Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The Oregon coast is one of our state's most popular tourism regions, and the north coast – generally defined as Astoria to Neskowin – is where a lot of those visitors wind up.



That might explain why the beaches get so crowded.



While crowds might be a constant on sunny summer days, the sheer variety of beaches on this stretch of the coast is simply amazing. There are beaches for hiking, beaches for driving and beaches for surfing. You can find beaches in the middle of small towns, and off in the middle of nowhere. Some have incredible views, others are mostly just stretches of sand.



We've set out to document all two dozen sandy beaches on the northern region, starting with the ones we already knew and loved, then branching out to places we'd never seen and some we'd never even heard of before. That meant a lot of researching, driving and beach walking to get to know each one intimately.



The beaches here are listed from north to south, starting at the mouth of Columbia River and ending at Cascade Head. Each one is publicly accessible, though like any beach on the Oregon coast, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to find parking on a sunny afternoon. The idea behind this project is to help coordinate a perfect day at the coast – whatever that means to you – even if your favorite beach is already full.

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WHAT COUNTS AS A BEACH?

For this list, a "beach" is any sandy segment of the coastline that has a developed public access point. We did not include places like Arch Cape and Cove Beach that are accessible only by parking on local neighborhood streets, nor spots like Sandbeach that are open primarily to off-highway vehicle use.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

FORT STEVENS

Access: Several parking lots lead to several access points along the beach

Amenities: Restrooms at parking areas; historic military batteries and museum

Why you go: Lots of beach and other park attractions



The long stretch of sandy beach dominates the northern stretch of the Oregon coast, all part of Fort Stevens State Park, one of the the state's most popular parks. There's more than enough space to spread out and find your own spot. You can also explore the Peter Iredale Shipwreck, military batteries or the mouth of the Columbia River, all found within the park.

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SUNSET BEACH

Access: Parking lot with short trail to beach, as well as vehicle access onto the beach

Amenities: Restrooms at parking lot; Fort to Sea Trail

Why you go: To drive on sand or play with your dogs



Sunset Beach is long and flat, which makes it perfect for either a beach walk or a beach drive. Driving is allowed, meaning walkers and cars both share the sand. It's also the endpoint of the Fort to Sea Trail, which runs 6.5 miles to Fort Clatsop in the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

DEL REY BEACH

Access: Parking lot adjacent to beach

Amenities: None

Why you go: To drive up to your own beach spot



Like neighboring Sunset Beach, Del Rey Beach is open to vehicles. While there's also a parking lot with easy access to the beach, driving is a popular option, meaning cars, people and dogs all share the sand.

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SEASIDE

Access: Sidewalks lead from downtown Seaside to many beach access points

Amenities: Public restrooms at the Turnaround; local businesses just off the beach

Why you go: You like the bustle of Seaside



Seaside has a reputation for being crowded, but its beach is big enough to allow plenty of room for all those visitors. A particularly wide beach in some spots, it also runs more than two miles along the length of the town, with many access points off the Seaside Promenade. The beach is also known for its swing sets, found near the Turnaround.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

INDIAN BEACH

Access: Parking lot in Ecola State Park, with trails down to the beach

Amenities: Restrooms; access to hiking trail north along Tillamook Head

Why you go: The views and the trails of Ecola



The northernmost and more accessible of Ecola State Park's two beaches, Indian Beach is found just below a viewpoint and parking lot, nestled into a cove on the shoreline. It's also right at a trailhead that gives hikers access onto Tillamook Head, the trail running all the way into Seaside.

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CRESCENT BEACH

Access: About a one-mile hike from the Ecola Point parking lot in Ecola State Park

Amenities: Restrooms at parking lot

Why you go: For a quieter beach experience



Crescent Beach is a relatively secluded beach, considering its location inside popular Ecola State Park. While many people stop at the primary viewpoint, few make the short, forested hike down to Crescent Beach – a half-mile stretch of sand between Ecola Point and Chapman Point.

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CANNON BEACH

Access: Public parking lots and street parking in town, with several entrance points to the beach

Amenities: Public restrooms in town, local businesses

Why you go: Haystack Rock and downtown Cannon Beach



One of the most popular destinations on the Oregon coast, Cannon Beach truly is beautiful. Haystack Rock dominates the view and is home to a wide assortment of wildlife, including puffins and intertidal creatures you can visit at low tide. Parking in town can be a huge hassle in the summer and on sunny weekends, so show up early or take the bus in from Portland.

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ARCADIA BEACH

Access: Short walk from parking lot to the beach

Amenities: Restrooms

Why you go: Close enough to Cannon Beach without the hassle



Arcadia Beach is found just south of Cannon Beach (Haystack Rock is even visible in the distance), at a pull-out parking lot off U.S. 101. Rugged cliffs and rock formations dominate the beach, which runs south to Hug Point when the tide is out.

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HUG POINT

Access: Parking lot at the entrance to the beach

Amenities: Restrooms

Why you go: The low-tide natural wonders



Hug Point is a fascinating beach with several attractions. If you walk north on the sand between Adair Point and Hug Point during low tide, you'll find a seasonal waterfall, several small caves and an old road carved into the cliffs. At high tide, you'll be able to see only a small portion of the beautiful beach.

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SHORT SAND BEACH

Access: A half-mile hiking trail leads from a parking lot to the beach

Amenities: Restrooms

Why you go: Surfing or hiking the nearby trails



Located in stunning Oswald West State Park, Short Sand Beach is known as a haven for surfers and gets crowded quickly when the weather is nice. The small beach is nestled between Cape Falcon and a rugged section of the headland to the south.

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MANZANITA

Access: Beach access at the end of Laneda Avenue and along Ocean Road

Amenities: Public restrooms in town; local businesses

Why you go: Lots of sand and the community feel



Like Cannon Beach, Manzanita has a reputation for getting crowded, making parking a nightmare in town. If you find a spot, head down Laneda Ave. to the beach, which has a beautiful view of Neahkanie Mountain to the north. The beach runs south into Nehalem Bay State Park.

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NEHALEM BAY

Access: Parking lot has easy beach access; $5 parking fee

Amenities: Restrooms; campground; boat launch on the bay; horse trails

Why you go: Horseback riding and long walks on the beach



Nehalem Bay is a varied state park that takes up the entirety of Nehalem Spit, offering public access onto the ocean beach as well as the bay. The long, sandy beach is also open to equestrians, with stables and parking for horse trailers.

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MANHATTAN BEACH

Access: Parking lot adjacent to the beach

Amenities: Restrooms

Why you go: A simple, laid-back beach experience



A quiet, tucked-away beach off U.S. 101, Manhattan Beach is among the least-visited state park sites on the Oregon coast, offering a small stretch of sand just north of Rockaway Beach.

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ROCKAWAY BEACH

Access: Public parking adjacent to beach at U.S. 101 and South First Avenue

Amenities: Public restrooms; local businesses

Why you go: Lots of sand and nearby restaurants



The small north coast community is famous for its pirate festival and corn dog stop, but the beach in town is nice too, with a view of Three Arch Rocks to the south. Parking can be competitive, but at least there are a lot of places to eat in the vicinity.

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BARVIEW JETTY

Access: A day-use area inside the county campground has beach access at the north jetty

Amenities: Restrooms; campground

Why you go: Walk on both the jetty and the beach



Barview Jetty is run by Tillamook County as a campground with a day-use area. Pass the registration booth and stay left to reach the small parking area, which offers beach access and a walking path onto part of the north jetty on Tillamook Bay.

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BAYOCEAN SPIT

Access: Parking lot on Bayocean Dike Road has a trail that leads to the beach

Amenities: None

Why you go: Long walks on a wild beach



Bayocean Spit has a fascinating history, once a bustling town that fell victim to nature. Bayocean Peninsula Park is owned by Tillamook County, but lacks the usual park amenities. The primary access point is a parking lot with no restrooms at the end of a mile-long gravel road. You can also park in the small, potholed parking area at Cape Meares Beach, which makes up the southern end of the beach.

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SHORT BEACH

Access: Pull-out parking on the side of the road, with a short trail that leads down to the beach

Amenities: None

Why you go: For the beautiful, unique experience



One of the most unusual beaches on Oregon's north coast, Short Beach is found in a small cove between Cape Meares and Oceanside, accessed via a network of wooden steps that lead down through the dense coastal forest. While it primarily consists of rocks, the beach has some sand at lower tides. There's also the human-created Short Creek Falls, a strange but beautiful site.

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OCEANSIDE

Access: Parking lot adjacent to beach

Amenities: Restrooms; local businesses

Why you go: Incredible view of Three Arch Rocks



A small public parking lot in the small community of Oceanside gives access to a beach with a beautiful view of Three Arch Rocks just offshore. Look for the trio of restaurants within a block of the parking lot.

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CAPE LOOKOUT

Access: Parking lot at day-use area has several paths to the beach; $5 parking fee

Amenities: Restrooms; large picnic area; campground

Why you go: For big family gatherings or campouts



One of the most beloved state parks on the coast, Cape Lookout is known for its sizable campground, well-developed day-use area and beautiful beach. From the base of the cape itself, you can walk north more than five miles along Netarts Spit – though it's best to do so when the tide is especially low.

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SOUTH BEACH

Access: A two-mile hiking trail from the Cape Lookout Trailhead leads to the beach

Amenities: Restrooms

Why you go: For a good forest hike to a beautiful beach



Unless you're an OHV rider or a Scout staying at Camp Meriwether, the only public access to South beach is along a two-mile trail that switchbacks down a steep hillside to the beach. The beautiful beach is right against the southern side of Cape Lookout, and might be a quiet spot if not for the other shared uses.

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SITKA SEDGE

Access: Hiking trails from a parking lot

Amenities: Restrooms

Why you go: An adventure on trails through three ecosystems



Oregon's newest state park site, Sitka Sedge combines beach with coastal forest and mudflat ecosystems. The beach is accessed by several points about a mile from the parking lot, where visitors are treated to views of the southern Haystack Rock and the north side of Cape Kiwanda. This is also the beach for the small community of Tierra del Mar.

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CAPE KIWANDA

Access: Parking lot gives walk-on or drive-on access to the beach

Amenities: Restrooms; local businesses

Why you go: To hike up the big dune or drive on the beach



A popular beach in Pacific City, Cape Kiwanda is known for its stunning sandstone bluffs, most of which are now off-limits to hikers after several deaths and human-caused damage to the natural setting. The beach below is a popular drive-on and surfing spot, with a great view of the southern Haystack Rock.

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BOB STRAUB

Access: Parking lot adjacent to beach

Amenities: Restrooms

Why you go: Long beach with great views



The beach at Bob Straub runs south more than two miles onto Nestucca Spit, and north more than a mile to Cape Kiwanda. From the main access point, there's a great view of Haystack Rock and Cape Kiwanda, with plenty of sand to spread out.

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NESKOWIN

Access: Short walk from public parking lots on Salem Ave.

Amenities: Restrooms; local businesses

Why you go: Proposal Rock and the Ghost Forest



The beach at Neskowin is known for stunning Proposal Rock, as well as the Ghost Forest, which is most visible during extreme low tides. There's plenty of room on the beach, but the southernmost portion requires a crossing of Neskowin Creek, which can run high on the beach even at low tide.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB