Tide pooling in Washington, D.C.: 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 Washington, D.C. they come mostly in December to February. The next stretch of tide pool lows across the state is Dec 23–26. Dates, times and heights below come from NOAA predictions for 5 spots, worked out for the next 12 months.
Tide pools in every state · Washington, D.C. king tides
Tide pool season in Washington, D.C.
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 23–26 | Wed Dec 23 | 5 of 5 spots |
| Dec 31 | Thu Dec 31 | 4 of 5 spots |
| Jan 19–25 | Wed Jan 20 | 5 of 5 spots |
| Feb 6–9 | Sat Feb 6 | 5 of 5 spots |
| Feb 19–24 | Fri Feb 19 | 5 of 5 spots |
| Mar 22 | Mon Mar 22 | 5 of 5 spots |
Tide pool lows for your spot
Showing all 5 spots
| Spot | Next tide pool lows | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, D.C. | Dec 23–26 afternoons then Jan 19–25, Feb 6–9 | -0.6 ft Sat Dec 26, 4:17 PM 4 good days in the next 3 months |
| Kenilworth Aquatic Garden | Dec 23–26 afternoons then Dec 31, Jan 20–25 | -0.5 ft Sat Dec 26, 4:38 PM 5 good days in the next 3 months |
| Kingman Lake | Dec 23–26 afternoons then Dec 31, Jan 19–25 | -0.5 ft Sat Dec 26, 4:32 PM 5 good days in the next 3 months |
| Washington Naval Yard | Dec 23–26 afternoons then Dec 31, Jan 19–25 | -0.5 ft Sat Dec 26, 4:22 PM 5 good days in the next 3 months |
| Washington, Washington Channel, D.C. | Dec 23–26 afternoons then Dec 31, Jan 19–25 | -0.5 ft Sat Dec 26, 4:28 PM 5 good days 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.