Beach Naturalist

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Exploring the wonders of local beaches

Stroll along almost any local beach during low tide and you’ll see that the shore is alive!

The Aquarium’s seasonal Beach Naturalist program helps community members learn about and enjoy our vibrant shorelines. Through the program, local experts on the marine environment—beach naturalists—educate members of the public on how to explore shorelines while keeping animals and their homes safe. They might also tell you what sea stars eat, explain why barnacles stand on their heads, describe how moon snails lay their eggs and so much more.

2025 Beach Naturalist Locations and Schedule

Join us for another beautiful summer on the beach! See below for dates and times when knowledgeable Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists will be on local shores.

Select a beach below to see when our trained naturalists will be stationed there!

Carkeek Beach

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Tuesday, May 27	Time 10am–1pm	Low tide -3.98 at 11:35am
Date Saturday, June 28	Time 11:30am–2:30pm	Low tide -2.28 at 1:37pm

Charles Richey Viewpoint Beach

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Monday, May 26	Time 9–11:30am	Low tide -3.37 at 10:50am
Date Tuesday, May 27	Time 10am–1pm	Low tide -3.98 at 11:35am
Date Saturday, June 28	Time 11:30am–2:30pm	Low tide -2.28 at 1:37pm
Date Wednesday, July 23	Time 9–11:30am	Low tide -2.94 at 10:20am
Date Thursday, July 24	Time 9am–noon	Low tide -2.94 at 11:07am

Dash Point Beach

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Wednesday, May 28	Time 11am–2pm	Low tide -4.05 at 12:20pm
Date Wednesday, June 25	Time 9:30am–12:30pm	Low tide -3.87 at 11:19am
Date Thursday, July 24	Time 9am–noon	Low tide -2.94 at 11:07am
Date Friday, July 25	Time 10am–1pm	Low tide -2.63 at 11:52am

Des Moines Beach

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Saturday, June 28	Time 11:30am–2:30pm	Low tide -2.28 at 1:37pm

Golden Gardens

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Tuesday, May 27	Time 10am–1pm	Low tide -3.98 at 11:35am
Date Wednesday, May 28	Time 11am–2pm	Low tide -4.05 at 12:20pm
Date Saturday, June 28	Time 11:30am–2:30pm	Low tide -2.28 at 1:37pm
Date Friday, July 25	Time 10am–1pm	Low tide -2.63 at 11:52am

Lincoln Beach

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Saturday, June 28	Time 11:30am–2:30pm	Low tide -2.28 at 1:37pm

Olympic Sculpture Park/Pocket Beach 

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Thursday, May 29	Time Noon–2pm	Low tide -3.64 at 1:08pm
Date Tuesday, June 24	Time 9:30am–12:30pm	Low tide -3.65 at 10:32am
Date Wednesday, June 25	Time 9:30am–12:30pm	Low tide -3.87 at 11:19am
Date Wednesday, July 23	Time 9–11:30am	Low tide -2.94 at 10:20am
Date Friday, July 25	Time 10am–1pm	Low tide -2.63 at 11:52am

Redondo Beach

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Monday, May 26	Time 9–11:30am	Low tide -3.37 at 10:50am
Date Tuesday, June 24	Time 9:30am–12:30pm	Low tide -3.65 at 10:32am

Saltwater State Park

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Thursday, June 26	Time 10am–1pm	Low tide -3.69 at 12:05pm

Seahurst Beach

Date	Time	Low tide
Date Wednesday, May 28	Time 11am–2pm	Low tide -4.05 at 12:20pm
Date Saturday, June 28	Time 11:30am–2:30pm	Low tide -2.28 at 1:37pm
Date Friday, July 25	Time 10am–1pm	Low tide -2.63 at 11:52am

Beach Resources

Meet our beach neighbors

Our field guides include photos and detailed descriptions of nearly 50 commonly found intertidal residents.

Field guides

This color photo guide includes animals commonly seen on Puget Sound beaches and here at the Aquarium. Available in the following languages:

Beach etiquette guides

Follow these guidelines to keep yourself and the animals on our beaches safe.

Video guides

Our video guides will help you plan your visit to the beach and identify common plants and animals when you get there!

Thank you to our sponsors

King County Flood Control District

Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Salmon Recovery Council

MMS Giving Foundation

Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation

The City of Burien

The City of Des Moines

The City of Shoreline

Washington State Parks

Watershed Ecosystem Forum for WRIA 9