ADDRESS

2100 Beach Blvd
Pacifica, CA 94044

HOURS

Open Year Round
7:30AM-10:00PM

CONTACT

(650) 738-3760
City of Pacifica

AMENITIES

Picnic Facilities, Restrooms, Trails, Wheelchair Accessible

The Rev. Herschell Harkins Memorial Pier (a.k.a. the Pacifica Municipal Pier) was built in 1973 and thrusts out almost a quarter mile into the Pacific Ocean. It is a popular spot for fisherman and for wildlife viewing. It has become an exciting place to watch for whales – they often come close to the pier in search of food. Whales can be seen lunge feeding, tale slapping and sometime breaching. It is also a premiere location for watching the sun set on the Pacific Ocean. The Pier is located in the Sharp Park neighborhood of Pacifica, which boasts the mile long, black sand, Sharp Park Beach and the popular Palmetto Avenue.

WHERE THE WHALES ARE

You can spot the whales, seabirds and occasionally sharks right of the pier. You can also watch from the beach, the beach promenade, the city park or you can climb the nearby Mori Point promontory to get a fantastic over head view.

WHEN TO SEE WHALES

Viewing season is typically from April thru December.

WHICH ANIMALS YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE

OCCASIONALLY SEEN

PACIFIC FOGFEST

The annual Pacific FogFest is held every year on nearby Palmetto Avenue which celebrates Pacifica’s history and ocean heritage.

MAP AND DIRECTIONS

TRAVEL TIPS

The ChitChat cafe is located at the terminal end of the Pier. They sell coffee, breakfast and lunch items

The pier is a popular fishing destination especially for rockfish, crab and salmon. This can lead to shark sightings, in particular, great white sharks.

VIEWING GUIDE

View our guide on how to watch marine animals from shore.

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Fill out our nomination form for that amazing site.

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