New Kind of Guided Tours and Workshops on Oregon Coast, Giving Tidepools and Cooking New Twists

Published 05/10/26 at 6:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Garibaldi, Oregon) – Everyone loves a good guided tour now and then, or at least a new experience and another side to a place you're already familiar with. Especially on the Oregon coast. Aspects like tidepooling, foraging, learning about otters (to maybe even thinking like one) and other fun 'n funky means of digging deeper into beach vibes are all getting a different twist these days. (Photo of Kieffer / Shifting Tides)

Enter Shifting Tides, the brainchild of longtime coastie Alanna Kieffer, who grew up around here and cut her educational teeth by helping out around Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach and in California to even some amount of diving. Eventually she co-founded the unique Winter Waters PNW events, which in turn helped lead her here: providing guided tours, workshops and unique seafood classes that are as fun as they are mind-expanding.

She helps people wander tidepools, look for grub out of these ecosystems, go razor clamming, engage deeper with fishing and there's even some rather elaborate camping trips involved.

It's her fourth year doing Shifting Tides, Kieffer told Oregon Coast Beach Connection, and this tour guide biz has really evolved.

“The tours pull in a range of people interested in learning more about our coastal ecosystems and wild foods,” Kieffer said. “It’s always a really engaged group ready to explore and meet other like minded individuals. We typically start with a high-level overview of the coastal ecology and then dive into specific critters or foods that we’re foraging. Classes have been diversified from the start, now with Fishing Trips, Shark Research Expeditions and camping trips.”

For now, everything is on the northern half of the coast, and mostly up north, with gigs around Garibaldi, Seaside, Cannon Beach, various parts of the Tillamook Coast and at least one in Newport this season.

“I typically host these up on the north coast, but have some listed in Newport now and hope to do some on the south coast soon,” she said.

Some of the cooking classes happen at the famed Boathouse at Garibaldi.

The shark trips will be quite a scene. Those aren't scheduled yet, but her preview lights the imagination:

“This isn’t just a boat ride - it’s your chance to actively participate in real shark research. You’ll help deploy baited lines and create chum slicks to attract sharks, assist in safely bringing them alongside the boat, and take part in data collection by measuring and tagging species such as blue sharks, salmon sharks, and possibly even white sharks (no sharks are guaranteed).”

Kieffer's tidepool outings recently snagged coastie Mylasia Miklas as tour guide, who has quite a bit of experience with Haystack Rock Awareness Program.

Events vary in range depending on the type, with foraging classes in and around $89 (three hours), tide-pooling gigs tend to be around $59 (two hours) while more extensive events like the overnight camping run up near $280.

Shifting Tides events and workshops partner with Kind Traveler’s Every Adventure Gives Back program, supporting Elakha Alliance (which aims to bring back the sea otter to Oregon).

Some upcoming hightlights (see Shifting Tides for the rest):

May 18. Razor Clamming. Seaside, Oregon. 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. One of Oregon’s signature shellfish is the Pacific razor clam. This workshop introduces participants to the beachfront intertidal zone of the Oregon Coast, where they’ll dig for razor clams along the shoreline in Seaside. Attendees will learn about the habitats of different clam species and gain an overview of the clamming industry on the Oregon coast.

May 19. Seaweed Foraging – North Coast. Garibaldi, Oregon. 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
A guided outing on the rocky shoreline focusing on identifying Oregon’s wild seaweeds. Participants learn basic oceanography, intertidal ecology, sustainable harvesting practices, and common methods for processing and preserving seaweed.

May 22. Tide-pooling (-0.5 tide). Oregon Coast. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
A hands-on exploration of the rocky intertidal zone. Participants search tidepools for marine life while learning about the unique species that inhabit the Oregon Coast’s shoreline.

May 23. Seaweed Foraging – Newport, Oregon. 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
An opportunity to explore Newport’s rocky shores while learning to identify and responsibly harvest wild seaweeds. The workshop covers oceanography, intertidal ecology, sustainable collection techniques, and basic preservation skills.

June 5. Bay Clamming. Garibaldi, Oregon. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
A Tillamook Bay workshop teaching participants how to dig for cockle clams. The session includes an overview of local oceanography, bay ecology, and effective harvesting methods.

June 6. Seaweed Foraging – North Coast. Oregon Coast. 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
A coastal field session focused on identifying Oregon seaweeds, understanding intertidal ecosystems, and practicing sustainable harvesting and preservation techniques.

June 7. Mussel & Intertidal Forage. Cannon Beach, Oregon. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
A mussel-foraging workshop introducing participants to the rocky intertidal environment. The session covers tides, ocean conditions, safety considerations, and sustainable collection of mussels and barnacles.

June 16. Lowest Tide – Tidepooling (-2 ft tide). Oregon Coast. 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
A special low-tide exploration of the intertidal zone. Participants search tidepools during one of the lowest tides of the season, observing a wide range of coastal marine species.

June 17. Lowest Tide – Tidepooling (-1.8 ft tide). Newport, Oregon. 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
A low-tide tidepooling session in Newport, offering a close look at marine life exposed during an exceptionally low tide.

June 20. Tide-pooling (-0.43 tide). Oregon Coast. 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
A guided tidepooling outing exploring the rocky shoreline and the diverse organisms that inhabit the intertidal zone.

July 1. Tide-pooling (-0.8 tide). Oregon Coast. 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
A morning tidepooling workshop offering participants a chance to explore coastal tidepools and discover marine species at a moderate low tide.

July 18–19. Coastal Camp-Out on the Tillamook Coast. Tillamook Coast, Oregon.
A two-day coastal experience featuring shoreline hikes, intertidal mussel foraging, and an overnight campout. Evenings include campfire meals prepared by Gabe, with a full schedule provided to participants.

shiftingtidesnw.com

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