Seal Rock was named for the harbor seals that pull out onto the rocks a little ways out into the Pacific, but most visitors come for the accessible tide pools.
The park's namesakes can be seen from the beach on the rock outcroppings or swimming in the ocean.
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Now How Do I Get Down?
With the tide out, these harbor seals were quite a ways out of the water. The rock is isolated by itself with a sharp drop off, it is only accessible to them when the tide is in.
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Unfazed
One thing that always amazes me about watching harbor seals swim is how easily they manage themselves even in the strong currents and crashing surf near the shore’s edge.
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Not Much Elbow Room
It’s a good thing mussels don’t need much personal space, as they spend their lives in a dense pack attached to a large rock, such as this group exposed by low tide. Seal Rock is my second favorite spot on the Oregon coast to watch tide pools, my favorite is Yaquina Head but the tide pools at each park have a different feel to them.
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Brothers in Arms
The receding tide left these two high and dry above the tidepool, arm in arm, their forbidden starfish love exposed.
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Two and the Infinite One
A couple watches the waves crash against the rocks. The waves weren't so large on this day, but in the right weather the ocean can get pretty worked up in this section of the beach.
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