This browser does not support the Video element.
Final Washington low tides of the season
Washington is experiencing one of its last low tides of the season. Taylor Winkel talks to a Beach Naturalist with the Seattle Aquarium ahead of the low tide.
SEATTLE - Armed with field guides, rubber boots and plenty of curiosity, beachgoers are heading to Washington shorelines Wednesday to catch one of the final and most extreme low tides of summer.
Sea stars cluster on the rocks at Larrabee State Park near Bellingham, Washington, during low tide. (FOX 13's Jim Jensen)
The day also marks the final run of the Seattle Aquarium’s seasonal Beach Naturalist program, which has been helping the public safely navigate and understand the underwater ecosystems temporarily exposed by the retreating waters.
With tide-pooling surging in popularity across social media platforms, experts are urging visitors to explore responsibly.
Finding the low tide in Washington
By the numbers:
Washington State tides drop well below the average 0.0-foot mark during the late spring and summer months, as well as late winter. These extreme low tides can drop to between -3.5 and -3.9 feet, temporarily exposing massive stretches of shoreline for crabbing, clamming, and exploring tide pools.
The best daylight minus tides for tide-pooling in the Puget Sound historically occur from May through July. On Wednesday, the lowest tide is expected to hit at 12:12 p.m.
To help the public explore, volunteer beach naturalists trained by the Seattle Aquarium are stationed at three area shorelines from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.:
- Pocket Beach
- Richmond Beach
- Des Moines Beach
The dos and don'ts of tide-pooling
What you can do:
Because tide-pooling has captured the attention of social media, naturalists emphasize the importance of minimizing human impact on fragile marine life.
The Seattle Aquarium recommends:
- Walk carefully; there is life beneath your feet.
- Touch gently with one wet finger.
- Observe animals where they are and avoid picking them up.
- Only move rocks that are small enough to be moved with one hand. Carefully return rocks to the exact position you found them in.
- Do not remove anything natural from the beach. Many of the beaches here are protected by law.
- Carry a small garbage bag to pick up trash.
What to look for
While searchers often hunt for the region’s most sought-after finds—such as the vibrant ochre sea star or the elusive giant Pacific octopus—naturalists remind visitors that the entire shoreline is teeming with life.
Barnacles, scuttling shore crabs, and colorful sea anemones are all highly visible during Wednesday's midday low tide. However, those venturing out should still take precautions, as the exposed terrain can be incredibly slippery and rocky.
While Wednesday marks the end of the Aquarium's guided beach walks for the summer, the low-tide windows remain open to the public. Future tide-poolers are encouraged to keep a close eye on NOAA tide charts to plan their own safe, self-guided marine adventures.
The Source: Information in this story comes from the Seattle Aquarium, the Washington Trails Association, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle.
MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
6-year-old Bellingham, WA boy dies from injuries after beach driftwood accident
Grandmother thwarts Pike Place kidnapping, Seattle police make arrest
'Transfer Fire' near Lake Chelan, WA hospital prompts evacuation notices
Here's where WA wildfires are currently burning
Seattle office vacancy crisis shifts tax burden onto homeowners
Thurston County, WA couple desperate to find dog after Rover sitter vanishes
Husband of pregnant wife killed in Seattle sues King County homeless authority
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.