The Enigmatic Razor Clam

Stretching from California to Alaska, the Pacific coast of the United States boasts a variety of natural wonders, among which the razor clam stands out as a true gem. These sleek and elusive bivalve mollusks are renowned for their unique shape, delicious taste, and the thrilling experience they provide to those who seek them out.

Coastal Clamming Adventures

For many coastal communities along the Pacific, clamming is more than just a hobby—it’s a cherished tradition. From the sandy beaches of Washington and Oregon to the rugged shores of Northern California, clammers gather during low tide, armed with shovels, clam guns, and a keen eye for spotting the telltale signs of a razor clam’s presence.

The excitement of digging and discovering these hidden treasures is a quintessential part of the coastal lifestyle.

Understanding the Seasons

The timing of clamming trips is crucial, as the availability of razor clams is closely regulated to ensure sustainable harvesting. Each state along the Pacific coast has its own guidelines and seasons, often announced by the respective Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Typically, prime clamming times occur in the fall and spring, when low tides expose the sandy habitats where razor clams reside.

Ecological and Economic Importance

Razor clams play a vital role in the coastal ecosystem, filtering water and providing food for various marine species. The clamming industry also contributes significantly to the local economies, supporting small businesses such as bait shops, equipment suppliers, and restaurants that serve up delectable clam dishes.

The economic and ecological benefits of razor clams highlight the importance of responsible harvesting practices.

The Culinary Magic of Razor Clams

For those fortunate enough to harvest or purchase fresh razor clams, a world of culinary possibilities awaits. Their tender and slightly sweet meat lends itself to a variety of dishes, from classic clam chowders and fried clam strips to more inventive creations like clam ceviche or razor clam risotto.

Each bite offers a taste of the ocean and a connection to the coastal heritage.

Tips for Responsible Clamming

To ensure the sustainability of razor clam populations, it is essential to follow local regulations, including obtaining the necessary permits and adhering to harvest limits. Additionally, clammers should practice good etiquette by filling in holes after digging and avoiding the disturbance of other wildlife.

Respecting these guidelines helps preserve the natural beauty and bounty of the coastline for future generations.

Embrace the Coastal Experience

Whether you’re a seasoned clammer or a curious newcomer, embarking on a razor clam expedition along the Pacific coast is an adventure like no other. It’s an opportunity to connect with nature, partake in a time-honored tradition, and savor the rewards of your efforts.

As the waves crash and the salty breeze fills the air, you’ll find that the quest for razor clams offers more than just a meal—it provides memories that will last a lifetime.

Happy clamming! 

For 33 years, Michael Muller, from Edmonds, worked for the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.  So naturally, when he wants to take a weekend away, he heads out to the coast.

Visiting Moclips for the first time, he came to Hi-Tide Resort in October 2023, hoping to avoid the crowds but still have the great weather the coast can provide.

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Hi-Tide: What brought you out to the coast?
 
Michael: I wanted to visit with friends in the area.  I saw Hi-Tide was there, and I could bring my Husky/Malamute mix, Yuka.  I was debating about going to Lake Cushman or the coast, and I decided I wanted to get Yuka out to the ocean.
 
Hi-Tide: What did you do while you stayed with us?
 
Michael: We did a lot of exploring of the area.  We also enjoyed the solitude and quiet of the beach.  Yuka was a busybody on the dunes.  At night, I loved looking up at the stars and I could see the crabbers with their lights on way out in the water.  The weather was perfect, since it was the tail end of summer and it was still warm.
 
Hi-Tide: Were you upset there was no razor clamming during your visit?
 
Michael: No.  It’s hard to keep track of Yuka and dig for clams at the same time.  I talked to other people at the resort about it and liked that there was a cleaning station right there for people to use.  Not many places have that.  
 
Razor clams are one of my favorites, though.  I stopped at Duffy’s in Aberdeen on my way out to the coast.  They were some of the best razor clams I’ve had.  
 
Hi-Tide: What was the best part about your stay?
 
Michael: On our first day there I discovered that Yuka would not go up the stairs.  I had to carry her the few tries we went up those stairs. I called the front desk and Jerry there was able to get us moved to a ground floor unit within an hour of my phone call.  
 
Hi-Tide: Would you come back to Hi-Tide?
 
Michael: Absolutely!  I’d like to come back at about the same time of year later this year.  I’d like to take my daughter and granddaughter, and Yuka’s littermate Kavic.   
 

No one knows exactly how it all got started. Maybe it is a myth.

The dreamy story goes like this. Long ago a young guest brought along a painting set to the beach.

The plan was to create a Vincent Van Gogh worthy painting of the sundown just as the mythical magical but very real great green flash that winks when the sun disappears completely. And just for a second.

Her name was not recorded at the time, but for now we have come to call her "Eloise". There is no record of whether she successfully caught and depicted the momentous moment. But it is something that can be frequently be seen year round from the condos at Hi-Tide.

After wandering the beach, exploring the Moclips River and digging a full limit of Razor Clams , Eloise decided to use her leftover paint to leave a message and art on a small round river rock.

The portrait of her dog, who had accompanied her to HI-Tide, included the dog's name "Picasso" and these lovely words, "I love it here. I will be back."

She placed the rock gently into a flower bed just outside the entrance to the resort office. What happened next started slowly but has grown to become a must-do activity for visitors from all over the world.

Travelers journey to Moclips Beach, staying at our lovely Hi-Tide Resort , and enjoying the very same peace and quiet and stunning beauty of the North Beaches of Washington State.

Some stay for just a few days. Others stay for a week or two or longer. But before they leave, they can ask for paint and a brush with directions were to find a suitable rock on which to paint their message for posterity.

Today, the gardens of HI-Tide Resort are filled with painted rocks and messages of love and life. Better yet, most visitors return year after year. To paint a new rock or to touch-up those which have graced the gardens for decades.

You are invited to make your own memory here and rock out at Hi-Tide.

Once upon a time, in the small coastal town of Moclips, Washington, there was a creek known as Moclips Creek. 
 
This creek, originating from the slopes of MacAfee Hill, flowed west for 12 miles until it reached the mighty Pacific Ocean.
 
In the early 1900s, Moclips was a bustling tourist destination. The wealthy from the Pacific Northwest flocked to the town, drawn by the promise of a healthy getaway from the stresses of city life. 
 
The town was home to grand hotels, restaurants, and even a theater, all built along the new city streets.
 
One of the most prominent figures in the town was Dr. Edward Lycan, one of the first landowners in the area. Dr. Lycan had a dream of building the grandest hotel of them all, and in 1905, he did just that. 
 
The Moclips Beach Hotel, a two-story building with 150 rooms, stood proudly on the dunes, just a few dozen feet from the high-tide line. However, within two months of its opening, the hotel burnt down.
 
Undeterred, Dr. Lycan rebuilt the hotel by 1907, this time even more spectacular. The new Moclips Beach Hotel was the crown jewel of the Washington Coast, standing three stories tall and stretching for an entire block in length. 
 
It was considered perfect by the wealthy guests who frequented the area.
 
However, in 1911, a series of storms hit the town, causing significant damage. The Moclips River flooded, with a current reported to be 30 miles per hour. 
 
The storm toppled the school, numerous buildings, and the ill-fated Moclips Beach Hotel. The damage was reported to be $40,000 in 1911, which is nearly $1,000,000 today.
 
Despite the devastation, the spirit of Moclips remained unbroken. The town, like the Moclips Creek, continued to flow, embodying the resilience and strength of its people. 
 
Today, the story of Moclips Creek serves as a reminder of the town’s rich history and the enduring power of nature.

We love our neighbor to the south. Seabrook Resort has brought more visibility and new visitors to Washington State's North Beaches from Ocean Shores to Moclips.

Now with 500 new homes perched on a cliff to the south of the town of Pacific Beach, it boasts stores, restaurants, a town hall for weddings, and thousands of neighbors. Newspapers have extolled its virtues and praised the developers for this "New Urbanism"

We are not sure what that means, but praise of our beaches is nothing new. Over 118 years ago, Seattleites hopped trains to "Visit The Shore" at Moclips Beach. and to stave off the city's sweltering summer heat in our warm clime moderated by the refreshing Pacific Ocean.

Since the advent of the automobile, families have zipped to the North Beaches to jump the waves, dig razor clams, collect shells, make sand castles, and watch the sun sink slowly in the west. This is where folks come to getaway, to relax and to invigorate their souls.

At Seabrook, you can pay big money to rent a vacation home for a week or weekend. Or you can rent a moderately priced oceanfront condo at Hi-Tide Resort directly on Moclips' Moonstone beach. And there is a difference here...

From Seabrook town center you will get to trudge 2,000 steps and then descend 200 steep stair steps just to reach the sand, with the ocean another several hundred feet beyond that. While at Hi-Tide you only need to stroll a pleasant 99 steps directly through the level dunes to the ocean. (No steps.)

Of course, if you want to stretch your legs further, you can walk for miles down the coast. And never need go back up any stairs.

Most homes at Seabrook don't have a view, while every one of our condos looks directly out to the rolling surf. The few Seabrook homes that do have a peek-a-boo view may provide binoculars or telescopes, in hopes guests can catch a fleeting glance at seabirds and boats on the horizon.

But you won't need binoculars at Hi-Tide. You can sit on the deck, put your feet up, smell the salty air and marvel as thousands of seabirds swoop and soar directly overhead.

In some seasons there are actually millions of acrobatic Rock Sandpipers, Wandering tattlers, Surfbirds and Black Turnstones migrating from Arctic feedings grounds far to the south. They pass directly overhead and just off the shore.

We must admit Hi-Tide has no swanky restaurants and no tony stores. But if you just can't wait to spend lots of money, take the 8 minute drive to Seabrook. Then after blowing all your cash, zip right back to Hi-Tide to spend all day and all night listening to the ocean and the birds.

Maybe you'll even see that legendary green flash as the golden sun drops below the westerly horizon each evening.

So how about this for a plan - Make a short pit stop at Seabrook to jostle with all the tourists and spend all your money. But stay directly on Moclips Beach at Hi-Tide Resort to rest, relax and recreate.

Every condo at HI-Tide Resort has a view to the North of majestic Point Grenville. This headland abuts the might Pacific Ocean with breathtaking cliffs soaring 120 feet above the surf.

Thee are numerous sear stack rock formations from ancient volcanic eruptions that occurred some 40 - 50 million years ago. Seabirds flock the point, seals swim just offshore often laying up on the beach below.

The Point is sacred to the Quinault native American nation and received its westernized name being named after Lord William Grenville, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State when Captain George Vancouver sailed by in April, 1792.

The U.S. Coast Guard operated a radio navigation station here from 1949-1979.

The 2013 Paddle to Quinault celebrated all native tribes with festivities lasting over a week and included a great many members making the canoe journey and landing at Haynisisoos Park.

Strolling the beach, one can immerse themselves into nature with cliffs and sea stacks surrounded by the Olympic National Park and the waves of the ocean.

The point is also a great location to try and capture the elusive "green flash" as the sun sets beyond the water.

The area is not on public land and a pass is required for access which can be purchased at the Tribal Office located just about 4 miles north on the Quinault Indian Nation.

This largely unknown, and uncrowded area is waiting for you to explore.

Thinking of the beach brings up memories of the surf, sand, wildlife and, of course, the summer sun that bathes Moonstone Beach at Hi-Tide Resort in Moclips, Washington State. State.

Guests have been visiting our "directly on the beach" condos for many years, most returning year after year. Of course, we could tell you all about our comfy furniture, fully outfitted kitchens, private decks and views North, South and West (far west).

But maybe if we conjure up a few songs, you’ll get the idea. The songs we play over and over again during all the fun times we have here.(Click on any song to listen.)

Surfin’ USA - The Beach Boys

This tune was all over the radio in 1963 and ranked as the top song in Billboard rankings. It is the most recognized recording ever written by Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, although band member Mike Love says he co-wrote it.

Fifteen surfing hot spots are mentioned, most in California, with a nod to Australia’s Narrabeen and, of course, to the grand daddy of them all - Hawaii’s Waimea Bay.

Our Moonstone Beach at Moclips is not known for surfing, but that’s OK because we get to keep the place to ourselves.

Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy - George Gershwin

In 1934, Gershwin wrote this steamy song for his American opera, Porgy and Bess, with lyrics help from Dubose Heyward, the author of the novel on which the opera was based.

First recorded by Billie Holiday, who was to become an icon in musical history, Summertime has been recorded over 68,591 times, then a world record for cover tunes.

We don’t suffer from the stifling 100 degree heat and 100 percent humidity that this song evokes, but we do find the living easy all summer at Hi-Tide. Warm breezes, warm sun, warm sand make it a comfortable place to hang out in the summer.

Hot Time Summer in the City - The Loving Spoonful

Written by John Sebastian, Mark Sebastian and Steve Boone, this summer at Hi-Tide you may be glad you are enjoying the pleasant hot sunshine on Moclips Beach and not the sizzling city. The waves are friendly as you sit back and watch the sun sink into the ocean directly west from our condos

You might even seen the famous, green flash, just as the last bit of the sun disappears over the horizon.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

If you have never heard this "Iz" song, you are one of the few. Where have you been? With over one BILLION views/listens on YouTube, this medley of Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World make Bruddah Iz the top selling artist of all times on the world music charts.

Nothing could be better as you drift off to sleep in one of our Hi-Tide condos than to listen to the gentle ukulele strum and the stunning voice of Bruddah Iz, the hero of Hawaii.

And why Hawaii, when we are here on the coast of Washington State? Every ocean brings the same enchantment, the same relaxation and the same love of the world, including here on Moonstone Beach.

When you visit this summer, you just might hear other guests humming contently one of these songs as they settle into beach life. But don’t wait long or we’ll be full and then you would have to sing a sad song. And, of course, we wouldn’t want that.

Photo credit: Dan Ayres/WDFW

For decades, tens of thousands of people have enjoyed staying at Hi-Tide Resort on Moclips Beach on the Coast of Washington State.

They come from everywhere around the Northwest, from across the United States, and even from foreign countries.

Visitors love the clean, crisp air, the natural dunes, the river that wraps around the property, and walking the beach for mile after mile.

Families return year after year, settling into their favorite condo where they can watch the sunset, cook on the resort grills, play horseshoes, jump in the surf, and even cast a line to catch perch and other delicacies.

Little do people know that millions of other visitors seem to find the destination just as intriguing. They are native to the area and seem to be flourishing because, well, they are frisky, shall we say.

If you have never eaten one, know this - Razor clams are an eating delicacy that grows only in certain places in the world, and they are especially prolific there.

Razors live in intertidal and subtidal zones and are filter feeders with short siphons, so they live just beneath the surface to feed, like right here, just below the surface of Moclips Beach.

When low tides expose the bottom, the clams dig and burrow deeper into the sand with their strong muscular feet.

The clams are plentiful because females have 6-10 million eggs, of which less than 5% will survive. When ocean temperature reaches 55+ degrees, the clams release their sperm and eggs into the water.

Larvae that develop from the eggs are free-floating and called "veligers," carried by the current.

Over the course of 5-16 weeks (depending on water temperature), they develop a shell and settle to the seafloor as juveniles, but of those, 95% die of natural causes.

Razor Clams that survive burrow deeper and become harvestable when they reach 3.5 inches in one year and 4.5 inches in two. They can then begin to reproduce.

Dan Ayres, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife coastal shellfish manager, says reports on Monday show more than 9,256 differs in the Moclips area took 160,896 clams, with 10,193 Copalis area diggers taking 193,327 clams.

On Long Beach alone, diggers went home with 428,861 clams. That means that together, over one million of our favorite bi-vales went home with visitors to be fried, canned, dumped into chowder, or made into sushi.

But don’t worry about diminishing the population. Razor clams propagate at an astonishing rate.

Shellfish harvest licenses are required in order to dig clams. These are available at any sporting goods store.

Law requires that clammers keep the first clams they dig (no putting back small clams). In most years, the limit is 15 clams, but through the end of 2021, it was increased to 20 when recent surveys who healthy populations.

Razor clams are very fragile and easily broken: each year thousands of clams are wasted when diggers return small or damaged clams to the sand.

The next time you are sitting on our condo deck at Hi-Tide Resort gazing out over the sand and sea, think of those millions of razor clams enjoying the ocean just as much as you are.

Whether they're a first-timer or a repeat guest, those who decide to book a stay at the Hi-Tide resort while visiting Moclips leave feeling like they've found a home-away-from-home.

Don't believe us? Here are a few of the verdicts from guests who had a wonderful stay.

New guests

"Thank you so much - We absolutely enjoyed our stay (This will be a yearly trip now!!!) Thank you, the room was very clean!" - Stayed in unit #9

"We had a Wonderful Stay. It FELT LIKE HOME." - Stayed in unit #12

"The room, BBQ grill, patio, parking, all home-like features! Thank You for making our Honeymoon enjoyable!" - Stayed in unit #21

Had a comfortable bed, a clean shower and a wonderful fireplace with complimentary logs, great!!! All the comforts of home!! - Stayed in unit #36

Walking the beach is an age-old way to disconnect from the world. To walk and think and marvel at the power of the waves. But where to walk is the question.

Everyone who visits Moclips Beach on the coast of Washington State wants to know how far they can walk down the beach. The answer is all the way.

That means all the way to the Jetty in Ocean Shores and, believe it or not, that is a whopping 24 miles. But more realistically, a walk from Hi-Tide Resort South to Pacific Beach is a tidy 2.7 miles.

Along the way, you’ll see the wide-open expanse sand, and surf and hopefully the sun too, especially in summer. Stay close to the water and the sand is firm and an easy stroll.

Gander at the marvelous beach houses and listen to the never-ending waves and seabirds. There won’t be any crowds or hubbub. But there will be beauty, clean air, peace, and quiet.

Naturally, you can walk the whole round trip or just double back.

It is late night July 3rd and all through the area, not a creature is stirring. Every pillow at Hi-Tide Resort has a head on it.

Children do not have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. They are dreaming of the shells they collected, the waves they jumped and the games they played today.

At dinner, every picnic table was filled with families devouring hamburgers and hot dogs hot from the barbecue, dollops of potato salad, and later followed by ‘s’mores stuffed with chocolate and mashed melted marsh mellows.

For moms and dads, grandparents and friends, beer was preferred. For some, it was fine wine. Cocktails for others. Children gulped fresh-squeezed lemonade as their libation of choice.

Kids and adults alike stayed up late ‘round the campfire spinning yarns and trying jokes. Campfire songs were sung, although no one knew all the words laughter erupted for no good reason. Smiles were everywhere.

Now it is late and every person here is dreaming of another dreamy day on Moclips Beach, or wading through the Moclips River, or playing horseshoes or just strolling through the dunes.

We can’t claim that jolly old Saint Nicholas will soon be here, but maybe Robert Gray, the namesake for our area, will appear for just a moment to proclaim "And to all a good night."

Summer weather on the North Beaches of Washington State is always great, but the TV news tonight says it will be 104 degrees tomorrow Sunday. Yikes.

A little more sleuthing shows they mean 105 in Aberdeen, which is just 25 miles away and about 10 miles from the ocean. So we will probably see a nice tidy 84 degrees at Hi-Tide Resort on Moclips Beach.

Even if that is a bit too toasty for you, never fear, the cool crisp Pacific Ocean is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Or cool off where the Moclips river merges with the ocean just feet from our north building.  You can’t get any closer to nature than right here.

With luck, we’ll have a little onshore breeze and the most stunning sunset ever. With luck, we’ll even glimpse that last-minute green flash when the blazing sun slips right into the seas.

We wish you were here. But better yet, come soon.

P.S. It is midnight as I write and still 81 degrees. Lovely.

My memory is vivid even though it was decades ago. At age 10, I began playing little league baseball in the small town of Montesano, Washington State.

It is an idyllic place even today. The county seat and classically designed courthouse give the town the feel of financial stability. Homes and lawns are well kept and right in the middle of the town is the Nelson Baseball Field.

I dropped by yesterday during a time warp to find that nothing hand changed. The grass was green and well manicured. Local merchants had signs on the outfield fence. In the early morning, the only things missing were players, coaches and parents. I was all alone.

Winding up the road, I came to Lake Sylvia State Park and the time warp opened again. Nothing had changed in all that time. It wasn't fishing season, but I could imagine children on the bridge pulling in freshly planted trout. The beach and swimming area matched my memory precisely.

When we won little league games, the coach - my father, treated us to milk shakes at Gene's Stop and Go. They had dozens of flavors, but I never waivered. Chocolate was my one and only love. Still is.

At season end, Dad treated the family to dinner at the the Beehive Restaurant, that sat squarely in the middle of town. I remember the bright yellow sign with bees on it, the lunch counter, the waitresses so nice to small children, and the chicken-fried steak that my father ordered every time.

There are many stupendous things to see and places to go in the world. But those most loved are those that stay true to themselves. They find a good thing and tend it lovingly.

To my delight, the Beehive still sits at the same corner. Still has a lunch counter and still has smiling women who are nice to every customer. And the chicken-fried steak? Well, it was just as good as all those years ago. Fresh corn on the cob. Hand made smashed garlic potatoes.

After seeing all those big sites, visit Montesano some day to remember that local travel is always the best way to learn and share.

Ocean Shores Publishing, publishers of OceanShores.com, is pleased to announce the launch of hiddencoastscenicbyway.com, a website celebrating the beauty of Washington State’s coastal byway, State Route 109.

The 41 miles of the Hidden Coast Byway traverses the coastal hills and long, sometimes foggy, beaches of the Pacific coast at the western edge of the Olympic Peninsula. Access to state and national parks abound, as do opportunities to observe pristine wilderness and the unique wildlife of the maritime Pacific Northwest.

Ocean Shores Publishing saw a need to better promote this beautiful region to potential visitors and took up the challenge to build and launch a website in celebration. From the newly launched hiddencoastsscenicbyway.com visitors can learn more about the byway’s route, the towns through which it passes, and opportunities for leisure and lodging.

A robust events calendar and blog supplement this information, helping inform the public of local happenings, festivals, and more. Whether visitors are looking for a quiet beach weekend, or a place from which to explore the stunning wilderness of the Copalis Ghost Forest, Olympic National Park, and Grays Harbor National Wildlife refuge, this new site will keep them well informed.

Ocean Shores Publishing is a leading advocate for tourism on Washington’s Pacific Coast. They are the creators and operators of OceanShores.com, the premiere website for information about this popular tourist town and it’s surrounding environs.

It really is like a step back in time. You walk into the lobby and smell the freshly popping popcorn. Friendly faces greet you and load you up Raisinets and your tub of popcorn. Then, off you go to find a seat among the almost 1,000 choices. Get ready to settle into an experience that takes you back in time. Instead of looking at computer screen, you're in front of the big screen at Hoquiam's 7th Street Theatre.

Built in 1928, this movie house is one of the few remaining atmospheric-style theatres on the West Coast. Adopted from the works of John Eberson, the theatre's unique interior transforms into a simulated open-air playhouse with a painted “sky” ceiling. You'll experience clouds overhead with twinkling stars.

The 7th Street Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. In 2008, the theatre was the first building in the city of Hoquiam to be placed on the newly formed Hoquiam Register of Historic Places.

Currently, the 7th Street Theatre is undergoing constant work under the guidance of the 7th Street Theatre Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which owns and operates the theatre. (Remember those friendly faces who scooped up your popcorn? They're volunteers from the association.)

The venue hosts events all year long, and regularly features classic movies on certain weekends each year. Additionally, it's home to 7th Street Kids. This is a six-week summer program for kids seven through 16. You may also rent the theatre for private events.

The theatre is at 313 7th Street in Hoquiam. Telephone is 360.537.7400.

October-December Film Schedule

• Oct 5 & 6 Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man
• Oct 25 & 26 Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
• Nov 2 & 3 Twelve O’Clock High
• Nov 29 & 30 Deck the Halls
• Dec 7 Elf
• Dec 21 & 22 White Christmas