Tide pooling in Pennsylvania: best low tides
The best tide pool days are low tides that are among a spot's lowest of the year and fall in daylight. In Pennsylvania they come mostly in December to February. The next stretch of tide pool lows across the state is Dec 25–29. Dates, times and heights below come from NOAA predictions for 13 spots, worked out for the next 12 months.
Tide pools in every state · Pennsylvania king tides
Tide pool season in Pennsylvania
Average number of good tide pool days per spot, month by month:
Best tide pool days statewide
| Dates | Best day | Spots with a good low that day |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 25–29 | Sun Dec 27 | 12 of 13 spots |
| Jan 1–3 | Fri Jan 1 | 11 of 13 spots |
| Jan 23–29 | Mon Jan 25 | 13 of 13 spots |
| Feb 21–25 | Tue Feb 23 | 13 of 13 spots |
| Mar 21–24 | Tue Mar 23 | 12 of 13 spots |
Tide pool lows for your spot
Showing all 13 spots
| Spot | Next tide pool lows | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, Municipal Pier 11, Pa. | Nov 26–28 mornings then Dec 25–28, Jan 23–28 | 0.1 ft Fri Nov 27, 10:22 AM 7 good days in the next 3 months |
| Cornwells Heights, Pa. | Dec 24–29 mornings then Jan 1, Jan 22–29 | -0.1 ft Sat Dec 26, 10:30 AM 7 good days in the next 3 months |
| Edgely, Pa. | Dec 24–29 middays then Jan 1, Jan 22–29 | -0.1 ft Sun Dec 27, 11:54 AM 7 good days in the next 3 months |
| Bridesburg, Philadelphia, Pa. | Dec 25–29 mornings then Jan 1, Jan 23–29 | -0.1 ft Sun Dec 27, 10:44 AM 6 good days in the next 3 months |
| Market Street Bridge | Dec 25–29 mornings then Jan 1–2, Jan 23–29 | -0.1 ft Sat Dec 26, 9:32 AM 7 good days in the next 3 months |
| Penrose Avenue Bridge | Dec 25–29 mornings then Jan 1–3, Jan 24–29 | -0.1 ft Sun Dec 27, 10:15 AM 8 good days in the next 3 months |
| Philadelphia, US Coast Guard Station, Pa. | Dec 25–29 mornings then Jan 1–2, Jan 23–29 | -0.1 ft Sat Dec 26, 9:32 AM 7 good days in the next 3 months |
| Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge | Dec 25–29 mornings then Jan 1–2, Jan 23–29 | -0.1 ft Sun Dec 27, 10:53 AM 7 good days in the next 3 months |
| Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge | Dec 25–29 mornings then Jan 1–3, Jan 24–29 | -0.1 ft Sat Dec 26, 9:24 AM 8 good days in the next 3 months |
| Norwood City | Dec 26–29 mornings then Jan 1–3, Jan 24–29 | -0.1 ft Sat Dec 26, 8:57 AM 7 good days in the next 3 months |
| Wanamaker Bridge | Dec 26–29 mornings then Jan 1–3, Jan 24–29 | -0.1 ft Sun Dec 27, 9:52 AM 7 good days in the next 3 months |
| Marcus Hook, Pa. | Dec 27–28 mornings then Jan 2–4, Jan 25–28 | -0.2 ft Sun Dec 27, 9:13 AM 5 good days in the next 3 months |
| Newbold, Pa. | Jan 1 afternoon then Jan 22–28, Feb 20–25 | -0.1 ft Fri Jan 1, 4:31 PM 1 good day in the next 3 months |
Tide pool tips
Arrive about an hour before low tide and head back as soon as the water turns.
Sneaker waves run far up rocky shores, especially on the Pacific. Never turn your back on the ocean.
Seaweed and barnacles are slippery and alive. Wear shoes with grip and step on bare rock or sand.
Touch gently with a wet finger, put rocks back as you found them, and leave animals and shells. Many tide pools are protected.
How these dates are worked out
For every spot we take NOAA's low tide predictions for the next 12 months. A low counts as a tide pool low when it's in that spot's lowest 10% and comes between an hour after sunrise and sunset, so there's light for the hour before it. Heights are feet above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero on tide charts; below zero is a minus tide. Wind and swell can keep the water higher than predicted. Not for navigation.