Mile 317 Report
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
June 15, 2026
A wonderful sunny day at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park.
Report Details
A wonderful sunny day at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park. There were many people enjoying the sun, and some cool bird sightings on the rocks and out in the ocean. The most notable thing was the debris from the recent landslide that happened this winter, it was interesting to see how big the landslide looked and also how the people at the beach were interacting with the new rock and tree features.
Conditions
Temperature: 70 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light.
Activities
Types of Activities: Sitting, Walking/Running, Painting/Photography, Surfing, Tidepooling, Other - see below.
Number of people: 130. Number of dogs: 6.
Other Activities: Kiteflying. Human activities included tide pooling, lots of surfers, picnics, sports, kites, and relaxing. It was interesting to see the human interaction with he recent landslide, there was a lot of curiosity around the new tide pools that were created and people where climbing on the new exposed rock, or picnicking on a huge recently downed tree..
Concerns
Litter, Climbing bluffs/seastacks
Notable Wildlife
Gulls, pelicans out in the distance around the rocks, starfish and anemones in the tide pools, saw some small purple crabs (around 10), some robins, crows and two birds I believe where Cassin's auklets.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
around 100 dead or washed up water jellies on the wrack line, but not an unusual amount. A couple of small crab shells on the wrackline as well.
Wrackline Content
Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings or molts, Wood pieces, Marine debris.
Man-made Modifications
Drainage pipes, Steps down bluff. I found a couple of drainage pipes along the shoreline, not sure if they were maybe left over from the landslide. I also saw the remnants of what looks like man made stairs tangled up with some of the fallen trees in the slide zone.
Natural Changes
Landslides/major boulder falls, Newly exposed roots/trees falling. The evidence of a huge landslide on this beach last winter is very apparent on the beach now. There are huge uprooted trees, giant boulders that fell from the bluff into the ocean, creating an interesting area that seems to have made larger the intertidal zone on the south side of Indian Beach.
Photo of the north end of Indian Beach
Photo towards the south from the north end of the beach
Part of the landslide on the south end of Indian Beach
Some debris that fell into the ocean from the landslide
Report Images
Alex Engelhardt
CoastWatcher
All Mile 317 Reports
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
A wonderful sunny day at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park.
Alex Engelhardt
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
An early morning walk on this mile revealed evidence in the wrackline of the previous week's stormy June weather (wind and rain) with many creatures, algae and hydroids, washed up.
sultanym
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
In terms of biota, a morning walk at Indian Beach during an out-going low tide revealed some fascinating rocky intertidal pools at the northern end of the beach near large rocky outcroppings with ochre sea star, giant green anemone, striped shore crab, thatched barnacle, Haliclona sponge, eccentric sand dollar, gooseneck barnacles, southern stiff-stiped kelp, as well as 2 types of nudibranch, or sea slugs: Aeolidia (Shaggy Mouse) & Acanthodoris nanaimoensis (Nanaimo Dorid). In terms of beach topography and geography, Indian Beach has a significant wood zone, as well as rocky basalt cobbles, and multiple streams that lead to the ocean. A large wooden pallet was seen washed up on the beach on the basalt cobbles near a small stream.
sultanym
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
Collected 4 Ikea bags of debris from beach just north of Indian Beach, mostly fishing gear, single use plastics, and golf balls.
DeniseH
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
Black Oystercatchers are currently raising three chicks on Submarine Rock and birds' behavior was noted to change due to tidepoolers.
SeagerG
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
A drone hovered very close to the Black Oystercatcher nesting site on Submarine Rock for nearly 15 minutes (definitely affecting the behavior of both parents and chicks) and nearly hit a juvenile Bald Eagle;The Steller pup was in a high traffic area and even with relocation of the sign from the Seaside Aquarium, people either couldn't see him, or still wanted to get close to take photos.
SeagerG
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
An endangered Stellar sea lion pup has been continually harassed by visitors and dogs for several days, and the same behavior continued today.
tabeag
