Redondo and Dash Point Showcase the Beauty of Summer's Lowest Tides

After exploring Redondo and Dash Point during July's exceptionally low tides, Stuart Jenner shares photos and highlights from his visit—and why August's final low tides are worth experiencing for yourself.

Every site for low tide is different. In the past, I’ve written about low tide at Seahurst and other beaches at the north end of Highline. This recent story has several photos from Seahurst.

On July 13, I decided to explore the southern end of Highline with a visit to Redondo and Dash Point State Park in Federal Way.

Redondo

One of the best ways to gain perspective on the magnitude of tidal changes is to visit Redondo Beach. The MaST Center Aquarium is built over one of the piers. The City of Des Moines also recently re-opened the Fishing Pier. Both are on pilings that are up to 20 feet above the sand floor.

At most high and low tides, there would be just a few feet from the bottom of the pier to the top of the water. In other words, when the tide is very low, the water level has effectively dropped 15 or more feet from what one would often see.

Some highlights of Redondo:

• Sea stars on the beach covered in seaweed.
• Water gushing out of the aquarium tanks through pipes that only go part way to the sand. The "whoosh" of the water is striking. See bottom of article.
• Seeing the underside of the boardwalk.
• Crushed shells in bands across the sand — the art of nature at its finest.

Photos are all taken by Stuart Jenner, The Highline Journal

Dash Point State Park

As a state park, Dash Point has a full set of recreational opportunities. I wrote previously about some of the hiking trails in one of my history stories. There are also campsites, picnic shelters and tables, and the beach.

At a very low tide, the distance from the edge of the water to the edge of the beach is at least a quarter mile. The sand is amazing … and very flat. In contrast to Redondo, which has a very steep pitch, the beach at Dash Point drops maybe an inch per dozen yards.

Most of the bluffs in the area are undisturbed. While there are some bulkheads for houses nearby, the feel is very different than at Redondo or Seahurst. Being at Dash Point feels more like a visit to the Washington Coast, albeit without the big waves, than a visit to Puget Sound.

Some highlights of Dash Point:

• Eel grass — present in just the last 10 feet of sand at a very low tide, this is critical for nurturing young fish, crabs, and young marine life. Some of the eel grass at a very low tide is completely out of the water, but one can also wade through it. The grass seems so fragile; how does it stay in the sand and not wash away?
• Sand dollars.
• Children and parents making sand castles and enjoying Thames Creek as it goes over rocks and then onto the sand, perfect for skim boarding.
• The view of Vashon, Normandy Park, Des Moines, and Federal Way on one side, and the Dash Point Pier and Tacoma on the other side.

Photos are all taken by Stuart Jenner, The Highline Journal

The final low tides of the year are August 10–12. Consider going to experience the majesty of marine life.