Sea stars are common in tide pools and on intertidal rocks along the coasts of Humboldt County and Del Norte County.

Even apparently “empty” ones can provide habitat for a variety of creatures, and the minerals in the shells will eventually be broken down and returned to the environment for reuse. Leave seashells where they are, including on the beach. If you do move a rock to see what’s below, make sure you replace it gently in the exact same spot. Do not lift or pry any creature/animal you find in a tide pool doing so can damage or kill them. If you truly want to touch, do so very gently with a finger wetted in ocean water. Bull kelp is common near tide pools and on beaches in Redwood National and State Parks in Humboldt County and Del Norte County. Note that seaweed and other aquatic plants are wet and slippery. Try to always step on bare rock otherwise you are killing critters with every step. If it’s coming in, that spot that’s fine now will eventually be underwater. Waves can come in larger sets, and every so often a “sneaker” wave that’s substantially larger than the others can hit.Īlso be aware if the tide is going in or out. Always Keep an Eye on Incoming Ocean Waves My compact, all-color guidebook has it all:īuy it at Northern California REI and Barnes & Noble stores (call first), and at park visitor centers. In many instances, you don’t actually need to walk on rocks you can stand on sandy beach and still observe the beautiful sea creatures. So be extra careful to maintain your balance. You’ll be fully exposed to winds, and the Pacific Ocean itself is quite cold, which chills the water just above it.ĭefinitely wear sturdy boots or shoes that have good traction because… Wet Rock Is Slippery… Wear warm clothes, of course, and be aware that it’s often substantially colder at the ocean than even a hundred yards inland. You can enter a location for anywhere in Humboldt County or Del Norte County. A -2.5-foot tide will expose much more rock than a -1.0-foot one will.įind the official NOAA table here. Note that low tides are designated by negative numbers in tide tables. Want to Explore Tide Pools? Come at Low Tide!Īnd overall, the lower the tide the better. Urchins and mussels abound in tide pools in Humboldt County and Del Norte County.īefore we get to tide-pool destinations in Northern California’s Humboldt County and Del Norte County, let’s cover some basic advice and also key safety and etiquette issues. This post shares excellent places to find tide pools where you can observe sea stars, anemones, mussels, and the other myriad life that lives on the rocks of the intertidal zone of the Pacific Ocean. I’ve been exploring tide pools along the coast of northern Humboldt and Del Norte Counties for 40 years.

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