LIMPETS: Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students

Student Scientists on our Sanctuary Shores

Pillar Point

photo of team taking measurements at Pillar Point
GPS coordinates:
37° 29.682’ N, 122° 29.945’ W
LiMPETS monitoring site since:
2009
Directions:
Pillar Point is on the western coast of San Mateo County, approximately 25 miles south of San Francisco. From Highway One, turn west onto Capistrano Rd. Travel past the harbor entrance and turn left on Prospect Way. Turn right on Broadway. Take an immediate left onto Harvard. At the end of Harvard, turn right on West Point Ave. Pillar Point Marsh parking lot is 0.5 mile down the road on the left. To reach the monitoring site, walk along the trail that begins in the parking lot, next to the outhouse. The trail ends at a beach just beyond the jetty. Turn right and walk along this beach until you approach the northern edge of the reef.
Restrooms:
An outhouse is located in the parking lot.
Site description:
The tidepools at Pillar Point are located along a headlands promontory at the west end of Pillar Point Harbor. The monitoring site is accessible when the tide is at or below 0 ft. Beware of the changing tides at this location. Flooding tides quickly fill the channels with water, and crossing these channels to return to the beach can become both difficult and dangerous. Note: the famed surf spot known as Mavericks is located along the submerged rocky shelf to the west of Pillar Point.
LiMPETS methods:
  1. vertical transects
  2. random quadrats in a permanent plot
  3. total counts in a permanent area
Download site-specific protocols and datasheets used at this site.
Permit and visitor information:
Pillar Point is a popular destination for students, dog walkers, locals and tourists alike. Though the intertidal areas at Pillar Point are not part of the Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area, keep in mind that collecting of animals or algae is illegal unless you have a valid fishing permit and/or CA Department of Fish and Game license. No reservations required.
Contact your LiMPETS site coordinator:
Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association • The Presidio, 991 Marine Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129 • • (415) 561-6625 x304