![]() Lone Ranch Wayside – (Cape Ferrelo) – Located 4 miles north of Brookings (Approximately 23 miles south of the Gold Beach Visitor’s Center), this area has ample parking, rest rooms and easy access to the beach. The rocky beach to the north lends itself to some first-rate tidepool exploration. It’s a bit of a hike down to the beach but worth it. Park in the gravel lot at the Boardman State Park sign. Whiskey Creek – (Boardman State Park) – Approximately 14 miles south of the Gold Beach Visitor’s Center on Hwy. The numerous rocks make for good tidepooling. Park at one of many overlooks and easy access points. This beach stretches south from the base of Cape Sebastian. Myers Creek – Travel 7.1 miles south from the Gold Beach Visitor’s Center on Hwy. * Examine seaweed and small animals with a magnifying glass. * Gently touching most inter-tidal animals and plants will not harm them - and it is intriguing to feel the texture of different species. You will see species different from those on surrounding rock formations. * Look carefully in cracks, crevices and under overhangs. Please remember to replace the seaweed in its original position. * Gently move seaweed aside to view the myriad of life that lives under, on and among the plants. You will soon begin to hear hermit crabs, small fish, shrimp and other life scurrying about. * Stand or sit still and observe a pool for a few minutes. * It is best to be in the inter-tidal area at least one hour before low tide. * Tides of 0.0 feet and lower are better for tidepool viewing however, when the ocean is calm, many inter-tidal areas can still be viewed at plus one or two foot tides. The best policy is to simply observer and leave things in their place. Consult the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Sport Fishing Regulations for the current rules. Regulations for collecting marine animals may change from time to time. Plan your trip by using the tide tables (available at our visitor center). Look for rocky inter-tidal areas (rocky areas that are alternately exposed and submerged by the tides). Exposed rocks, especially if they’re covered with vegetation, can be very slippery. When tidepooling, wear the proper attire and use caution. In fact, these unique environments are full of fascinating plants and animals, so many that an interpretive/identification guide becomes a necessary tool. Dogs must be leashed, and collecting materials is prohibited within 300 yards.You’ll discover many wonderful worlds in tidepools. To help protect the bird and sea life on and around Haystack Rock, climbing on the rock or entering seabird nesting areas is not allowed. Haystack Rock is a protected area, a National Wildlife Refuge, and one of seven designated Marine Gardens on the Oregon Coast. The program’s knowledgeable interpreters help visitors identify the many creatures that reside there and often have live displays that can be viewed. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program offers regular interpretive programs at the base of Haystack Rock during low tides throughout the year. Always be aware of your surroundings when visiting the intertidal area, and never turn your back on the ocean. Quietly watching a pool or gently moving seaweed aside will reveal organisms and behavior that would otherwise go unnoticed. Please slow down and watch carefully to observe the sea life in its home. Many tidepools have plenty of viewing opportunities at the sand-rock interface, where standing on rock can be avoided almost entirely. Avoid walking on rocks covered with barnacles for your safety and to avoid damaging the fragile ecosystem. ![]() To avoid this, walk only on sand or bare rock and watch your step. When visiting the intertidal area, be aware that the creatures and environment are easily damaged. Check out the optimal time on the current NOAA tide prediction tide charts. ![]() Minus tides in Cannon Beach begin in spring, and the lowest minus tides occur in summer. Tides of 0.0 feet and lower (minus tides) are best for tidepool viewing, but when the ocean is calm many intertidal areas can be observed even at plus one or two-foot tides. Haystack Rock offers the most accessible access to the intertidal area and tidepools, but there are also plenty of other nearby areas with great tidepools and fewer crowds. For optimum viewing, it is best to be in the intertidal zone one hour before daily low tides. These are just a few of the coastal marine creatures you may discover in the tidepools of Cannon Beach. Look carefully, and you may find crabs, fish, snails, limpets, coral, sponge, and colorful sea slugs known as nudibranchs. Green anemones lay open like flowers at the bottom of pools. Bright sea stars in a variety of colors cling tightly to rocks. As the tide recedes, intertidal areas and tidepools reveal a unique and diverse environment. Many colorful and strange creatures live where Cannon Beach’s rocky shorelines and beaches meet the sea. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |