The Hitchikers’ Guide to Ocean Beach, Attraction #2: Rogers Island

by Citizen Cane

At the far northern end of Ocean Beach is a rocky patch of land called Rogers Island. It was named back in the early Sixties by a young boy named Roger that was clever enough to call dibs on the place. I tried to convince Roger that it was more like a peninsula, but he insisted it was an island. We later found out that we were both correct at different tidal levels.

I recently photographed Rogers Island on a day when we had an eight foot tidal swing. At the extreme high tide the island was underwater. Soon the vegetated high ground of the island started to emerge. A seagull (probably named Roger) claimed the tiny islet.

As the tide fell the island grew larger until it looked more like a peninsula arcing off the big jetty. At minus tides Rogers Island is big enough for two dozen fishermen, but it never gets that crowded. Mostly it’s a place for the birds.

Sometimes the feral cats will come down from the jetty to hunt insects or beg for bait. Some people still hunt clams and ghost shrimp there.

Rogers Island isn’t the only sandbar in the west end of the river. It’s also not the largest sandbar, but it’s the only one with lots of river cobbles. That makes it look like an old Mission Bay shoreline before they were manicured. It’s also the northern frontier of Ocean Beach.

You can reach Rogers Island by driving to Hospitality Point and walking down the jetty, but it’s more fun to swim there from Dog Beach. That’s how Roger and I arrived there during our Huck Finn youth. I’m glad that it’s still there in all its undeveloped glory for young people to enjoy today.

Here are some more photos (click on image for larger version):