The image shows a scenic coastal landscape during sunset. The foreground features rugged, reddish-brown cliffs with some vegetation. Below the cliffs, there is a rocky shoreline with scattered boulders and small pools of water. The ocean stretches out to the horizon, with gentle waves rolling in. The sky is a gradient of colors, transitioning from a soft orange near the horizon to a pale blue higher up, indicating the sun is setting. The overall atmosphere is calm and serene, with warm tones from the setting sun illuminating the scene.
Cabrillo, What is in the Tidepools

What’s in the Tidepools? – Summer 2026

Green and brown algae grows in a tidepool composed of jumbled rocks. Weathered sandy cliffs and the white caps of ocean waves can be seen in the background.

What’s In the Tidepools? – Summer 2026

(Cabrillo Coastal Area – NPS Photo/Carmen A.)

As we prepare to start our tidepool season, here are a few photos from the past few months. You will find some photos of baby gulls that VIP Ben took with his spotting scope. You will see some images that VIP Rick captured (actually his brother), of the Glowing Fireworms at Mission Bay on a tour that VIP Mary led. Enjoy the recent visit from summer.

Be mindful of bluff collapses and boulders sitting precariously above the tidepool entrance. Point out thees dangers to visitors when they are in the area.

Tidepool season is here! Remember to send in your interesting photos.

Don’t forget to visit the Tidepool Videos page and our YouTube page.

Enjoy the virtual visit through the tidepools and Cabrillo.

Baby Gulls through a Spotting Scope

A sandy, rocky cliffside is seen through a circular lens, surrounded by a dark blurry frame, as if viewed through binoculars or a telescope.
Baby Gulls – NPS Photo/VIP Benjamin G.
Three seagulls stand on a rocky, sandy cliff. One adult gull is on the left, and two fluffy gray chicks are perched nearby, with a blurred circular frame around the scene.
Baby Gulls – NPS Photo/VIP Benjamin G.
A seagull stands on a rocky cliff beside four fluffy, speckled chicks, two perched above and two nestled below, all against a sandy, textured background
Baby Gulls – NPS Photo/VIP Benjamin G.
Several speckled bird chicks are nestled in a sandy cliffside burrow, camouflaged among the rocks and dirt.
Baby Gulls – NPS Photo/VIP Benjamin G.

Glowing Fireworms

A swirl of glowing blue-green smoke curls and twists against a completely black background, resembling abstract, flowing tendrils.
Fireworms – Steve Azer
The image shows a dark background with scattered small, glowing turquoise specks and squiggles, resembling tiny floating lights or bioluminescent particles in water.
Fireworms – Steve Azer

Bluff Collapse and Precarious Boulders

A rocky excavation site with layered stone formations, loose rubble, and a flat stone surface. Two orange traffic cones sit on the sandy ground above the rock layers.
Bluff Collapse – NPS Photo/VIP Dan W.
A rocky coastal cliff with layered stone formations meets the ocean. A dirt path with signs and a few people walking runs along the top under a cloudy sky
Bluff Collapse – NPS Photo/VIP Dan W.
A rocky cliff with layered brown and tan sediment, scattered boulders, and a clear blue sky above. One large rock juts precariously from the cliff face.
Hanging Boulder Closeup – NPS Photo/VIP Dan W.
A rocky cliff with layered stone formations under a clear blue sky. A red circle highlights a loose rock near the top edge, appearing precarious.
Hanging Boulder – NPS Photo/VIP Dan W.
Waves crash against rocky cliffs under a partly cloudy sky, sending white spray into the air. A rugged coastline with reddish cliffs and scattered rocks frames the ocean scene.
Big Surf – NPS Photo/VIP Denine H.
Waves crash against a rocky shore under a bright sky filled with dramatic, textured clouds, with sunlight reflecting off the shimmering ocean.
Big Surf – NPS Photo/VIP Denine H.
Waves crash against a rocky shoreline framed by two jagged cliffs, with smooth stones scattered at the water’s edge and the open ocean stretching into the horizon.
Tidepools – NPS Photo/VIP Dan W.
A rocky coastline with ocean waves splashing against a flat, light-colored rock ledge covered with many seabirds, surrounded by dry shrubs and cliffs.
Shore Birds – NPS Photo/VIP Dan W.
A rocky shoreline with scattered pebbles and seaweed, bordered by layered cliffs. Two white birds stand among the rocks near the cliff wall.
Snowy Egrets – NPS Photo/VIP Dan W.
Rocky cliffs frame a view of the ocean with waves gently hitting mossy rocks. Seabirds rest on the rocks near the shore, with dry brush and greenery on the cliff edges.
Harbor Seals – NPS Photo/VIP Dan W.
Waves crash against rugged, rocky cliffs under a partly cloudy sky, with white spray shooting upward and the ocean stretching to the horizon.
Big Surf – NPS Photo/VIP Denine H.

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