About 3 miles of rocky seashore, bluffs, and reefs near Moss Beach provide home to a unique community of marine life. A variety of crabs, seaweed, sponges, mollusks, sea stars, and fish live in the shallow, warm areas between the low and high tide lines. The area was declared a reserve in order to protect this fragile and complex plant and animal community.

Visiting tidal pools is a popular activity for school kids and community groups. Most of plants in the reserve are non-native species such as the Monterey cypress, pampas grass, and German ivy as well as many ornamental garden escapees. Also present are the native coastal bluff scrub, freshwater marsh, and central coast arroyo willow forest. The reserve is fun to explore on your own, but there are also guided tours.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, 200 Nevada Ave, Moss Beach, CA 94038, Phone: 650-728-3584

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