The year's highest tides are coming to the Bay on Nov. 24–26, Dec. 23–25 and Jan. 21–22, according to the California Coastal Commission. Here are free ways to see them with a guide and help scientists track sea level rise.
Events
- Sat., Nov. 14, 1–4 p.m., Ferry Plaza, San Francisco: "Rising Tides," a free, family-friendly drop-in event from the Exploratorium and the Port of San Francisco about tides, El Niño, sea level rise and the Port's Waterfront Resilience Program.
- Tue., Nov. 24, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Menlo Park: a King Tides walk of about 2 miles at Bedwell Bayfront Park and the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge's Ravenswood unit, from the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society. Meet at the Bedwell Bayfront Park lot.
- Sat., Jan. 23, 2027, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Palo Alto Baylands EcoCenter: a hands-on tides talk and gentle walk from Environmental Volunteers.
The Coastal Commission's page has registration links and adds events through the season.
Timing your own visit
At the San Francisco gauge, every king tide this season peaks in the morning, per SFBayWeather's NOAA-based table. The highest predicted is 7.23 feet at 10:37 a.m. on Dec. 24. Tides peak later in the South and North Bay.
The Coastal Commission asks people to photograph king tides only where it's safe, especially in a stormy El Niño winter.