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 the 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 and spending a couple hours at your closest Puget Sound beach, and catch a glimpse of oft-hidden underwater life. Summer is the perfect time to go tide pool exploring.
Not sure which beach to go to for exploring tide pools in Seattle? Here are five of our favorite Puget Sound beaches.
1. Golden Gardens
Conveniently located in the 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.
šLocation: Ballard (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. 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.
šLocation: 3521 Beach Dr SW
3. Discovery Park
To view tide pools at Discovery Park, 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 before low tide to walk there from the parking lot.
šLocation: Magnolia (3801 Discovery Park Blvd)
4. Olympic Sculpture Park
It might surprise you to learn that this urban parkālocated right in downtown Seattle and mostly known for its contemporary sculpturesāincludes a beach with tide pools. It’s a small pocket beach but has plenty of fascinating ocean creatures to spot at low tide.
šLocation: Downtown (2901 Western Ave)
5. Carkeek Park
A little 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.
šLocation: Broadview (950 NW Carkeek Park Rd)
For a map of these beaches and even more tide pools in Seattle, as well as a guide to some of the creatures you can find there, check out the Seattle Aquarium’s Puget Sound Beach Field Guide.
Edited by Sarah Nash.