← Tide Pool Directory/ United States/ Yorktown Beach

Yorktown Beach

York County, Virginia · United States

What have people found?

Fragile barnacle, atlantic lion's mane jelly and red beard sponge turn up here more than at our other tide pools. Bay nettle, dwarf lion's mane jelly and wharf louse are the usual finds. ~27 distinct species have been recorded here. More has been recorded at Cape Charles, 26.7 miles away.

What is the best time to visit today?

Download the app to see the 7-day schedule.

See low tide times at Yorktown Beach for the next three days
  1. Sun, Nov 156:39 AM0.6 ftin the dark7:24 PM0.5 ft
  2. Mon, Nov 167:33 AM0.6 ftin the dark8:11 PM0.5 ft
  3. Tue, Nov 178:32 AM0.6 ftin the dark9:01 PM0.4 ft

Every low tide each day, in local time at the shore.

Plan the week in Intertidal
  • A tide chart for every day, with the best window marked
  • Identify what you find from a photo
  • An alert when a good daylight low is coming

When do people visit?

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Most observations come from March and July.

What should you know before visiting?

Parking is about 1000 feet away.
Arrive 45 minutes to an hour before low tide and leave as it turns. The water comes back faster than it left.
Grippy shoes beat sandals. Wet rock and algae are more slippery than they look. Tide pool safety
A tide pool is a fragile place. Look and photograph, take nothing. The tidepooling code

What lives at Yorktown Beach?

Species records from iNaturalist

Bay NettleChrysaora chesapeakei
Dwarf Lion's Mane JellyCyanea versicolor
Wharf LouseLigia exotica
Eastern OysterCrassostrea virginica
Red Beard SpongeClathria prolifera
Atlantic Lion's Mane JellyCyanea fulva
Atlantic Blue CrabCallinectes sapidus
Marsh PeriwinkleLittoraria irrorata
Atlantic Ribbed MusselGeukensia demissa
Fragile BarnacleChthamalus fragilis
Thinstripe Hermit CrabClibanarius vittatus
Common Pill WoodlouseArmadillidium vulgare
Broadleaf Sea LettuceUlva lactuca
Squareback Marsh CrabArmases cinereum
Mushroom JellyRhopilema verrilli
Scan this tide pool on your next visit.

Every organism named, every visit logged to your journal.