Exploring Oregon Coast Tide Pools

When we visited Oregon for the first time a couple of years ago we found sand dollars for the first time and it was so cool. When we knew we were going to go on a trip to the Oregon coast again I wanted to find Tide Pools.

I had seen pictures of tide pools along the Oregon Coast and in other places but I had never seen one in person. So finding one was at the top of my bucket list for our trip.

What are Tide Pools

First off if you haven’t seen pictures or visited the coast you might be wondering what the heck a tide pool is and why I wanted to find one.

A tide pools are shallow pools of seawater that form in the rocky areas of the beach. Many of these pools only exist at low tide.

Before we left on our trip I did some research on tide pools and how to find them. My main goal in finding some of these pools was being able to see a starfish.

How to Find Tide Pools

From my research, I found that you want to visit the beach at low tide and look for areas that have rocks. Several different websites recommended Cannon Beach as a great place to find tide pools.

No matter where you are on the coast look for rocky areas. This is where you will often find pools of seawater that stay when the tide goes out. In these pools, you can find different sea creatures.

On our trip to the coast, we stayed at Rockaway Beach which is not a great place to find tide pools. The beach is beautiful but there aren’t any rocky areas for tide pools to form.

Related Post: Rockaway Beach Oregon

Just a short drive north up the coast we stopped at Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site where there were some rocky outcroppings.

After a short walk down the beach from the parking lot there were a couple of pools and we found several starfish and other tide pool animals.

Tide Pool Animals

There are several different types of animals you can find living in tide pools. Our main goal was to find some starfish and we found them!

A few of the Animals you might be able to find include:

• Sea Anemone
• Barnacle
• Limpet
• Hermit Crab
• Sea Star
• Urchin
• Mussels
• Sea Slug

While finding tide pools and exploring the beach is a lot of fun it’s important to be aware of your surroundings so you can stay safe.

Tips For Exploring Safely

While tide pools aren’t dangerous if you aren’t careful while exploring them you could get hurt.

Be Aware of the Ocean

Because tide pools are in the area that is usually covered by the ocean it’s really important to make sure that you are aware of the ocean and the tide.

You don’t want to be surprised by the tide coming in while you’re out in the middle of the rocks.

Related Post: Things To Know Before Going on a Road Trip

Wear Good Shoes

The rocks around the pools can be sharp and slippery. Make sure you wear good shoes so you don’t hurt yourself if you plan to climb on any of the rocks.

Be Cautious Climbing on Rocks

Even with good shoes be careful climbing on the rocks. They can be slippery and sharp.

Observe from a Distance

When you find animals living in the pools observe them from a distance. Don’t bother them and don’t take them out of their home.

Bring Extra Clothes for Kids

Anytime you head to the beach with kids bring extra clothes.

It’s pretty much impossible to keep my kids dry when we go to the beach even if it’s freezing so extra clothes are a must.

Protect Yourself from the Sun

Even if it’s cloudy and you don’t feel like you’ll get burned while outside it’s still possible so protect yourself.

We all had some awesome “explorer” hats that we wore to protect us from getting sunburned.

Don’t Forget Snacks

If you want to be able to spend time exploring the pools and playing on the beach don’t forget to bring snacks.

The sun and the beach take a lot of energy so don’t be surprised when the kids need snacks or they start to have meltdowns.

Pack it in a Backpack

An easy way to have everything you need for a fun day at the beach exploring is to bring a backpack with water, snacks, extra clothes, and anything else you might need.

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