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Children’s Pool

Part of San Diego Beaches, our guide to San Diego beaches, coast and safety rules.

Harbor seals, and sometimes sea lions, rest on the beach at Children’s Pool all year. The City closes the beach to public access every year during harbor seal pupping season, December 15 through May 15. A permanent lifeguard station is here. Watch the seals from a distance.Checked October 23, 2026.

Dec 15-May 15beach closed every year
Year-roundharbor seals rest here
Lifeguardspermanent station
Distancewatch seals from afar
An aerial view of the curved seawall and beach at the Children's Pool in La Jolla, with seals resting on the sand
The Children's Pool and its seawall from above.
Seasonal closureClosed to public access during harbor seal pupping season, Dec. 15 through May 15 each year (City).
LifeguardsPermanent station (City).
WildlifeHarbor seals, and occasionally sea lions, rest on the beach year-round.
Address, hours, accessibilityNot confirmed.

Seals and Seasonal Closure

The City says the beach is closed to public access each year from December 15 through May 15 for pupping season. Outside those dates seals still rest on the sand, so give them room.

Nearby Rules

See Marine Protected Areas for the reserves along this coast and Rip Currents and Cliffs for water safety.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Address, hours and accessibility are not confirmed.
  • A distance in feet to keep from seals is not confirmed.
  • Search results only (not opened): the municipal code makes it unlawful to enter the beach from the lower stairs, starting at the second landing, during the closure, and a rope barrier and signs ask people to watch from a distance. The City can confirm the exact wording.

More in San Diego Beaches

FAQ

When is Children's Pool closed?

The City closes the beach to public access every year from December 15 through May 15 for harbor seal pupping season.

Sources

  1. City of San Diego Lifeguards: Children's Pool

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.