Tidepooling Oregon Coast
 

Will be driving the Oregon Coast for a couple of days in July. Will be traveling from Redwoods NP to about the Three Capes Loop. Will be doing the Sand Dunes, etc along the way. What are a few of the great tidepool spots along the way? Thanks for any input.

On the north end of Newport, Yaquina Head has some good tidepools. You go down a bunch of stairs, and then are on rocks...no sandy beach there, so wear some good traction shoes. DD was in flipflops and not faring so well. The Three Capes Loop is really nice and there are so many places to stop and scout out. If you head just a tad bit further on the north end, to Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock has great tidepools. Be sure to check the tide charts for best times.

Strawberry Hill is also a good place - its north of Florence


http://www.paulnoll.com/Oregon/Touri...l-choices.html

Cannon Beach often has interpreters available at low tide. Here is a pertinent link: http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynami...egonsites.html

Tidepools galore at the Haystock Rock on Cannon Beach.

How was your tidepooling at Pt Reyes, Spiro?

Pt Reyes was nice. We did our first tidepool experience at McClures Beach. We weren't impressed with the Tomales Trail though(saw a lot of elk on the road however). As for the tidepooling we saw a zillion clams, many starfish, anemonea(spelling). We thought we'd check it out in oregon as well. Probably similar, but hope to see even more. We were a little afraid to go very far down McClures, didn't want to get trapped. It looks like there will be a negative tide when we are in Oregon. And it looks like there are a lot of tidepools there. We will be in Redwoods for a day, do you know anything about the tidepooling there. We basically planned on spending the day in Stout Grove area.

Stout Grove is not on the coast but is well worth visiting. If you are in Crescent City at low tide there are tide pools on Pebble Beach Drive. And you should go visit Battery Point Lighthouse.

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=58

Sorry you didn't enjoy the Tomales Point Trail. On a nice, warm day, the hike out to the point is incredible. There are maybe a half dozen such days a year.

I now plan on staying a night at Cannon Beach since after looking on the tidepool tables July 22 looks to be the lowest tide for the rest of the year. Talked to a couple of people that answered the phones at lodging places. They said Ecola State Park, Indian Beach is good tidepools. Does anyone have favorite places near Cannon Beach for Tidepools.

Haystack Rock is the best spot in/near Cannon Beach. The tidepools at the south end of Indian Beach aren't nearly as good. On the other hand though, since it's a designated marine life sanctuary, you have to be careful about where you're stepping at Haystack.

Didn't see that anyone mentioned the tidepools at Cape Perpetua, on the central coast. Excellent! Just be sure to wear sturdy shoes, as you'll be walking on rock instead of sand.

spiro, during the summer Cannon Beach hotels have 2 night minimums. Also on south to Manzanita ... just so you know.

My photo of Haystack Rock in July ... the water was so cold we couldn't walk barefoot lol

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...stack-rock.jpg

How long of a drive is it from Portland to Cannon Beach? We'd love to see some tidepools, but don't want to make a whole day of it. Is that possible?
Thanks.

The drive is about 90 minutes from downtown.

Mms is right about the drive time, but she didn't answer your second question; "Is that possible?" ;-) I'd say, probably not! Because, once you get to Cannon Beach, you won't want to leave. :-)

If you decide to make the drive, check tide tables.

I would go to Haystack Rock, if you like aquariums, there is a small one in Seaside on the prom, you can feed the seals, too! Seaside is about 10 mintues from Cannon Beach. Enjoy the coast! ***kim*** ((#))

what is a negative tide?

The average low tide for any location is assigned a value of zero, so a negative tide is one that is lower than that average. For tidepooling, generally, the lower the tide, the better.

Could someone give a little more detail on what it means to go "tide pooling?" I gather it means looking for interesting marine life stranded in tide pools. Can I pick up a guide to marine life somewhere in Cannon Beach? Is this always a self-guided activity or are there naturalist walks? Thanks.

Yes, tidepooling generally means looking for and observing sea life in the tidal pools, usually found at the base of rocks and/or headlands near low tides. Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach is one of the best north coast spots for it. Depending on the time of year, there are volunteers around who can help you identify what you're seeing. But, I'm sure you can find a guide in town, too. I'm not aware of any guided walks, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

Thanks, beachbum. We will be in Cannon Beach next week at Stephanie Inn. I'll ask about guided walks or printed guides to the marine life.

More than anything, you should look for a tide table, Jennifer. Best time to go tidepooling is about an hour before low tide, and as has been said, the lower the tide, the better.

and watch the tides carefully - I was in Cannon Beach once when some people had to be rescued from Haystack rock - tide came in while they were tidepooling and they could not get back to shore!!