Intertidal Forage

The same shoreline as the tide pool walk, except this time you're taking dinner home.

Price$65 each
Length2 hours
Runs with4 to 8
SeasonYear round, tide-dependent
Leaves fromCamp, on foot

From camp we’ll take a short stroll out to the nearby bluffs, where the waves crash against the rocky shore in a beautiful, classic California coast tableau. At low tide the waves pull back and present us with a bounty of tide pools, small rocky beaches and inlets that are teeming with life. We’ll (carefully) walk out together across the rocks and pools, stopping to identify what we find, and gathering some of it for the table.

What we take home depends entirely on the season and on what the tide has left us, which is half the fun of it. There’s seaweed of one kind or another most of the year, shellfish, urchin when they’re about. What you’ll see is a great deal more than what comes back with us: anemones, bat stars, rock crabs, hermit crabs, limpets, turban snails, chitons that have sat in the same spot for thirty years, and the odd abalone if you know where to look. And if you’re feeling adventurous you can crack open one of the purple urchins we find and slurp it up right there in the water!

It’s a fun and informative adventure and it’s for all ages, with little ones alongside an adult. Please be warned though that the conditions out there are quite challenging. The rocks are slippery, there are pokey things like urchins, and it’s relatively easy to fall. So come prepared with strong water shoes, long pants, and a walking stick to help keep your balance, and bring a bucket, bag or container if you’re planning to take anything home.

This one only runs at a low tide. Once you’ve booked we’ll work with you and your group to find the best time to go out.

When we go

Low tide sets the time, so it moves around. Here is every day we can get out on the rocks between now and the end of the booking window.

DayMeet at camp
November
Thu 51:35 pm
Fri 62:20 pm
Sat 73:02 pm
Sun 83:41 pm
Mon 94:19 pm
Tue 104:56 pm
Wed 115:33 pm
Sat 211:42 pm
Sun 222:26 pm
Mon 233:12 pm
Wed 254:46 pm
December
Fri 41:22 pm
Sat 52:07 pm
Sun 62:48 pm
Mon 73:27 pm
Tue 84:04 pm
Wed 94:41 pm
Thu 105:16 pm
Fri 115:52 pm
Sat 1912:29 pm
Sun 201:20 pm
Mon 212:09 pm
Tue 222:58 pm
Wed 233:47 pm
January
Sun 31:49 pm
Mon 42:32 pm
Tue 53:11 pm
Wed 63:48 pm
Thu 74:22 pm
Fri 84:54 pm
Sat 95:25 pm
Sun 105:54 pm
Sun 1711:59 am
Mon 1812:59 pm
Tue 191:53 pm
Wed 202:44 pm
Thu 213:33 pm
Fri 224:18 pm
Sat 235:00 pm
Sun 245:41 pm
Sun 3112:33 pm
February
Mon 11:25 pm

Got chits? A seat is 1,300, and you can spend them at checkout.

What we’ll do

Scheduled ninety minutes ahead of the low tide, so the meeting time moves with the chart.

  1. Meet at camp. Bags issued, and what's permitted and what isn't
  2. Walk out to the bench
  3. Identification before anything gets cut or picked up
  4. Harvest whatever the season is giving, one species at a time, cutting so it grows back
  5. Weigh out, because nobody goes over the limit
  6. Back at camp for rinsing, drying racks, and how to use every bit of it

What is included

Your guide, mesh bags, shears, a scale, and instruction on drying and storing what you take.

What to bring

Strong water shoes, long pants, and a walking stick if you'd like one. A bucket or a bag for anything you take home.

Good to know

  • What's available changes with the season and the tide, so we'll tell you what to expect closer to the day.
  • No fishing license is needed for seaweed. If you're taking shellfish or urchin you'll want one, and a one-day license runs about $21. We'll point you at where to get it.
  • Each guest harvests under their own license where one applies, and their own bag limit.
  • All ages, with children accompanied by an adult.
  • Tide-scheduled, so the meeting time changes daily. We'll agree the day once you've booked.
  • The rocks are slippery and it's easy to fall, so please come in proper footwear.

Photographs

Pick your day and we’ll be there.

Choose a date below and your guide is booked with it. If we have to cancel, for weather or a tide that won’t cooperate or anything else at our end, you choose: another date, or your money back.