Lowest Tides of the Year on Oregon Coast: Where to Look, Comprehensive List

Published 04/07/26 at 5:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Florence, Oregon) - With Spring Break in the rearview mirror, many travelers are already looking ahead to summer, and the Oregon coast's Florence is one stop that remains high on the list. Soon there will be an added draw, according to the Area Chamber of Commerce: a series of unusually low “minus tides” expected to create prime conditions for tidepooling and beachcombing along Florence-area beaches. Above: Oceanside sometimes look like this - Oregon Coast Beach Connection.

Really, it happens everywhere, of course. Not just in Florence. And there's even more extreme low tides than have been talked about.

Forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show the lowest tides of 2026 arriving on a certain set of dates:

May 17–19 (May 17 is the last day of the 119th annual Florence Rhododendron Festival)
June 15–16 (Shortly after school ends for summer and family vacations start)
July 14–15 (An outstanding time of summer for beach trips)
- See the full tidal list below

Yet there's way more to it than that, and it sort of depends on the area. Charleston / Coos Bay will have slightly offset days of spectacular low tides than Florence, and they can be different than areas up north like Cannon Beach or Manzanita.

Oregon Coast Beach Connection compiled an exhaustive list below.

For most regions, the most significant low tides are expected on Sunday, May 17, and Tuesday, June 16, when water levels will drop far below the typical low-tide line, exposing an unusually wide stretch of shoreline.

In the Florence area that also means rocky areas around Heceta Head and just north in areas like Bob Creek or Strawberry Hill. The caves beneath the lighthouse may be very accessible for awhile.

Other Amazing Oregon Coast Finds Possible:

- Cannon Beach: you might be able to walk around more of Haystack Rock than usual, including its other side. Maybe. Crescent Beach might be accessible for a short period.
- Manzanita: beaches could be a few hundred feet wider, and Short Sand may expand quite a ways
- Oceanside: maybe walk around Maxwell Point without going through the tunnel.
- Pacific City: caves at Cape Kiwanda may be more accessible.
- Lincoln City's beaches will get much wider and more bedrock at the tideline will be exposed.

Other areas to check out:

Devil's Punchbowl near Depoe Bay, exposed rocky shores of Yaquina Head and at Yachats, more ghost forest stumps and odd rocks at Coos Bay's Sunset Beach (and Gregory Point could be more accessible.) Those long,slightly scary-thin beaches around places like Humbug Mountain or Blacklock Point could be much better off. Many more of Bandon's sea stacks should be easy to check out up-close and personal, and areas in the Boardman Scenic Corridor like Secret Beach or Natural Bridges could have more secrets to reveal.

Tide levels can vary by location, and officials encourage visitors to check localized tide charts for the beaches they plan to explore. NOAA’s tides and currents resources provide updated predictions throughout the season.

These seasonal lows are driven by the moon’s phase and its distance from Earth. While similarly deep minus tides occur in winter, rough weather often limits safe access. Summer’s calmer conditions typically offer a safer and more accessible window for exploring intertidal areas.

“The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce reminds the public to exercise caution when exploring intertidal zones, and to be good stewards of them,” said Bettina Hannigan, president and CEO of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. “These ecosystems are home to delicate marine life, and visitors are urged to avoid stepping on organisms or disturbing their habitats. Walking on bare rocks and observing wildlife without interference helps preserve these environments.”

Safety is Number One

Safety officials also advise beachgoers to begin exploring as the tide recedes and to allow plenty of time to return before water levels rise. Incoming tides can quickly cut off access points and create hazardous situations.

On the flipside of this, higher-than-normal tides will accompany these low-tide cycles. Peak summer highs are expected to approach 10 feet, slightly below the levels typically seen during winter king tide events, when storms can contribute to coastal flooding.

That means get the hell outta there soon after you go in there. Tides could be coming back at any moment.

“With proper prior planning and awareness, these seasonal tidal shifts offer people a unique opportunity to experience the rich marine landscape safely and responsibly here in Oregon’s Coastal Playground,” Hannigan said.

See Washington Coast Weather and tides  - See Oregon Coast Weather and tides

Charleston lowest tides :

The lowest tide is on Monday, May 18 at 8:06 a.m. with a −2.46 foot tide.
The second lowest is on Sunday, May 17 at 7:17 a.m. with a −2.34 foot tide.
The third lowest is on Tuesday, May 19 at 8:56 a.m. with a −2.26 foot tide.
The fourth lowest is on Saturday, May 16 at 6:30 a.m. with a −1.89 foot tide.

The lowest tide is on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:54 a.m. with a –2.64 foot tide.
The second lowest is on Monday, June 15 at 7:05 a.m. with a –2.62 foot tide.
The third lowest is on Sunday, June 14 at 6:16 a.m. with a –2.31 foot tide.
The fourth lowest is on Wednesday, June 17 at 8:42 a.m. with a –2.38 foot tide.

Sunday, July 12 at 5:12 a.m. has a low tide of −1.74 feet.
Monday, July 13 at 6:04 a.m. has a low tide of −2.19 feet.
Tuesday, July 14 at 6:53 a.m. has a low tide of −2.40 feet.
Wednesday, July 15 at 7:38 a.m. has a low tide of −2.33 feet.
Thursday, July 16 at 8:22 a.m. has a low tide of −2.00 feet.
Friday, July 17 at 9:04 a.m. has a low tide of −1.43 feet.

Florence Lowest Tides

Sunday, May 17
6:35 PM — Low tide −0.59 ft ← minus tide

Monday, May 18
7:06 PM — Low tide −0.39 ft ← minus tide

Tuesday, May 19
7:36 PM — Low tide 0.03 ft

Monday, June 15 at 5:34 p.m. had a low tide of −0.33 feet.
Tuesday, June 16 at 6:05 p.m. had a low tide of −0.56 feet.
Tuesday, July 14 at 4:37 p.m. had a low tide of 0.10 feet.
Wednesday, July 15 at 5:16 p.m. had a low tide of −0.23 feet.

Extreme minus tides in the North Oregon Coast (Tillamook area):

The lowest tide is on Monday, May 18 at 8:14 a.m. with a –2.62 foot tide.
The second lowest is on Sunday, May 17 at 7:25 a.m. with a –2.52 foot tide.
The third lowest is on Tuesday, May 19 at 9:05 a.m. with a –2.40 foot tide.
The fourth lowest is on Saturday, May 16 at 6:38 a.m. with a –2.08 foot tide.

The lowest tide is on Tuesday, June 16 at 8:04 a.m. with a –2.82 foot tide.
The second lowest is on Monday, June 15 at 7:14 a.m. with a –2.78 foot tide.
The third lowest is on Wednesday, June 17 at 8:53 a.m. with a –2.56 foot tide.
The fourth lowest is on Sunday, June 14 at 6:24 a.m. with a –2.44 foot tide.
The fifth lowest is on Saturday, June 13 at 5:33 a.m. with a –1.81 foot tide.

The lowest tide is on Tuesday, July 14 at 7:03 a.m. with a –2.60 foot tide.
The second lowest is on Wednesday, July 15 at 7:50 a.m. with a –2.58 foot tide.
The third lowest is on Monday, July 13 at 6:13 a.m. with a –2.33 foot tide.
The fourth lowest is on Thursday, July 16 at 8:35 a.m. with a –2.26 foot tide.

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