SCRATCHPAD
Low tide at Haystack Rock
By LISSA BREWER
COAST WEEKEND EDITOR
One afternoon in Cannon Beach, I took
a long walk as I waited on the negative tide.
I wandered through stairways and neigh-
borhood streets and stopped for a coff ee
and açaí bowl in Tolovana Park. When I
found myself again at Haystack Rock, it
was in the tide pools, surrounded in the late
afternoon by bright green sea anemones,
walls of blue mussels and colorful, cling-
ing starfi sh.
Between boulders and sandbars on the
sides of the rock lie beautiful ponds, refl ect-
ing sunlight and teeming with life. It’s
not diffi cult to see why this area is both a
National Wildlife Refuge and one of seven
Marine Gardens along the Oregon Coast.
These are beautiful places to observe and
learn about life in the intertidal zone, but
they also require special care from visitors.
The rocks, covered in barnacles and soft
anemones, are best observed before taking
a step. Try not to disturb the delicate crea-
tures that live on them. Climbing on Hay-
stack Rock itself isn’t allowed for good
reason. A wildlife refuge protected to an
altitude of 500 feet, many nesting seabirds
call the rock home, and it’s a hazardous
place for falling debris. Disturbing or col-
lecting sea life also isn’t allowed within 300
yards, because, well, don’t harass the locals.
More importantly, these are delicate eco-
systems, and to preserve them, we have
ON THE
COVER
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Phone: 503.325.3211 Ext. 217 or 800.781.3211
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E-mail: editor@coastweekend.com
Address: P.O.Box 210 • 949 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103
Sea anemones are a common sight in Oregon
Coast tide pools.
tips. Stay aware of rip currents, drifting
logs and incoming tides. I decided to visit
an hour before low tide, an optimal time to
avoid incoming waves.
Exploring the tide pools is one of my
favorite pastimes on the Oregon Coast and
a great way to connect with the sea.
STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS
COAST WEEKEND EDITOR
LISSA BREWER
CALENDAR COORDINATOR
SARAH SMITH
CONTRIBUTORS
DAVID CAMPICHE
WILLIAM DEAN
PETER KORCHNAK
BARBARA LLOYD McMICHAEL
LAURI SERAFIN
PATRICK WEBB
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a responsibility as visitors to take care of
them. To help, t he Haystack Rock Aware-
ness Program off ers interpretive programs
throughout the year at the base of Haystack
Rock. The program’s guides also help vis-
itors identify the shellfi sh, shorebirds and
more that call the rock home. The program
also off ers Beach Wheelchairs, available for
checkout at Bahama Boards on Hemlock
Street.
While exploring, always observe safety
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022 // 3