Did you know that you can easily find and explore many tide pools in Seattle?
There are many beaches that run up and down the side of Seattle where it meets Puget Sound. If you visit these beaches at low tide, you’ll be able to see all sorts of fascinating sea creatures that you normally wouldn’t.
Throw on your rain boots or other practical footwear and spending a couple hours at your closest Puget Sound beach, where you’ll catch a glimpse of oft-hidden underwater life. Summer is the perfect time to go tide pool exploring. Just remember a few guidelines:
- Leave no trace and take nothing away.
- Leave dogs at home.
- Walk carefully and touch gently with one finger.
- Don’t pick any creatures up.
Not sure which beach to go to for exploring tide pools in Seattle? Here are seven of our favorite Puget Sound beaches:
1. Golden Gardens
Located in Seattle’s northern Ballard neighborhood, Golden Gardens is a popular summer spot for beach fun and also a prime location for tide pools in Seattle. Check out the north end of the beach at low tide for the best tide pool viewing.
đź“ŤLocation: 8498 Seaview Pl NW
2. South Alki Beach
Specifically, Charles Richey Viewpoint and Constellation Park are the best spots for tide pools at Alki Beach in West Seattle. At the former, there is even a tide pool-themed sculpture! At low tide, you can walk from Richey Viewpoint all the way around Alki Point to Alki Beach Park.
đź“ŤLocation: 3521 Beach Dr SW
3. Lincoln Park
Another good option for tide pools in West Seattle is the beachfront along Lincoln Park. Make your way down the cliffside trails to the water and look carefully for creatures underfoot, on rocky surfaces, or in crevices.
đź“ŤLocation: 8011 Fauntleroy Wy SW
4. Discovery Park
To view tide pools at Discovery Park in Magnolia, go down to the north end of the beach and then wander south to where the West Point Lighthouse is located. You’ll find plenty to see at low tide. Just give yourself thirty minutes to an hour to walk there from the parking lot before low tide (and note that it’s a bit of hike on the way back up).
đź“ŤLocation: 3801 Discovery Park Blvd
5. Olympic Sculpture Park
It might surprise you to learn that this urban park—located right in downtown Seattle and mostly known for its contemporary sculptures—includes a beach with tide pools. It’s a small pocket beach but has plenty of fascinating ocean creatures to spot at low tide.
đź“ŤLocation: 2901 Western Ave
6. Carkeek Park
Located north of Golden Gardens, Carkeek Park is an underrated gem and one of the best beaches to find tide pools in Seattle. An additional 20 acres of beach are exposed at low tide at Carkeek Park, allowing you walk hundreds of feet out into Puget Sound to explore uncovered creatures and habitats.
đź“ŤLocation: 950 NW Carkeek Park Rd
7. Saltwater State Park
Located south in Des Moines, Saltwater State Park is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Seattle. The sandy beach here has incredible tide pools to explore, so it’s well worth the drive!
đź“ŤLocation: 25205 8th Pl S, Des Moines, WA
For a map of these beaches and even more tide pools in Seattle, as well as a guide to some of the sea creatures you can find there, check out the Seattle Aquarium’s Puget Sound Beach Field Guide.