Oregon State ParksIntertidal Areas |
Brochure about the Intertidal Areas at the Oregon Coast. Published by Oregon State Parks.
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Hidden beneath the waves
Oregon’s 362-mile shoreline is more than
just sandy beaches and rocky headlands.
Retreating tides reveal some of the most
diverse coastal ecosystems: tidepools.
The organisms that live here are resilient
ocean residents. They battle strong currents,
water temperature changes and a lack of food
and oxygen. Many tidepool inhabitants work
together to survive.
Oregon’s tidepools attract thousands of
curious human visitors each year. Exploring
tidepools can be a fun way to spend an
afternoon, but certain precautions must be
taken to ensure the resident creatures (and
you) remain safe.
Tips for visiting a
rocky intertidal area
Oregon’s Rocky
Intertidal Areas
• Know the rules before you go. Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife regulations protect tidepool animals. Check the Oregon sport fishing regulations (free
at most stores selling sporting goods) for rules about
collecting animals.
• Visit the tidepools at least one hour before low
tide. Start with the tidepools closest to the ocean and
work your way back with the incoming tide. Bring a
tide table too; look for them at a state park or local
business.
• Tides of zero feet and lower are best for visiting
tidepools. Tides up to two feet high can still provide
good viewing when the ocean is calm.
• Travel slowly and carefully. Rocks and marine algae
can be slippery. Also be careful around marine plants
like seaweed. Many animals hide under ocean plants to
avoid the hot sun and predators.
• Always stay on marked trails. Many tidepools are
located near unstable headlands and bluffs.
• Always keep one eye on the ocean. Exploring a tidepool means you’ll be near ocean waves. Make sure an
incoming wave doesn’t sneak up on you. If a big wave
heads your way, lie flat on the rocks and hold on tight!
• Expect to get wet. Wear appropriate clothing. If you
get soaked, dry off soon. Evening temperatures can
drop quickly on the coast, putting you at risk of hypothermia.
• Look at, in, under and around. Tidepool creatures
hide in creative places. After looking at animals
under rocks and seaweed, re-cover them to prevent
drying by the air and sun.
• Touching or picking up animals is OK, but be
gentle. Please return any animal you pick up to the
exact spot you found it.
• Never pull or pry an animal from a rock. Animals
in the tidepools stick to rocks because of the waves
and strong currents that wash against them.
• Bring your binoculars. Harbor seal pups often rest
on rocks and beach areas while their mothers feed
offshore. Seabirds also use rocks for nesting and
rearing their young. Please enjoy these animals from
at least a 50-foot distance.
Tidepools are alive!
Please leave plants and animals just as
you found them. State parks are nature
preserves, where all living things are
protected for others to enjoy.
oregonstateparks.org
Printed on recycled paper
All information or fees subject to change without notice.
This brochure is available in alternative formats upon
request. Call 1-800-551-6949.
Oregon Relay for the hearing impaired: dial 711.
63400-8136 (5/2018)
Welcome
to Our Home
25
22
SPRAY ZONE
24
1
HIGH TIDE ZONE
2
6
3
5
23
4
MID-TIDE ZONE
7
12
10
LOW TIDE ZONE
11
9
14
18
17
8
21
16
13
SUB-TIDE ZONE
19
20
15
BIRDS
LOW TIDE ZONE
SPRAY ZONE
HIGH TIDE ZONE
MID-TIDE ZONE
1. Acorn Barnacle
3. Purple Shore Crab
6. California Mussel
11. Gooseneck Barnacles
14. Giant Pacific Chiton
19. Nudibranch (Sea Slug)
22. Peregrine Falcon
2. Ribbed Limpet
4. Black Turban Snail
7. Ochre Sea Star
12. Surfgrass
15. Red Sea Cucumber
20. Sunflower Sea Star
23. Pigeon Guillemot
5. Rockweed
8. Rough Keyhole Limpet
13. Giant Green
Anemone
16. Blue Top Snail
21. Sea Palms
24. Western Gull
Brown text indicates animal.
Green text indicates plant.
9. Hermit Crab
10. Black Leather Chiton
17. Purple Sea Urchin
18. Feather Boa Kelp
25. Black Oystercatcher
Tidepools are divided into several zones. The zones
are classified based on wave action, shoreline
features and exposure during tidal periods.
The organisms that live in each zone are dependent
on a number of factors: water temperature, wave
action, variation in salinity (saltiness), exposure
to light and how much water is present. The
conditions have to be just right for an organism to
be comfortable in each zone.
Some organisms are hardier than others and are
able to live in multiple zones. Part of the fun of
exploring tidepools is discovering a plant or animal
where you least expected it to be!
Spray zone: This area extends from the highest
reach of spray and storm waves to the average
height of the high tides. It is usually dry, meaning
relatively few types of organisms can live here.
High tide zone: This zone includes the area from
the average high tide to just below the average sea
level. It is a highly saline (salty) environment and
experiences higher temperatures than other zones.
Mid-tide zone: This zone extends from just
below average sea level to the upper limit of the
average lowest tides. Mid-tide zones experience
more intense wave action than spray or high tide
zones, but nonetheless are rich in animal and plant
diversity.
Low tide zone: This zone is exposed to air only
at the lowest tides. This keeps temperatures and
salinity levels more stable, allowing for more
biodiversity than other zones. Organisms here are
also more protected from predators—like big fish—
because of the wave action and shallow water.
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Oregon Coast Rocky
Intertidal Sites
Directions
*Check Before You Collect
Tidepool life is protected by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
sport fishing regulations. Special restrictions prohibit or limit the
collection of intertidal marine life in the sites noted. For specific
information, check the ODFW regulations for each site.
E
3 Oswald West
M • • • •b • Located 10 miles south of Cannon Beach along Hwy 101.
State Park
• Located next to Oceanside, nine miles west of Tillamook.
M • • • •
Located 18 miles south of Tillamook, on the south side of the
Access is from Short Beach, one mile north of Oceanside.
E
6 Cape Lookout
Cape. Take Pacific City Loop off Hwy 101.
7 Cape Kiwanda
E/M • • •c • One mile north of Pacific City. Take Hwy. 101 18 miles north of
State Natural Area Lincoln City, and turn west on Three Capes Scenic Route.
8 Otter Rock
M
• • •
• Located nine miles north of Newport. Take Hwy. 101 to the
Devil’s Punch Bowl State Natural area turn-off located between
mileposts 132 and 133.
9 Yaquina Head
E/M • • • • •d • Turn west off Hwy. 101 at Lighthouse Road in Agate Beach,
Outstanding Natural Area four miles north of Newport.
10 Seal Rock State
M/D • • • • •b Located 10 miles south of Newport off Hwy. 101.
Recreation Site Access is from Seal Rock State Recreation Site on the north
and two turn-offs south of main park.
11 Yachats State
E • • •b • Located north of the Yachats River. Take Hwy. 101 and turn west
Recreation Area on 2nd St. or Ocean Dr. Use caution in heavy surf.
12 Cape Perpetua
E/M • • • • •e • Take Hwy. 101 two miles south of Yachats.
13 Neptune State
Scenic Viewpoint
E
14 Strawberry Hill
M/D
E
Portland
Tillamook
6
101
Note:
All coastal rocks
and islands are
protected as
National Wildlife
Refuges. They
are closed to all
public use to
protect breeding
wildlife. Contact
the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service
(541-867-4550)
for information.
5
7
Pacific City
22
• • • •b • Located three miles south of Yachats off Hwy. 101.
• • •b • Located within Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint.
• •b Adjoins the southern boundary of Neptune State Park.
18
18
22
Lincoln City
8
9
10
Albany
Newport 20
Corvallis
Waldport
34
5
Eugene
Reedsport
38
Winchester Bay
18 Cape Arago State Park M/D • • • •b • Located 11 miles south of Coos Bay.
19 Five-Mile Point
M Take Seven Devils Road 13 miles south of Coos Bay, off Hwy. 101.
Use public access from end of Whiskey Run Road, walk north on beach.
E
5
• • •f Located in Bandon. Access to intertidal area is from either
17
Unit of Oregon Islands south bank of the Coquille River or from the bluff off
National Wildlife Refuge 11th St.
18
Coos Bay
Charleston
21 Cape Blanco State Park M • • • • Located approximately 10 miles northwest of Port Orford.
Turn off Hwy. 101 north of Port Orford, follow the signs.
19
Coquille
22 Port Orford
E
• • In Port Orford turn west off Hwy 101 onto Harbor Drive. Follow signs to
23 Rocky Point
M Located three miles south of Port Orford off Hwy. 101.
24 Arizona Beach
State Recreation Site
E
25 Lone Ranch Beach
E
• • •b Located 12 miles south of Port Orford off Hwy 101.
• Located five miles north of Brookings off Hwy. 101.
E • • • • •b • Located just north of Brookings, west of the campground. Access
26 Harris Beach
State Recreation Area is from the main parking lot by walking south along the beach.
27 Winchuck Beach
E Access is from road parallel to the north side of the Winchuck
River. Rocky intertidal area is ¾ mile north of parking lot.
42
101
21
Port Orford
22
23
24
5
Grants Pass
Gold Beach
Access Ratings
E – Easy; trails generally paved or well maintained from the parking area to the rocky intertidal area. Not very steep.
M – Moderate; trails are either steep, or have one or more sections that are poorly maintained.
D – Difficult; trail requires climbing.
1
Interpretive programs vary in availability and timing. They are generally more prevalent during spring and summer weekend low tides.
Some only provide services to organized groups.
a = Haystack Rock Awareness Program—contact Cannon Beach City Hall, 503-436-8060
b = State Parks—contact Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 1-800-551-6949
c = Kiwanda Environmental Learning Program—contact Nestucca Neskowin Watershed Council, 503-965-2200
d = Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area—contact U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 541-574-3100
e = Cape Perpetua—contact U.S. Forest Service, Cape Perpetua Visitor Center, 541-547-3289
f = Shoreline Education for Awareness—call 541-313-6751
Roseburg
Bandon
20
Port of Port Orford. Main intertidal area is north of the boat dock.
2
Springfield
• • • • •b Located 12 miles north of Florence.
17 Sunset Bay State Park E • • • •b • Located nine miles south of Coos Bay
and less than ½ mile south of Cape Arago Lighthouse.
20 Coquille Point
Salem
Depoe Bay
11
Yachats
12
13 101
14
15
126
16
Florence
Visitor’s Center is located between mileposts 168 and 169.
15 Bob Creek to
E/M
Bray Point Access to intertidal area is south of Bob Creek.
16 Heceta Head
Lighthouse
6
4
5
• • • Located 10 miles west of Tillamook on the south side of the Cape.
5 Maxwell Point
26
3
Access is at Gower St. and Second St.
M
Cannon
Beach
2
• •a • Located within Cannon Beach city limits.
4 Cape Meares
Seaside
1
1 Ecola State Park
M • • • • •b Located two miles north of Cannon Beach.
Take Hwy 101 to Cannon Beach and follow signs.
2 Haystack Rock
30
Astoria
25
26
Cave Junction
Brookings
27
199
Medford
Ashland