Oregon Tidepools
Welcome to where the land meets the sea!
Be Prepared for a Safe Visit!
And follow good tidepool etiquette to protect these valuable places. Look closely and watch patiently; observe and wonder.
Programs
Interpretive OpportunitiesSome Oregon State Parks offer tidepool walks, a seasonal on-site ranger, or on-site interpretive programs. Several have a touch tanks.
Etiquette
Being good visitorsTidepool organisms are well adapted to meet great challenges at the sea’s edge - but they can also be very sensitive to the kinds of impact people have.
Safety
Keep safe in the tidepoolsBe prepared, keep your hands free and use your head. Learn about the importance of being aware of sneaker waves, rip-tides, and drift-logs.
Teaching
Field Trip TipsReview the following information a few weeks before your scheduled field trip to keep everyone safe and to provide the best opportunity for learning.
Interpretive Programs
Several places along the Oregon coast offer on-site interpretive programs that give you the opportunity to learn more about rocky shore species and their habitats. Several have a touch tank and other fun educational opportunities.
Patterns of Intertidal Life
The greatest of many challenges for marine organisms living in the intertidal is the exposure to air and its related difficulties. Different organisms have different tolerances for the challenges; they tend to live with others of similar tolerances, forming communities.
Leave tidepool inhabitants where they are
Intertidal organisms are adapted for the places you find them…unless they’ve been moved. Moving an animal to “a better spot” is likely a death sentence for that animal: what appears to be a small change to us may be an unsurvivable change to them. (Imagine being dropped in the Arctic in winter or the Sahara in summer.)
Share your Pictures!
Share your favorite photos and explore those taken by other visitors! Select photos shared with the Oregon Tidepool group on Flickr will be featured on this site.