Beach combing at low tide is one of the best free things you can do around Seattle. The Puget Sound shoreline is full of tide pools with sea stars, crabs, anemones and nudibranchs. But the whole experience depends on getting the timing right.

This guide covers how to plan a low tide trip in Puget Sound. What tide to aim for, when in the year to go, what to bring and a few beaches that are worth your time.

Why the Tide Matters

A “low tide” on a tide chart can mean anything from +2 ft to -3 ft. For beach combing you want the tide as low as possible, because that is when the interesting marine life gets exposed.

A quick guide:

• 0 ft or higher: Not worth the trip. Most creatures are still underwater.
• -1 ft: Decent. You will see sea stars, anemones, crabs on the rocks.
• -2 ft: Very good. Tide pools open up, more species exposed.
• -3 ft or lower: Excellent. You can walk out to areas that are rarely exposed.

Tides this low happen only a handful of days a month, so you have to plan ahead.

How to Read a Tide Chart

We use the NOAA tide prediction site to plan every trip. Pick the station closest to the beach you want to visit. Some common ones for Puget Sound:

• Seattle, Puget Sound (station 9447130 covers the Edmonds and north Seattle area)
• Tacoma
• Port Townsend
• Bremerton

The chart shows the predicted tide height for each hour of the day. Look for the low tide line that dips into negative numbers. Note the time and how long the tide stays low.

A good rule is to arrive about an hour before the peak low tide. That way you can walk out as the water recedes and have the full window to explore before the tide comes back in.

Best Months to Go

In Puget Sound, the biggest daytime minus tides happen in late spring and summer, roughly April through July. This is when the lowest tides of the year line up with daylight hours.

In fall and winter the deepest low tides happen at night. Not practical for beach combing unless you want to go with a headlamp.

Before picking a date, check the NOAA chart for your target month and look for any daytime tide below -1 ft on a day you can spare. Weekdays are much quieter than weekends.

What to Bring

The beach is exposed and the rocks are slippery. A few things make the trip easier:

• Waterproof boots or old sneakers. Your feet will get wet.
• Sun hat and sunscreen. There is no shade on most Puget Sound beaches.
• Layers. Mornings can be cold even in summer.
• Water and snacks. Most beaches have no vendors.
• A small bucket or clear container for a closer look at creatures (not to take home).
• Camera or phone. Close up shots are great.
• Change of clothes in the car, especially for kids.

Beaches Worth Visiting

Our favorite spots around the Seattle area:

Brackett’s Landing, Edmonds

Small marine sanctuary right next to the Edmonds ferry terminal. Free parking, flat beach, very kid friendly. On our visit at a -3 ft tide we saw a sea lemon, live Dungeness crabs, sea stars in three colors, hermit crabs and anemones. Read our full guide to Brackett’s Landing beach combing.

Golden Gardens Park, Ballard

Seattle’s most popular beach. Less of a tide pool beach and more of a long sandy stretch, but still worth a low tide visit for crabs and shells. Also a great sunset spot with Olympic mountain views. See our Golden Gardens guide.

Alki Beach, West Seattle

Long stretch with rocky and sandy sections. Good tide pools at the north end near Alki Point Lighthouse. Easy parking on weekdays, crowded on summer weekends.

Discovery Park, Magnolia

The beach below the West Point Lighthouse has tide pools when the water drops. Longer walk down and back up the bluff, so bring water.

Saltwater State Park, Des Moines

South of Seattle, quieter than the city beaches. Rocky shoreline with good tide pooling. Discover Pass required.

Going With Kids

We have done this with a three year old and it works well. A few things to keep in mind:

• Let them lead. The fun is picking up rocks and finding what is underneath.
• Keep touches gentle and brief. Always with wet hands.
• Set the “no take home” rule early. Tell them upfront that everything stays on the beach.
• Pack more snacks than you think you need. A loaded snack bag buys you extra exploration time.
• Bring a change of clothes. They will get wet.

Beach Etiquette

Most Puget Sound tide pool beaches are protected in some way. Even where they are not, the same rules apply:

• Take nothing home. No shells, no sand dollars, no sea stars, no rocks.
• Touch gently and with wet hands only.
• Put rocks back the way you found them. That rock is someone’s home.
• Watch your step. It is easy to crush small creatures without noticing.
• No dogs on marine sanctuary beaches.

These rules are what keep these beaches rich for the next visit.

Watch Our Beach Combing Playlist

Helpful Resources

• NOAA Tide Predictions
• Washington State Parks Discover Pass
• Seattle Aquarium tide pool info

Travel Tips

• Check the NOAA tide chart a week ahead. The best tides go fast on weekends.
• Aim for a tide of -1 ft or lower. -2 ft or lower is even better.
• Arrive an hour before the peak low tide.
• Weekdays have far fewer crowds than weekends.
• Late spring and summer are the best months for daytime minus tides.
• Take nothing home. Everything stays on the beach.