The morning sun dances off the Verde River on a hot July morning. Nostalgia drove Sray Campanile to travel more than an hour and half from her home in Buckeye to this spot in Tonto National Forest.

Night-time razor clam digs are fun, but clammers must carry a strong light, either a powerful flashlight or a lantern. Also, it is not advisable to dig razors at night by yourself. (Terry Otto for The ...

They fan out in groups, mostly women, plodding in rain boots across the soggy wet sands of the inlet, making the most of the low tide. Hustling along with rakes and buckets, they chat and laugh gaily.

We joined thousands of clammers in search of the tasty shellfish. Kurt Cobain’s memorial and Big Tom burgers were stopovers. Each year, 100,000 people wake up clamoring to dig in the sand for razor ...