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    • How to See King Tides on the Oregon Coast This Weekend
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    How to See King Tides on the Oregon Coast This Weekend

    Pabio Posted on

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    The Oregon Coast’s famous king tides return for the first time this season on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

    The unscientific term refers to the highest winter tides of the year, when beaches can become covered and waves explode over sea walls, cliffs and rocks.

    The tides draw people to the coast, especially storm spotters and photographers, said Dan Hagg, director of trails and outdoor recreation for the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association. Beachgoers often enjoy exploring the sand after high tides, due to the additional ocean treasures that wash up there.

    But it’s also a time of heightened danger, especially on a weekend when some may be unaware of the power of the ocean.

    Here’s what you need to know about king tides.

    What causes king tides?

    King tides occur when the moon’s orbit is closest to the earth, the earth’s orbit is closest to the sun, and the sun, moon, and earth are in direct alignment, increasing their gravitational influence on tides, Hagg said.

    When will the king tides occur this year?

    The dates of the high tides this winter are as follows: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from December 13 to 15 and from January 11 to 13.

    How can I observe high tides safely?

    The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which manages the coastal beach, had two main suggestions for watching the tides safely.

    1: Watch from a distance. Look for locations high above the action and away from cliff edges. Don’t let the parking fool you. Just because it seems relatively safe doesn’t mean the nearby trails and beaches are. Avoid being on the beach during a storm or king tides. Piers are not a safe place to observe.

    2: Be careful of fences and safety barriers. Obey all fences, cones, caution tape and other safety barriers. Park rangers carefully plan trails and install fences and barricades to keep visitors away from crumbling cliff edges, unstable hillsides, and dangerous trail hazards. Crossing barricades and venturing near cliff edges puts you at risk of slipping and falling from cliffs, even in bad weather.

    What are some good places to watch spring tides on the Oregon Coast?

    OPRD had the following suggestion regarding where to observe king tides.

    OPRD didn’t specifically mention these places, but they are popular for watching king tides:

    • North Shore: Cemetery of the Pacific, Haystack Rock and Promenade at Seaside
    • Central Coast: The Spouting Horn, Seal Rock, Depoe Bay
    • South Coast: Shore Acres State Park

    Searching for treasure after the king tides

    When the high tides recede and it is safe to explore the beach again, a bonanza of ocean treasures can often be found. Agates, shells, petrified wood and other treasures are washed onto the beach by the powerful tides.

    OPRD again warned visitors to be careful.

    “One of the best times to explore the beach is right after a storm, when the waves have washed up new ocean treasures,” said OPRD spokesperson Stefanie Knowlton. “But don’t let the calm sea fool you. Piles of driftwood are always unstable, especially after a storm. The trails you took yesterday could be washed away or damaged.

    How to participate in the King Tides project?

    Visit oregonkingtides.net for more information.

    Zach Urness has been an outdoor journalist in Oregon for 16 years and is the host of the show Explore the Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at [email protected] or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors.

    Pabio
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