Tide pools: the best low tides near you
Tide pooling is best on the lowest daylight tides of the year, when sea stars, anemones, crabs and nudibranchs are left in pools on uncovered rock. Here's when those tides come at well-known tide pools, and in every coastal state, from NOAA predictions for the next 12 months.
Famous tide pools: next good low tides
| Tide pools | Next good low tides | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| La Jolla tide pools CA Tides: La Jolla (Scripps Institution Wharf), 2 mi | Oct 27–28 then Nov 23–25, Dec 8 | -0.8 ft Tue Oct 27, 4:57 PM |
| Cabrillo National Monument CA Tides: San Diego, Quarantine Station, 3 mi | Oct 26–27 then Nov 23–25, Dec 21–25 | -0.8 ft Tue Oct 27, 5:02 PM |
| Crystal Cove State Park CA Tides: Newport Bay Entrance, Corona del Mar, 3 mi | Oct 26–28 then Nov 23–25, Dec 8 | -0.8 ft Tue Oct 27, 4:59 PM |
| Laguna Beach tide pools CA Tides: Newport Bay Entrance, Corona del Mar, 7 mi | Oct 26–28 then Nov 23–25, Dec 8 | -0.8 ft Tue Oct 27, 4:59 PM |
| Point Fermin, San Pedro CA Tides: Cabrillo Beach | Oct 26–28 then Nov 23–25, Dec 21–25 | -0.8 ft Tue Oct 27, 5:03 PM |
| Montaña de Oro CA Tides: Port San Luis, 10 mi | Oct 27 then Nov 23–25, Dec 21–24 | -0.7 ft Tue Oct 27, 5:59 PM |
| Shell Beach, Pismo CA Tides: Port San Luis, 5 mi | Oct 27 then Nov 23–25, Dec 21–24 | -0.7 ft Tue Oct 27, 5:59 PM |
| Point Lobos CA Tides: Carmel Cove, Carmel Bay | Nov 23–24 then Dec 21–23, Jan 7 | -1.3 ft Tue Nov 24, 4:24 PM |
| Asilomar, Pacific Grove CA Tides: Monterey, Monterey Bay, 3 mi | Nov 23–24 then Dec 21–23, Jan 6–7 | -1.3 ft Tue Nov 24, 4:28 PM |
| Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz CA Tides: Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, 2 mi | Oct 27 then Nov 23–24, Dec 21–24 | -0.8 ft Tue Oct 27, 6:15 PM |
| Pigeon Point CA Tides: Ano Nuevo Island, 6 mi | Oct 26–27 then Nov 23–25, Dec 8–9 | -1.1 ft Tue Oct 27, 5:58 PM |
| Fitzgerald Marine Reserve CA Tides: Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, 2 mi | Oct 26 then Nov 23–24, Dec 7–8 | -0.9 ft Mon Oct 26, 5:42 PM |
| Duxbury Reef, Bolinas CA Tides: Bolinas Lagoon, 2 mi | Jan 19–20 then Feb 17–19, Apr 21–25 | -0.5 ft Wed Jan 20, 5:16 PM |
| Salt Point State Park CA Tides: Fort Ross, 6 mi | Oct 26 then Nov 23–24, Dec 8 | -0.8 ft Mon Oct 26, 5:47 PM |
| Trinidad State Beach CA Tides: Trinidad Harbor | Nov 23 then Dec 21–22, Jan 19–21 | -1.2 ft Mon Nov 23, 4:37 PM |
| Harris Beach, Brookings OR Tides: Brookings, Chetco Cove, 2 mi | Nov 23 then Dec 21–22, Jan 19–21 | -1.3 ft Mon Nov 23, 4:44 PM |
| Cape Arago & Sunset Bay OR Tides: Charleston, 4 mi | Jan 20 then Feb 18–20, Apr 10 | -1.4 ft Wed Jan 20, 4:41 PM |
| Strawberry Hill OR Tides: Drift Creek, Alsea River, 13 mi | Apr 9–10 then Apr 21–23, May 6–11 | -0.5 ft Fri Apr 9, 10:25 AM |
| Cape Perpetua OR Tides: Drift Creek, Alsea River, 11 mi | Apr 9–10 then Apr 21–23, May 6–11 | -0.5 ft Fri Apr 9, 10:25 AM |
| Seal Rock OR Tides: Waldport, Alsea Bay, 4 mi | Apr 21–23 then May 6–11, May 19–23 | -0.9 ft Thu Apr 22, 8:49 AM |
| Yaquina Head OR Tides: Yaquina USCG Sta, Newport, 4 mi | Dec 21 then Jan 19–20, Feb 18–19 | -0.9 ft Mon Dec 21, 4:13 PM |
| Otter Rock (Devil's Punchbowl) OR Tides: Depoe Bay, 4 mi | Jan 20 then Feb 18–19, Apr 10 | -1.5 ft Wed Jan 20, 4:42 PM |
| Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach OR Tides: North Fork, Nehalem River, 11 mi | Jan 19 then Feb 18, Apr 9–10 | -1.1 ft Tue Jan 19, 4:56 PM |
| Second Beach, La Push WA Tides: James Island, 2 mi | Jan 20 then Feb 19, Apr 21–23 | -1.2 ft Wed Jan 20, 5:00 PM |
| Rialto Beach (Hole-in-the-Wall) WA Tides: La Push, Quillayute River, 1 mi | Feb 19 then Apr 21–22, May 6–11 | -1.3 ft Fri Feb 19, 5:31 PM |
| Shi Shi Beach & Point of the Arches WA Tides: Makah Bay, 2 mi | Feb 19 then Apr 21–23, May 6–11 | -1.2 ft Fri Feb 19, 5:33 PM |
| Salt Creek Recreation Area WA Tides: Crescent Bay, 1 mi | Jan 18 then Feb 17, Apr 9–12 | -1.2 ft Mon Jan 18, 4:30 PM |
| Rosario Beach, Deception Pass WA Tides: Deception Pass St. Park, Bowman Bay, Fidalgo I. | Apr 10–11 then May 6–11, May 19–23 | -1.7 ft Sun Apr 11, 2:05 PM |
| Alki Beach, Seattle WA Tides: Lockheed Shipyard, Harbor Island, 2 mi | Apr 9–11 then Apr 22–23, May 6–11 | -1.9 ft Sat Apr 10, 2:01 PM |
| Lincoln Park, Seattle WA Tides: Point Vashon, Vashon Island, 3 mi | Apr 9–11 then Apr 22–23, May 6–11 | -1.9 ft Sat Apr 10, 2:04 PM |
| Bishop's Beach, Homer AK Tides: Homer, Coal Point, Kachemak Bay, 6 mi | Mar 22–25 then Apr 7–10, Apr 20–23 | -3.5 ft Tue Mar 23, 9:57 AM |
| Shark's Cove, Oʻahu HI Tides: Haleiwa, Waialua Bay, 5 mi | Nov 22 then Dec 20–21, Jan 17–20 | -0.2 ft Sun Nov 22, 5:43 PM |
| Makapuʻu tide pools, Oʻahu HI Tides: Waimanalo, 3 mi | Dec 20 then Jan 18–19, Feb 16–17 | -0.3 ft Sun Dec 20, 5:39 PM |
| Ship Harbor, Acadia ME Tides: Bass Harbor, 2 mi | Oct 26 then Nov 23–24, Dec 22–23 | -0.9 ft Mon Oct 26, 5:00 PM |
| Wonderland, Acadia ME Tides: Bass Harbor, 2 mi | Oct 26 then Nov 23–24, Dec 22–23 | -0.9 ft Mon Oct 26, 5:00 PM |
| Pemaquid Point ME Tides: New Harbor, Muscongus Bay, 3 mi | Oct 26 then Nov 23, Dec 22–23 | -1.0 ft Mon Oct 26, 5:38 PM |
| Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth ME Tides: Portland Head Light, 4 mi | Nov 23 then Dec 22–23, Jan 21 | -0.9 ft Mon Nov 23, 3:34 PM |
| Odiorne Point, Rye NH Tides: Jaffrey Point, 1 mi | Oct 26 then Nov 23, Dec 22–23 | -0.9 ft Mon Oct 26, 5:41 PM |
| Halibut Point, Rockport MA Tides: Rockport, 2 mi | Dec 22 then Jan 20–21, Feb 19–20 | -0.8 ft Tue Dec 22, 3:26 PM |
| Nahant MA Tides: Lynn, Lynn Harbor, 3 mi | Jan 21 then Feb 19–20, Mar 21–22 | -1.3 ft Thu Jan 21, 4:13 PM |
| Beavertail, Jamestown RI Tides: Beavertail Point | Nov 24–25 then Dec 23–26, Jan 21–26 | -0.3 ft Wed Nov 25, 1:55 PM |
| Brenton Point, Newport RI Tides: Castle Hill | Nov 24–25 then Dec 23–26, Jan 21–26 | -0.3 ft Wed Nov 25, 2:04 PM |
| Coral Cove Park, Jupiter FL Tides: Conch Bar, Jupiter Sound, 2 mi | Jan 22–24 then Feb 19–23, Mar 11 | -0.6 ft Sun Jan 24, 5:16 PM |
When is tide pool season?
It depends on the coast: the lowest daylight tides come in different months, and at different times of day, around the country.
Northeast
| State | Best months | Spots |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | July to September | 111 |
| New Hampshire | June to August | 9 |
| Massachusetts | January to March | 89 |
| Rhode Island | January to March | 33 |
| Connecticut | January to March | 41 |
| New York | January to March | 124 |
| New Jersey | January to March | 192 |
| Pennsylvania | December to February | 13 |
| Delaware | January to March | 22 |
| Maryland | December to February | 99 |
| Washington, D.C. | December to February | 5 |
| Virginia | December to February | 131 |
Southeast & Gulf
| State | Best months | Spots |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | January to March | 65 |
| South Carolina | June to August | 245 |
| Georgia | January to March | 69 |
| Florida | December to February | 582 |
| Alabama | December to February | 23 |
| Mississippi | November to January | 22 |
| Louisiana | December to February | 85 |
| Texas | December to February | 75 |
West Coast
| State | Best months | Spots |
|---|---|---|
| California | May to July | 191 |
| Oregon | May to July | 47 |
| Washington | May to July | 162 |
Alaska & Hawaii
Islands
| State | Best months | Spots |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | April to June | 47 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | April to June | 13 |
| Guam | June to August | 3 |
| American Samoa | June to August | 2 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | May to July | 3 |
| Micronesia | June to August | 2 |
| U.S. Pacific Islands | March to May | 3 |
Tide pool tips
Go before the low
Arrive about an hour before low tide and head back as soon as the water turns.
Watch the waves
Sneaker waves run far up rocky shores, especially on the Pacific. Never turn your back on the ocean.
Step on bare rock
Seaweed and barnacles are slippery and alive. Wear shoes with grip and step on bare rock or sand.
Look, don't take
Touch gently with a wet finger, put rocks back as you found them, and leave animals and shells. Many tide pools are protected.
A low counts as a tide pool low when it's in that spot's lowest 10% for the next 12 months and comes between an hour after sunrise and sunset. Each spot's own page lists every low tide. Not for navigation.