Washington State Parks and Clam Digging – Where to stay!
Did you know that Washington State Parks and Clam Digging adventures are the perfect pair? They are the best places to stay when you’re running around the beach digging up fresh and yummy clams!
We are pretty hard core and genuine Pacific Northwesterners. We do not let the winter weather stop us from camping and doing activities we love, like Clam digging. We have gone for over 10 years and have found some of our favorite beaches at State Parks. I want to share our favorite campgrounds that we like to use when we stay for the weekend to go Clam digging.
Location is a big part of it. There are a lot of excellent state parks that are right off the coast. You don’t even have to drive to the beach if you don’t want to. It’s an easy walk to the beach or a super short drive. They have amazing facilities when it comes to restrooms and showers. Most of the parks have tent, RV, and Yurt options to work for anybody. We camp in our trailer most of the time, but we have also camped with friends and family and used the yurts. If you have an RV or a camper, it’s also really convenient that most state parks have dump stations. So it’s easy to dump if you need to and then head home.
Pacific Beach State Park
This cute town is located just north of Seabrook. This location is right off the water, and while there is not a lot of nature, and you are not in the trees, it is an excellent location for beach views and excellent internet service. We sometimes go adventuring while doing school and work, so it is a great place to do remote work and school. There is not a ton to do in Pacific Beach, but Seabrook has some cute shops and restaurants.
There are RV sites and a couple of yurts at this state park. It also has pretty good cell phone reception if you need or want that!
Ocean City State Park
This State Park is located between Ocean Shores and the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino. It is another excellent location if you are going Clam digging because it is right off the beach and close to Copalis and Moclips. When Clam season is open, usually you can toggle between either Copalis and Moclips every other day. This location puts you close to both the beaches so you can go for a couple of days if you want. It is so close to Ocean shores that it is easy to head there for meals or entertainment.
Some campsites will get flooded when it’s raining hard; usually, you cannot reserve those particular sites. But in the winter, the camp hosts are generally flexible, and if you want to move locations after you get there and no one has the site reserved, they will let you make those changes.
Twin Harbor and Grayland State Park
These two parks are right next to each other, and they are another great option for beach access and clam digging. I haven’t stayed in Twin Harbor State Park because Grayland has larger campsites and has been our “go-to” when we want to camp on the beach. For us, it is close to home, and Westport is one of our favorite places to hang out.
Both parks are right next to the Pacific Ocean and are pretty much neighbors. These beaches can be quite popular when the Clam season is open.
Let’s Talk about Clam Digging
Razor clam season usually starts around September, and they go all the way until March or April. We typically go three times a year, depending on the times of the dates and our schedule. The digs start two hours before low tide, and the lower the tide, the easier it is to dig up the clams. You must make sure you are Clam digging at the right beaches. Only specific beaches on specific dates and specific times are allowed.
You can only clam dig on certain days and at certain times of the year. Go to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website, and you will find the exact locations, times, dates that you can go Clam digging. You must follow all the guidelines. You can get fined if you go over your limit or break any of the other rules, so make sure you know what you’re doing or ask questions before you go out there and do it.
Check out all the Fish and Wildlife updates to get the latest information.
If you plan on camping on the coast and Clam digging, I would suggest some essentials.
Chest waders/ waterproof boots/neoprene pants
raincoat
waterproof hat
waterproof lanyard for your clam digging license
net /bucket for holding clams
For night digs, you need a headlamp, and I would suggest a light for your vehicle so you can find it in the dark (A lesson learned the hard way)
Hopefully some of these tips will help you on your Clam Digging adventures!!!
![GearLight LED Headlamp Flashlight S500 [2 Pack]](https://aimeedanielson.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-27-at-3.19.06-PM-1024x831.png)
Guide on how to get started clam digging
Let’s talk about the actual clam dig! Two choices, you can either use a clam gun or clam shovel. We use a clam gun which is a long circular tube that you put in the sand over where you think the Clam is. The handle of the tube usually has a hole for air to go through. Align your tube over the dent in the sand.
Once you push your clam gun down in the sand, you cover up the hole on the handle, and the suction will bring up the sand and, hopefully, the razor clam (although sometimes it is just a shrimp).
Typically the limit is 15 clams per person; there can be different limits depending on what’s going on. There is an overabundance of clams right now, so for the rest of 2021, the limit is 20 per person instead of the usual 15.
Washington State Parks and Clam Digging – Where to stay!
Did you know that Washington State Parks and Clam Digging adventures are the perfect pair? They are the best places to stay when you’re running around the beach digging up fresh and yummy clams!
We are pretty hard core and genuine Pacific Northwesterners. We do not let the winter weather stop us from camping and doing activities we love, like Clam digging. We have gone for over 10 years and have found some of our favorite beaches at State Parks. I want to share our favorite campgrounds that we like to use when we stay for the weekend to go Clam digging.
Location is a big part of it. There are a lot of excellent state parks that are right off the coast. You don’t even have to drive to the beach if you don’t want to. It’s an easy walk to the beach or a super short drive. They have amazing facilities when it comes to restrooms and showers. Most of the parks have tent, RV, and Yurt options to work for anybody. We camp in our trailer most of the time, but we have also camped with friends and family and used the yurts. If you have an RV or a camper, it’s also really convenient that most state parks have dump stations. So it’s easy to dump if you need to and then head home.
Pacific Beach State Park
This cute town is located just north of Seabrook. This location is right off the water, and while there is not a lot of nature, and you are not in the trees, it is an excellent location for beach views and excellent internet service. We sometimes go adventuring while doing school and work, so it is a great place to do remote work and school. There is not a ton to do in Pacific Beach, but Seabrook has some cute shops and restaurants.
There are RV sites and a couple of yurts at this state park. It also has pretty good cell phone reception if you need or want that!
Ocean City State Park
This State Park is located between Ocean Shores and the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino. It is another excellent location if you are going Clam digging because it is right off the beach and close to Copalis and Moclips. When Clam season is open, usually you can toggle between either Copalis and Moclips every other day. This location puts you close to both the beaches so you can go for a couple of days if you want. It is so close to Ocean shores that it is easy to head there for meals or entertainment.
Some campsites will get flooded when it’s raining hard; usually, you cannot reserve those particular sites. But in the winter, the camp hosts are generally flexible, and if you want to move locations after you get there and no one has the site reserved, they will let you make those changes.
Twin Harbor and Grayland State Park
These two parks are right next to each other, and they are another great option for beach access and clam digging. I haven’t stayed in Twin Harbor State Park because Grayland has larger campsites and has been our “go-to” when we want to camp on the beach. For us, it is close to home, and Westport is one of our favorite places to hang out.
Both parks are right next to the Pacific Ocean and are pretty much neighbors. These beaches can be quite popular when the Clam season is open.
Let’s Talk about Clam Digging
Razor clam season usually starts around September, and they go all the way until March or April. We typically go three times a year, depending on the times of the dates and our schedule. The digs start two hours before low tide, and the lower the tide, the easier it is to dig up the clams. You must make sure you are Clam digging at the right beaches. Only specific beaches on specific dates and specific times are allowed.
You can only clam dig on certain days and at certain times of the year. Go to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website, and you will find the exact locations, times, dates that you can go Clam digging. You must follow all the guidelines. You can get fined if you go over your limit or break any of the other rules, so make sure you know what you’re doing or ask questions before you go out there and do it.
Check out all the Fish and Wildlife updates to get the latest information.
If you plan on camping on the coast and Clam digging, I would suggest some essentials.
Chest waders/ waterproof boots/neoprene pants
raincoat
waterproof hat
waterproof lanyard for your clam digging license
net /bucket for holding clams
For night digs, you need a headlamp, and I would suggest a light for your vehicle so you can find it in the dark (A lesson learned the hard way)
Hopefully some of these tips will help you on your Clam Digging adventures!!!
Guide on how to get started clam digging
Let’s talk about the actual clam dig! Two choices, you can either use a clam gun or clam shovel. We use a clam gun which is a long circular tube that you put in the sand over where you think the Clam is. The handle of the tube usually has a hole for air to go through. Align your tube over the dent in the sand.
Once you push your clam gun down in the sand, you cover up the hole on the handle, and the suction will bring up the sand and, hopefully, the razor clam (although sometimes it is just a shrimp).
Typically the limit is 15 clams per person; there can be different limits depending on what’s going on. There is an overabundance of clams right now, so for the rest of 2021, the limit is 20 per person instead of the usual 15.
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