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Tide Pools
Rocky Shores
ECOSYSTEMS > OREGON COAST > ROCKY SHORES > INTERTIDAL AREAS

As the name suggests, tide pools are naturally occurring rocky pools at the ocean’s edge which are covered and uncovered with the tides. These pools are at least partially exposed to the air during low tides, offering an amazing glimpse into the otherwise hidden world of intertidal area marine species.

A rocky shore, like you’d encounter in Oregon, is usually an excellent environment to find tide pools. In fact, there are numerous areas along the coast which are well known for their extensive pools.

​Tourists, scientists, nature enthusiasts and students will often flock to these areas, carefully picking their way over the rocks as they search for urchins, 
sea stars, crabs and even the occasional octopus.

RELATED FEATURES: Ecosystems: Cliffs | Ecosystems: Intertidal Areas

Oregon's Amazing Tide Pools:

What makes for a truly great tide pool may be a matter of opinion, but these ten examples offer a great variety of life, good accessibility to the public, and often the chance to see other types of coastal wildlife including sea birds, pinnipeds and terrestrial mammals. The maps below will lead you to some of the best tide pools on the Oregon Coast.

Tide Pools on the North Oregon Coast:

Cape Kiwanda
​GPS Coordinates: 45.219065, -123.9775799
Cannon Beach
​GPS Coordinates: 45.8849126, -123.994938
Cape Lookout
​GPS Coordinates: 45.3471035, -124.0061638
Ecola State Park
​GPS Coordinates: 45.9273112, -123.9751405
Cape Meares
​GPS Coordinates: 45.5213305, -124.0274532
Tillamook Bay
​GPS Coordinates: 45.5165774, -123.9815782

Tide Pools on the Central Oregon Coast: 

Cape Perpetua
​GPS Coordinates: 44.2870628, -124.1326295
Seal Rock State Recreational Site
​GPS Coordinates: 44.4969798, -124.0853834
Devil's Punchbowl
​GPS Coordinates: 44.747154, -124.0658797
Yachats State Recreational Area
​​GPS Coordinates: 44.310463, -124.1095997
Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint
​​GPS Coordinates: 44.2697033, -124.1112114
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
​GPS Coordinates: 44.675568, -124.0769947

Tide Pools on the South Oregon Coast:

Cape Arago State Park
​GPS Coordinates: 43.3063127, -124.400831
Harris Beach State Recreational Area
​GPS Coordinates: 42.0655479, -124.3082486
Cape Blanco
​GPS Coordinates: 42.8305126, -124.5503521
Sunset Bay State Park
​GPS Coordinates: 43.3306137, -124.3752296
Port Orford
​GPS Coordinates: 42.7501512, -124.5129896

Representative Species for Oregon's Tide Pools:

Black oystercatcher
Common murre
Giant Pacific octopus
Leaf barnacle
Purple sea urchin
California mussel
Flat porcelain crab
Grunt sculpin
Leather star
Red sea urchin
California sea cucumber
Giant acorn barnacle
Hairy hermit crab
Monkeyface prickleback
Red octopus
Christmas anemone
Giant green anemone
Herring gull
Ochre star
Western gull

​Suggested Activities for Oregon's Tide Pools:

Citizen Science
Tidepooling
Climate Change Action
Wildlife spotting
Conservation Projects
Photography and Video

Downloadable Items:

Oregon Tide Pool Species
Oregon Tide Pool Map
Picture
Picture
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