Beluga Point Tide Schedule 2024

Seen from the Seward Highway, Beluga Point is a rocky outpost projecting into the seas of Turnagain Arm, roughly south of Anchorage. It got its name from the white whales that may frequently be seen passing by here as they go up and down the strait. Here, you’ll also find carved belugas and interpretive signage.

The majority of visitors want to know the schedule for the tides at Beluga Point in 2024. Let’s plunge and get to know the Beluga Point tide schedule.

Beluga Point Tide Schedule

When salmon are running in Cook Inlet, from mid-July to August, belugas can frequently be spotted there. Since 2000, the population of belugas has been between 300 and 375 whales. Belugas in the silty waters of the entry point use sonar to locate prey and make their way. Belugas are predators and also prey. Orcas sometimes stalk the white belugas, so keep a watch out for their black fins.

Beluga whales are small whales that typically grow to a length of less than 16 feet. When a whale reaches the age of five or six, its color changes from blue-gray to white. The only all-white whales are belugas. They can also occasionally be seen at the mouth of the Kenai River at Kenai, as well as at other turnouts around Turnagain Arm.

Native hunters used this rocky promontory in the past. Wander along the narrow paths that encircle this stone cliff and listen to the wind and waves. It’s not difficult to picture hunters in skins scanning this area for whales with harpoons that have bone tips.

So, what is the Beluga Point tide schedule?

Beluga Point is situated 6.5 miles south of the Anchorage municipal limits at Seward Highway milepost 110.5. It is strictly forbidden to stray from authorized parking places, footpaths, or the hazardous mudflats close to the inlet. The entry point offers paved parking, accessible spotting scopes, and informative panels.

03 Oct – 09 Oct Beluga Point Tide Schedule

Picture from TideChart

Beluga Point is a well-liked destination for Seward Highway travelers. 180-degree images of the Turnagain Arm are available here. There’s a large observation platform with spotting scopes and educational signage. This is a great place to observe the bore tide. The rushing tide, which can reach a height of six feet, spanned the whole expanse of Turnagain Arm. Look out for people who are surfing and kayaking long distances. Watch out for rolling beluga whales in the surf. To find the optimum times to see this natural phenomenon, make sure to check the beluga point tide schedule.

Bore Tide: What Is It?

A surge of saltwater from a wide bay returns to a narrowing, shallow inlet, known as the bore tide. After extremely low tides caused by the full or new moon, bore tides arrive.

There are roughly 60 bore tides throughout the world, but only a few are significant enough to gain notoriety. For instance, one in China can reach a height of about thirty feet and reach speeds of over twenty miles per hour. The most well-known bore tide in Alaska happens in Turnagain Arm, which is located not far from Anchorage.

It can grow to a height of 6 to 10 feet and attain velocities of 10 to 15 miles per hour. In Turnagain Arm, a bore must occur when there is not only a low tide but also a tidal differential of roughly 27 feet between high and low tide.

Where Is The Bore Tide?

The full 40–50 mile stretch of Bore Tide is seen from the road along Turnagain Arm, which is close to Anchorage. Not only is it a great place to see wildlife, but harbor seals frequently ride the tide into Turnagain Arm, and beluga whales may visit around 30 minutes later as the water grows deeper and they begin to graze on fish that have come in with the tide.

Every day, tidal bores occur on Turnagain Arm, although the majority only cause little waves. The biggest bore tides should, in theory, happen on tides with the biggest tidal disparity. They usually happen either right before or right after it. This indicates that the five days surrounding the new and full moons are your best chance of seeing a huge bore.

Because of the volume of water that rushes back into the inlet, very low tides offer the biggest bores. If you’re going during the fall equinox, in particular, keep an eye out for exceptionally powerful bore tides as well, as tides often peak during these times each year in March and September.

Beluga Point Bore Tides