A couple weeks ago, we had some super low tides in Seattle. It’s always fun to go out and explore the exposed shoreline. This time, the vistas were amazing!
My photos were taken from the West Seattle neighborhood, which lies on a large peninsula across Elliott Bay from downtown. The tide was at -3.7.
Natural Views 
Great finds. Looks like a lovely way to spend a day.
It also looks like the tide goes out a long way. Is it treacherous, as in easy to get caught by the tide when it comes in?
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When there are low tides, it’s safe to walk on shore and in the shallow water. You have fair warning when the tides starts to come in. But it can be subtle! It only goes out that far on months when there’s a low low tide, minus 2 or 3, almost 4 ft. I don’t wade out into the water.
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Good to hear!
I was thinking of Morecombe Bay on the west coast of England, where the tide can come in faster than a person can run. It’s got a fearsome reputation. Quote: “The combination of fast tides, quicksands, draining rivers, shifting channels and sheer unpredictability has trapped the unwary for centuries.”
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Oh no, it’s nothing like that. You have plenty of time here, and can see for miles. It’s funny, I’ve seen some BBC shows that mention quicksand on beaches. I’m not aware of any here.
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Pretty amazing differences between high and low tides. At least the low tide views seemed mostly natural – no trash in view. Your photos are great!
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Thanks! I’m so glad I went out that day. The clouds were wonderful. The next day there were no clouds. I never went to that spot before for low tide. I usually go down south of there. This was a much more photogenic area.
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Are these very low tides the norm, Joan, or is there something afoot because of climate change and the like?
I remember from decades ago when I hitchhiked through Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, regions known for the very reddish earth revealed at times of low tide. It was beautiful, as I recall.
Lovely photos, I particularly like the close-up of the jellyfish.
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Lovely views, Joan!
The most memorable tides that I have ever seen were in Prince Edward Island. I recall them decades later, the area is famous for its orange-red earth that is exposed during the low tides.
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Sounds lovely.
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Yikes, Joan, I made the same comment to you twice on this article. Hmm, sorry, must be the unexpected, extended heat wave here in the UK is frying my brain a tad.
If you’d like to delete the second thread here, please feel free to do so.
Apologies for my error.
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