tides reveal an underwater world of creatures and habitats well worth the find. From the usual sightings like crabs, hermit crabs, mussels, anemones, sea snails, and starfish (the leather starfish have been a particularly popular find last year!) to the more rare discoveries like urchins, sea cucumbers, nudibranch (pictured above!), and octopus, the low tides are a fascinating peek into the Monterey Bay. But please remember to watch your step and leave the creatures alone. We want to protect and preserve this beautiful coastline and the wildlife and ecosystems that call it home. Here are 6 of the top spots for tide pooling during King Tides:
- Pleasure Point: Starts at 32nd Street and offers a huge expanse of tide pools uncovered by the receding waves during low tide events.
- The Hook: This famous surf spot also doubles as a perfect tide pooling location! To find this spot, head to the Hook County Park parking lot at the end of 41st avenue and find the closest staircase across the street.
- Natural Bridges State Park: Located at the end of Santa Cruz’s iconic West Cliff Drive, this easily accessible beach is a perfect place to squeeze in some tide pool time while staying close to the heart of the Santa Cruz area.
- Capitola: Known for its quaint seaside small-town vibe, Capitola is equally the perfect place to explore at low tide! Visitors can walk from the Capitola Esplanade onto the beach to New Brighton State Park when the ocean recedes.
- Scott Creek Beach: If you’re looking for a little more adventure, head North of Santa Cruz on Highway 1 to Scott Creek Beach for an unforgettable tide pool experience. This gorgeous beach features high craggy cliffs that tower over huge expanses of elevated tide pool areas full of a wide variety of sea life.
- Greyhound Rock: Another North County treasure, Greyhound Rock is a wonderland of rocky tide pools teeming with marine life. Low tide is key for the pools to be visible.
And don’t forget to reference that tide chart! Read more on the tide pool locations listed above in our Tide Pooling Guide.
TAKE A WALK ON THE BEACH – A LONG ONE
During the lowest tides, you are able to cover a lot more ground on your beach walk! Many spots that are usually un-walkable become walkable as beach sand is revealed to guide your steps. A few of our favorite long stretches are from Aptos to Capitola, the collection of Live Oak Beaches, and Watsonville beaches to Aptos. And for the little explorers, try the shorter low tide walk from New Brighton State Beach to Capitola Beach.
WATCH THE HIGH SURF FROM THE COAST
If you’d rather post up on the coast and watch the impressive high tides, places like West Cliff, Pleasure Point, and Davenport will be excellent spots to view the high surf. But be sure to watch from a safe distance since the waves can reach new levels, and when coupled with a typical winter swell of larger waves, can be dangerous if too close. Remember to never turn your back on the ocean!
Protect and Preserve the Wildlife and Ecosystem: Best Tide Pooling Practices
Please remember to watch where you step and tread lightly on this delicate and beautiful ecosystem. Please leave creatures alone and only take photos of your King Tide experiences. Help us protect and preserve this beautiful coast so everyone can enjoy for years to come!
California King Tides Project
The California King Tides Project helps us visualize future sea level by observing the highest tides of today. You can help by taking and sharing photos of the shoreline during King Tides to create a record of changes to our coast and estuaries.
Enjoy some more photos from January 2025’s King Tides at Greyhound Rock Beach by Liz Birnbaum, The Curated Feast:
