Tidepooling and Beachcombing Near Sekiu

Some travelers come to Sekiu for the salmon and halibut, and some come for the quiet. Plenty of them stay for the beach. Curley's lists beachcombing and tidepooling at zero miles from the property, which is exactly how it feels: you walk out the door and the shoreline is right there. Here is how to make the most of it.

What you might find on the beach

Curley's mentions agates and sea glass as the treasures people hunt for along this shoreline. Agates are small, translucent stones that look dull when dry and bright when wet. The best trick is to walk with the sun behind you and look for a glow in the gravel. Sea glass is broken glass that waves have tumbled smooth over many years, and it tends to collect where the beach has a mix of gravel and cobble. Both turn up more often after a storm has stirred up the shoreline.

Go slowly. Beachcombing is a game of patience, and you will see more by crouching and scanning than by marching down the beach. Bring a small bag for what you keep, and check local rules before you take anything larger than a pocketful. Some beaches and parks have their own limits on what can be collected.

Tidepools and the tide table

Tidepooling depends on one thing above all: low water. The deepest pools appear on the lowest tides of the month, and the lowest of all are called negative tides, when the water drops below the average low mark. Curley's mentions seasonal negative tides and invites guests to call for dates at (360) 963-2281. You can also read a tide table for the nearest station and plan your walks around the daily lows. Treat any date you read anywhere, including here, as something to confirm against a current tide table.

Plan to be on the beach an hour before low tide, and head back as the water begins to rise. Tide can come back faster than you expect, especially around rocky points.

Other places to explore

Beyond the beach in front of Curley's, Curley's points guests to a few spots along the Strait. Slip Point, in Clallam Bay, is a short drive away and a favorite for beachcombing and watching the water. Salt Creek Recreation Area sits farther east along the Strait and is known for its tidepools. Check the current rules and hours for each before you go, and read the posted signs when you arrive.

What the pools hold

Look into a healthy tidepool and you will find a crowded neighborhood. Purple sea stars, orange sea stars, sea urchins, barnacles, oysters, anemones, and small crabs all live in the pools and on the rocks around them. Many of these animals are slow and simple, and they cannot survive being picked up and moved. The quiet pleasure of tidepooling is the chance to watch something go about its business.

Tidepool manners

• Look, do not collect. Leave animals and shells where they live.
• Walk on bare rock and sand, not on living cover like barnacles and seaweed.
• Never pull a sea star or urchin off a rock.
• If you turn over a rock, put it back exactly as it was.
• Wet your hands before touching any animal, and keep touching to a minimum.
• Keep dogs on a leash and away from the pools.

Harvesting shellfish is a different matter. Shellfish harvest is regulated, and beaches can be closed because of marine toxins. If you want to gather clams or mussels, check WDFW and the Washington Department of Health for current licensing rules and beach closures before you take a single shell.

Pack and plan

Wear shoes with grip that you do not mind soaking. Barnacle-covered rock is rough on skin, and wet seaweed is slick. Bring a layer for wind, a camera, and a small bucket or bag if you are collecting stones. Kids do well with a magnifier and a little guidance about where it is safe to step.

After a morning out on the rocks, the shop at Curley's has espresso and breakfast burritos, and By the Bay Cafe is a couple of doors down for lunch. If you want to turn your trip into a longer stay, the rooms with kitchenettes make it easy to cook after a day of walking the shore. Call ahead for tide dates, and bring patience for the best part of the trip.