California King Tides Project. Snap the Shore, See the Future. A family watches the king tides at San Francisco's Pier 14

California King Tides Project

How to Participate  |   King Tides Photo Gallery  |   About King Tides  |   Educator Resources


The next California King Tide Project dates are
January 11 & 12, 2024 and February 9, 2024.

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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.

Explore a map of photos from recent King Tides.

Find out what time and how high the King Tides will be near you. Learn how to participate by uploading your photos via a web browser or with a free app. Your photos will be added to a map of this season's King Tides photos. As always, please be cautious and respect the power of the ocean, and don't disturb shorebirds that may be much farther upland than usual.


Join a King Tides event:

Observe and document King Tides on your own or join a group event. Events will be posted throughout the season, so check back for more. Each respective hosting organization is responsible for the following events. Please contact them for further details.

Thursday, January 11, 2024

  • King Tides Tour
    Arcata Marsh
    South I Street, Arcata, Humboldt County

    Jan. 11, 11am
    Presented by Friends of the Arcata Marsh
    Friends of the Arcata Marsh will offer a special King Tide Tour at the Arcata Marsh. Meet leaders Elliott Dabill and Barbara Reisman at 11 a.m. on South I Street, in the first parking lot in from Samoa Boulevard, across from the "green wall." (Note that this is not at the usual Interpretive Center meeting place for FOAM tours.) Learn what makes the tides so much higher than normal; the increases expected as sea level rises; and what will happen to Humboldt Bay as the rest of the century brings monumental changes to our home. This tour will occur rain or shine. For more information, call (707) 826-2359.
  • King Tides Kick-Off
    Campbell Cove, Sonoma Coast State Park
    Bodega Bay, Sonoma County

    Jan. 11, 9:30am
    Presented by Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
    Please join us for an introduction to the King Tides project and anopportunity to observe the highest tides of the year. Safety is our first priority while observing King Tides. The peak high tide is at 9:52 AM, predicted height is 6.72 ft. If you would like to learn more please contact rebecca@stewardscr.org. Details and register online.
  • King Tide Walk at China Camp
    China Camp State Park, Marin County

    Jan. 11, 11:30am-12:30pm
    Presented by Friends of China Camp
    Join scientists from San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve to walk from Back Ranch Meadows Campground to Turtle Back Nature Trail for views of flooded marshlands. Learn how king tides can help scientists understand the impacts of future sea level rise. Bring your camera to capture birds of prey and other predators taking advantage of rising waters that flush out shorebirds, rodents, and other potential prey. Wear shoes that can handle muddy trails, and bring clothes for changeable weather. Note: Flooded roadways may limit park access. To avoid driving through floodwaters, take the N. San Pedro Rd. exit off U.S. 101 and continue east to China Camp; park in the campground lot. Easy 2 miles round trip walk. Ages 8 and older (ages 8 to 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult). Cost: Free for FOCC members ($5 donation nonmembers). Further details emailed with registration confirmation. Registration info
  • A Royal Walk with the King Tide along the Embarcadero
    Between Pier 3 and Pier 5 on the Bay side of San Francisco's Embarcadero

    Jan. 11, 10:15am-11:15am
    Presented by Exploratorium and Port of San Francisco
    Join the Exploratorium and Port of San Francisco staff on the San Francisco waterfront to observe, photograph, and discuss the King Tides. Come find out what causes the tides, why we have higher tides at this time of year, and learn more about the Waterfront Resilience Program's efforts to protect the city's waterfront. Because of sea level rise, the King Tides of today provide opportunities to experience the "normal" high tides of tomorrow. We'll meet rain or shine. Come see the future! This event is free, no reservations are required. Exploratorium museum entrance is not included. The high tide predicted at our closest tide station that day is 7.12 feet at 10:43am. For more information, contact Lori Lambertson at llambertson@exploratorium.edu.
  • After Dark: King Tides
    Exploratorium
    Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green Street), San Francisco

    Jan. 11, 6pm-10pm
    Presented by Exploratorium
    Give yourself the royal treatment at tonight's After Dark. Learn about king tides with Exploratorium scientists and researchers. Are the king tides of today the normal high tides of tomorrow? How are sea levels affected by the Sun and the moon? Join us at the Exploratorium to find out. This event is for adults 18 years and older. Tickets are $19.95. More info and tickets
  • King Tides Walk at Strawberry Creek
    Sea Breeze Deli, 598 University (west of I-80)
    Berkeley, Alameda County

    Jan. 11, 10am
    Presented by Friends of Five Creeks
    Friends of Five Creeks leads a King Tides walk on the Berkeley shoreline. Meet at 10 AM in front of Sea Breeze Deli. This is easy to access by foot, bike, or AC Transit, and there is plenty of parking. This walk goes rain or shine -- a storm gives an idea of future sea-level rise! Dress for the waterfront's fast-changing weather and possible flooded trails. No reservations needed. Email f5creeks@gmail.com with questions.
  • King Tide Hike at Elkhorn Slough Reserve
    Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
    1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville

    Jan. 11, 9am-11am
    Presented by Elkhorn Slough Reserve
    Join an Elkhorn Slough Reserve naturalist to see a high king tide for yourself! Learn what causes high tides, talk about why king tides are so interesting, and take a hike to the Reserve's boardwalk to witness the event firsthand. We'll also take photos to submit to the California King Tides Project. The hike distance is approximately 1.25 miles round trip. RSVP optional

Friday, January 12, 2024

  • King Tides at the Cove
    Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove
    1252 McKay Avenue, Alameda

    Jan. 12, 11:30am-Noon
    Presented by East Bay Regional Parks District
    Stop by during your lunch break and watch as the king tide flows into the marine protected area. Participate in community science and take photos to help document this tidal event! More info
  • King Tide Hike at Elkhorn Slough Reserve
    Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
    1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville

    Jan. 12, 10am-Noon
    Presented by Elkhorn Slough Reserve
    Join an Elkhorn Slough Reserve naturalist to see a high king tide for yourself! Learn what causes high tides, talk about why king tides are so interesting, and take a hike to the Reserve's boardwalk to witness the event firsthand. We'll also take photos to submit to the California King Tides Project. The hike distance is approximately 1.25 miles round trip. RSVP optional
  • King Tide Watch 2024
    Manhattan Beach Pier, Los Angeles County

    Jan. 12, 8:30-9:30am
    Presented by Roundhouse Aquarium
    Join the Roundhouse Aquarium, nature enthusiasts, and scientists to documate the King Tide of 2024 at the base of the Manhattan Beach Pier and take photos for the King Tides Project. More information and RSVP
  • Wandering the King Tides
    Kendall-Frost Marsh 2055 Pacific Beach Drive, San Diego

    Jan. 12, 8am-10am
    Presented by San Diego Audubon Society
    Come to Kendall-Frost Marsh to get an overview of sea level rise, the birds that rely on disappearing marsh habitat, and tools for documenting and reporting King Tides. More information and RSVP

Saturday, January 13, 2024

  • King Tide Walk at Hayward Shoreline
    Hayward Regional Shoreline West Winton Avenue Staging Area, Alameda County

    Jan. 13, Noon-1:30pm
    Presented by East Bay Regional Park District
    What are King Tides? How do they affect plants and animals, and what can we learn from them? Find out the answers to these questions and participate in the community science King Tides Project on this easy walk along the San Francisco Bay shore. Be prepared for muddy shoes! All ages. Parent participation required. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. For information, call (510) 544-3220.
  • A Royal Walk with the King Tides
    Cooley Landing Education Center, San Mateo County

    2100 Bay Road, East Palo Alto
    Jan. 13, 1pm-3:30pm
    Presented by Grassroots Ecology, KQED, Exploratorium, and Climate Resilient Communities
    Join a stroll along the bay to observe, photograph, and discuss the king tide. Find out what causes the tides and why we have king tides at this time of year, and learn about sea level rise and resilience projects. We'll meet rain or shine so wear shoes that can get wet! We'll have stations where you can talk with a scientist or educator, and the Exploratorium is bringing interactive educational displays. This event is free, and prior registration is required. This event will be offered in both English and Spanish. Details and registration: www.kqed.org/event/3930
    El Exploratorium de San Francisco, Climate Resilient Communities, y Grassroots Ecology te invitan a un paseo por la bahía para observar, fotografiar, discutir y aprender sobre las mareas llamadas "del rey." Entérate de qué causa estas mareas y del porqué ocurren durante esta época del año. También te invitamos a aprender sobre el aumento del nivel del mar y proyectos de resiliencia. Nos reuniremos llueva o truene, así que vengan preparados! Tendremos estaciones donde podrán platicar con un científico o un profesor y el Exploratorium tendrá preparadas gráficas educacionales interactivas. El evento es bilingüe, gratis, y solo necesitas registrarte con anticipación. www.kqed.org/event/3930
  • King Tides Walk at the Baylands
    EcoCenter, 2560 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, Santa Clara County

    Jan. 13, Noon-2pm
    Presented by Environmental Volunteers
    Join a fun, interactive learning experience which will teach you about what a King Tides is, and why they are so exciting. All ages are welcome – activities will be accessible and enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Register for this free event.
  • King Tide Hike at Elkhorn Slough Reserve
    Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
    1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville

    Jan. 13, 11am-1pm
    Presented by Elkhorn Slough Reserve
    Join an Elkhorn Slough Reserve naturalist to see a high king tide for yourself! Learn what causes high tides, talk about why king tides are so interesting, and take a hike to the Reserve's boardwalk to witness the event firsthand. We'll also take photos to submit to the California King Tides Project. The hike distance is approximately 1.25 miles round trip. RSVP optional

Friday, February 9, 2024

  • Students & Teachers: Float the California Coast & Learn About King Tides
    Online

    Feb. 9, 9am-10am
    Presented by California State Parks
    Join State Parks staff to float up the California coast and visit a handful of our State Beaches during the king tides! These naturally occurring ocean events cause extreme low and high tides along the California coast. Students will hear from State Park interpreters from southern to northern California and get to witness the high water events happening live! We'll learn about the science of what causes king tides and we'll even have a special guest appearance from a researcher from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Get ready to time travel as we learning how king tides allow us to see into the future! Pre-registration is required: Webinar Registration - Zoom
  • King Tides Bike Ride
    Northcoast Environmental Center office
    415 I Street, Arcata

    Feb. 9, 11am-1pm
    Presented by Northcoast Environmental Center
    View the king tides in a group bike ride through the Arcata Marsh, past the wastewater treatment plant, and out the Bay Trail. Start and end at the Northcoast Environmental Center office in Arcata. Email director@yournec.org for more details.
  • A Royal Walk with the King Tide along the Embarcadero
    Between Pier 3 and Pier 5 on the Bay side of San Francisco's Embarcadero

    Jan. 11, 10:15am-11:15am
    Presented by Exploratorium and Port of San Francisco
    Join the Exploratorium and Port of San Francisco staff on the San Francisco waterfront to observe, photograph, and discuss the King Tides. Come find out what causes the tides, why we have higher tides at this time of year, and learn more about the Waterfront Resilience Program's efforts to protect the city's waterfront. Because of sea level rise, the King Tides of today provide opportunities to experience the "normal" high tides of tomorrow. We'll meet rain or shine. Come see the future! This event is free, no reservations are required. Exploratorium museum entrance is not included. The high tide predicted at our closest tide station that day is 7.05 feet at 10:36am. For more information, contact Lori Lambertson at llambertson@exploratorium.edu.
  • King Tides at the Cove
    Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove
    1252 McKay Avenue, Alameda

    Feb. 9, 10:30am-11:30am
    Presented by East Bay Regional Parks District
    Stop by during your lunch or morning break and watch as the king tide flows into the marine protected area. Participate in community science and take photos to help document this tidal event! More info
  • Santa Monica King Tides Celebration
    Heal the Bay Aquarium, Santa Monica Pier
    1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica

    Feb. 9, 7:30am-9:30am
    Presented by Climate Action Santa Monica
    Experience one of the wonders of nature, the highest tides of the year with Climate Action Santa Monica! When the planets and sun are at their closest, and the orbits of the earth and sun are just right, the King Tides, the highest tides of the year, will occur. These high tides give us a glimpse into the future of sea level rise and how these changes will affect our beach, coastal infrastructure, and our community. More info and sign up

Saturday, February 10, 2024

  • Discovery Days - King Tides
    Wetlands Edge Trail
    2 Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon, Napa County

    Feb. 10, 11:30am-2pm
    Presented by American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation
    Join ACCPF for a morning of nature exploration learning about the annual California King Tides and their impact on our local wetlands. Learn about the causes of King Tides and how they impact our wetlands, learn about sea level rise with the Sierra Club, and observe the King Tides during a Photo Walk. This free event is open to the public and appropriate for all ages. More info
  • King Tide Paddle
    Petaluma River, Lakeville Landing to San Pablo Bay

    Feb. 10, 2pm
    Presented by Napa Valley Paddle
    Ride the Tide with NVP! Since 2016 NVP has been celebrating the King Tides. This year we will paddle 7 miles in about two hours' time, into the sunset as we approach San Pablo Bay. Enjoy sweeping views, oak studded hills of Olampali and a ridgeline that extends to Mt. Tam. Join the flotilla, see the future. Bring your own gear and pay $5 for river access at Lakeville Landing, or rent your gear. Get details and reservation: More info
  • Flood Futures: A Flood Walk in Suisun City (King Tide Edition)
    Suisun City Civic Center
    701 Civic Center Blvd, Suisun City, Solano County

    Feb. 10, 2pm-4pm
    Presented by Sustainable Solano and Greenbelt Alliance
    Join a free, interactive waterfront tour to learn about the impacts of flooding, sea level rise, and stormwater management in Suisun City and the Bay Area. The approximately two mile walk will begin near the water behind the Suisun City Civic Center, including discussion of climate change impacts as well as potential adaptation measures to mitigate harm to the community and landscape. We will also see how the slough interacts with urban areas and learn about the surrounding ecology. More info
  • King Tide Day in San Rafael / Día de las Mareas Reales
    Boro Community Center
    50 Canal Street, San Rafael, Marin County

    Feb. 10, 10am-1pm
    Presented by Canal Alliance, City of San Rafael, UC Berkeley, Marin Audubon Society, Canal Arts, the Multicultural Center of Marin.
    Have fun and join your neighbors and local scientists to take pictures and measure the flooding in your community. Participants will go in teams to low-lying spots on the waterfront with science kits to help document king tide impacts. The information and photos you collect will help our community prepare for sea level rise. Waterproof boots recommended. Please register in advance for this free event.

    Invitamos a los vecinos a reunirse durante las mareas más altas del año, conocidas como Mareas Reales, para recolectar datos sobre el riesgo de inundaciones en el vecindario de El Canal. Los participantes se dirigirán a la orilla de la bahia con "kits de ciencia ciudadana" para ayudar a medir los datos de inundaciones en varios lugares. Los datos que se recolecten informarán las acciones que nuestra comunidad tomará para prepararse ante el aumento del nivel del mar. Por favor, registrarse para este evento gratuita.
  • King Tide Walk at Hayward Shoreline
    Hayward Regional Shoreline, West Winton Avenue Staging Area, Alameda County

    Feb. 10, 11am-12:30pm
    Presented by East Bay Regional Park District
    What are King Tides? How do they affect plants and animals, and what can we learn from them? Find out the answers to these questions and participate in the community science King Tides Project on this easy walk along the San Francisco Bay shore. Be prepared for muddy shoes! All ages. Parent participation required. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. For information, call (510) 544-3220.
  • King Tide Ride on the South Bay Shoreline
    Baylands Park
    999 East Caribbean Drive, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County

    Feb. 10, 9:30am-1pm
    Presented by Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
    Ride bikes with SVBC and partners to see the King Tides up close at a leisurely pace. All our rides are no-drop, with ride support always alongside our newest riders. You'll love seeing the beauty of our shoreline on a casual, family-friendly fun ride. Get details and register.

Contact the California King Tides Project at kingtides@coastal.ca.gov.