Explore the Shore

We recommend this walk for ages 5 and up. For the great adventurers, you may walk up to 1.5 miles round trip from Owen Beach south to the Boat House and back. The length of your adventure depend on you. Due to the nature of this project we cannot accommodate groups above 15 individuals. Please contact us for more information.

Nope! These walks are great for all knowledge levels. Trained naturalists will help you identify tide pool animals and record their location to create a baseline of what is found at Owen Beach. If you want to check out some animals you might see in advance, download the field guide beforehand. You can also participate in Community Science by using the iNatrialist app alongside our naturalist. With this easy to download app you can record animals and plants you see on the beach sharing these observations with the scientific community and helping to record changes in our environment.

Come prepared with sunscreen, a hat, and weather-appropriate clothing. Sturdy, closed-toed shoes are recommended for walking on a rocky beach with lots of barnacles.

No RSVP is needed. Meet on the beach near the Owen Beach parking lot in Point Defiance Park and register at the event tent. Please check-in within 10 minutes of the published start time. Explore the Shore is FREE.

Check in begins 10 minutes before the scheduled start time and ends 15 minutes after. At the meet-up times listed above, participants can get a brief introduction to the day before the walk begins. Beach walks last about one and a half hours, though you may want to explore the beach for a longer time.

If you’re interested in becoming a beach naturalist and engaging participants on the topics of beach stewardship and community science, learn more on our volunteer page.