Winter is a special time around Seaside. It’s when seasonal storms pummel Tillamook Rock Lighthouse and bring massive stands of driftwood ashore, while whales frolic offshore as they migrate to warmer waters. And winter is when the highest tides of the year, known as king tides — and their partners, the ultra-low minus tides — put on a magnificent and powerful show. With so much to see, winter makes a great time for a quiet walk on the beach to enjoy the natural wonders unique to the season. To help plan the perfect outing, here’s a guide to winterizing your beach walk this winter.
Prepare for a Fun Beach Walk
Sunny skies, cloudy days and even rain showers provide idyllic conditions for a winter beach walk in Seaside. Start your preparations by researching local tide tables to see how tides might impact your beach walk. Be sure to check Seaside’s king tides forecast to see when the year’s highest tides will arrive. These can submerge entire beaches, and we’d suggest planning your walk for well before or long after the height of the king tides. Finally, check the weather forecast for advisories that might influence your decision to take a stroll.
You’ll also want to ensure you have the appropriate gear, including waterproof boots and warm layers to protect against the elements. Even if you’re not catching waves, a pair of local surf shops — Cleanline Surf and Seaside Surf Shop — can help. They sell hats, heavy-duty socks, waterproof bags and other cold-weather gear. Downtown, pick up hoodies and other apparel at Sharky’s or Shorelines NW. In the Seaside Outlets near the northern edge of town, check for bargains on boots, raincoats and athletic apparel at brand-name retail shops.
Once on the beach, always keep the ocean within view, especially when walking on wet sand, so you can see sneaker waves rolling onto shore. Be sure to stay off logs that might have washed ashore, as well.
Elk at Ecola State Park (Photo courtesy of Oregon State Parks)
Find the Perfect Beach for Your Outing
Whether you’re savoring sunny skies or are curious about what last night’s storm brought ashore, you’ll find numerous winter-friendly beaches around Seaside. Here are a few favorites.
Seaside Beach, accessed from many points along the historic Seaside Promenade, delivers plenty of easy sightseeing opportunities. When the swells are raging and tides are high, stick to paved surfaces far from the surf — such as the Prom — to keep a safe distance from the most powerful weather. The Turnaround’s raised platform at the end of Broadway provides great viewing opportunities. Watch winter storms drench Tillamook Head to the south, admire gulls and eagles soaring with the wind, and see how far the king tides roll in.
Ecola State Park, just 9 miles south of Seaside on Tillamook Head, offers one of the area’s best vantage points for watching storms roll in from the Pacific Ocean. The park’s wheelchair-accessible Ecola Point Day-Use Area sits high above the shoreline and showcases wide-open views of sea stacks and rock formations below. In calmer weather, watch for gray whales out at sea and the area’s resident Roosevelt elk feeding in the meadows just west of the parking area.
Roughly 5 miles north of Seaside, Del Rey Beach State Recreation Site welcomes walkers with a long stretch of sandy shoreline. The park’s secluded location, sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and a local golf club, means you’ll enjoy plenty of solitude and a quieter experience.
Tidepool (Photo courtesy of Oregon State Parks)
Enjoy Underwater Wonders During Minus Tide
The flip side of king tides are minus tides, which occur when low tides are lower than average. Look for them on tide tables listed with negative numbers, often on dates that also have king tides.
As tides recede on these ultra-low days, they reveal wide-open stretches of sand, rocky coves and tide pools teeming with wildlife that may not be visible or accessible during average times. There you’ll spot critters like sea stars, many-tentacled anemones, spiky sea urchins and hermit crabs. It’s best not to touch them or disturb their habitat, and be mindful of the incoming tide — it’s easy to get so focused on undersea creatures you can lose track of time.
Great places to visit during a minus tide are the northern part of Seaside Beach around 12th Avenue and the stretch of beach on the south side of town known as The Cove. Learn more about low-tide adventures in Seaside.
