Know before you go
A little care.
A better day out.
Public access
The local visitor guide identifies San Simeon Bay and the point’s rocky shore for tide-pool viewing. Use public access from the bay and signed paths; never climb around an impassable headland.
Keep the coast wild
Leave intertidal animals and shells in place. The beach, pier and trails have different pet rules. A falling tide does not cancel swell or unstable footing.
Planning to bring a dog? Check the land manager’s current pet rules for this exact route and beach.
Shells along this shore
Look along the strand line and photograph the shells you spot. Shells and fragments vary with weather and season.
Look along the strand line as the tide recedes, when access is safe. High-water marks can hold empty shells too; finds are never guaranteed.
Ask the land manager about current shell-removal rules. An empty shell is not automatically permitted to take.
Current shell-collection rules ↗