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Watsonville: King Tide Hike at Elkhorn Slough Reserve

  • Elkhorn Slough Reserve 1700 Elkhorn Road Watsonville, CA, 95076 United States (map)

Ever heard of a “king tide” and wondered why they're so special? Join us to find out and see a high king tide for yourself! #tours

Please note that king tides flood Elkhorn Road to the north of the Reserve, so we recommend arriving from the south for this hike

Ever heard of a “king tide” and wondered what makes them so special? They’re the most extreme tides of the year, going from the highest of high tides to the lowest of low tides in a single day. At the peak of a high king tide, you won’t find much sand if you visit a beach, but the low tide is a fun time to go tide pooling! Watching the high tide during these annual phenomena gives us a window into what future high tides may look like as our sea level rises.

Join an Elkhorn Slough Reserve naturalist to see a high king tide for yourself! Together we’ll learn what causes high tides, talk about why king tides are so interesting, and take a hike to the Reserve’s boardwalk to witness the event for ourselves.