Updated 6/27/2023
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I remember the magic of peering into tide pools as a child, climbing over slick rocks and marveling at the waves stirring the green tentacles of sea anemones, the smell of salt strong on the ocean air.
As an adult, I assumed finding tide pools would be easy, but on the occasions I wandered along the coast, I never just happened upon them. Like most things, tide pooling is much easier if you research where to see tide pools and how to check the tide charts to go at the best time.
In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know to find the best tide pools in Lincoln City on the central Oregon coast. I’ll cover tide charts, where to park for the two top Lincoln City tide pool locations, how to find the tide pools from the parking areas, and which kinds of sea life you’ll encounter in the Lincoln City tide pools.
Lincoln City Tide Pool Location 1: Roads End State Recreation Site
The best Lincoln City tide pool spot (in my opinion) is Roads End Point. This dramatic headland juts into the ocean on the north side of Lincoln City. Below the cliffs, a jumble of huge rocks extends into the water, and at low tide these rocks become a delightful tide pool playground.
Roads End Point is easy to find. Navigate to Roads End State Recreation Site on Google Maps, which takes you to a beach access parking lot. Walk down to the beach and turn right (north), keeping the ocean on your left side. The walk to Roads End Point from the parking area is about 1 ¼ mile along the sandy beach (about 25 minutes). Make sure not to miss the small waterfall tumbling down the cliff along the walk to the headland!
A bonus of the Roads End Point tide pools is that they’re right next to a “hidden” beach that you can only reach at low tide. The hidden beach is right on the other side of the Roads End Point headland. I clambered over the rocks to look at the hidden beach, but I didn’t go all the way out to it since there wasn’t enough time left in our low-tide window. Take care not to get trapped by the tides (or slip on the rocks)!
Sea Life in the Lincoln City Tide Pools
Sea stars, sea anemones, and mussels are prominent in and around the Lincoln City tide pools. Sea stars may look peaceful, but they eat mussels, so the photo below is actually akin to a clump of owls eyeing a clump of mice!
Just how does that work? Per the Encyclopedia Britannica, sea stars wrap themselves around a mussel to work open the shell, and then their stomach oozes out of their mouth and into the mussel shell. Yikes!
Lincoln City Tide Pool Location 2: NW 15th St Beach Access
Another good place for tide pooling in Lincoln City is the NW 15th St Beach Access. A key advantage of this tide pooling spot is its ease of access–it’s right in town, and the rocks directly opposite the beach entrance are where the tide pools form at low tide. The city also sometimes hosts public tide pool education workshops called “Exploriences” at these tide pools. Check out this link for the Tide Pool Explorience schedule and more!
There’s no hidden beach at this Lincoln City tide pooling spot, and it’s a bit more crowded than Roads End Point, but it’s a beautiful place in its own right and there’s no 25-minute walk to reach the tide pools.
How to Check the Tide Charts to Know When to Go Tide Pooling
Be sure to check the tide chart before you hit the Lincoln City tide pools, and plan to arrive about an hour before the low tide. The reason: The “low tide” is a point in time, but on either side of that low point is a window when the tide conditions will still be pretty favorable for tide pooling. If you arrive right at low tide, you’ll miss half the tide-pooling window!
Remember that if you go to Roads End Point, you also need to allow 25 minutes for the walk to the tide pools, so it’s best to arrive at the parking area closer to 1.5 hours before the low tide.
Here is the link to the tide chart so you can plan your trip for the best tide conditions.
Video Preview of the Tide Pools in Lincoln City
To check out both Lincoln City tide pooling hot spots virtually, see our video below!
What to Pack when Exploring the Lincoln City Tide Pools
Unless you restrict your adventures to the summer, it’s fairly likely you’ll encounter rain or wind on the Oregon coast, but that’s no reason to stay inside. Here is our recommended packing list for any trip involving tide pooling or beach walking. I like to joke that this is true Pacific Northwest beach wear!
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Rain jacket with hood
If you’re looking for a rain jacket, an option we’d recommend is the MARMOT Precip Waterproof Rain Jacket (women’s sizing or men’s sizing here). Many rain jackets contain chemicals of concern called perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in their waterproof coatings, so we’ve been happy to find this option that’s PFC-free (but still works at repelling water!).
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Rain pants
Like the rain jackets above, we typically recommend PFC-free rain pants, like the MARMOT Precip Eco Pants (women’s rain pants here, men’s rain pants here).
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Gloves
Given the often-rainy weather, we’d recommend something like these gloves (men’s sizing or women’s sizing), since they’re water-resistant and still allow your fingers enough coordination to use a smartphone. Note that these gloves run on the small side, so I’d recommend going a size up!
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Waterproof shoes and/or waterproof socks
Our last adventure at the Lincoln City tide pools was a very volatile day in February. One minute the sun was shimmering through the dark storm clouds, casting a dramatic light over the ocean scene…and the next, the downpour had arrived.
The sea creatures in the tide pools were undeterred, and the chilly weather encouraged us to warm up afterward with hot (non-alcoholic) butterbeers at the Harry Potter-themed cafe in Lincoln City, something I’d highly recommend!
While You’re in Lincoln City
Lincoln City is one of our favorite towns on the Oregon coast. In addition to the whimsical Cheeky Cauldron (Harry Potter-themed cafe), Lincoln City is known for its real-life treasure hunt. The city commissions glass artists to make beautiful blown-glass floats, which are hidden along the beach every day for visitors to find. If you enjoy long walks on the beach, this treasure hunt is for you.
Lincoln City is also home to the epic hike to God’s Thumb and the Knoll, and nearby Drift Creek Falls with its striking suspension footbridge is not to be missed.
Other favorite things to do in Lincoln City? Let us know in the comments! We’re always looking for new adventures.
Other Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
For more adventure ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out our PNW Trip Planner. You can find adventures near you and filter by season and difficulty level. There are weird and wonderful things to explore any time of year. The trip planner links to blog posts to help you plan your next adventure.
Happy exploring!
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