Tag Archives: beach

Hike to Short Sands Beach

01 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in Beach, Cannon Beach

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If you have driven along the Oregon coast highway between Manzanita and Cannon Beach then you have gone past the parking areas for Short Sand beach. The parking lot is often filled with cars and so if you do not get here early in the day you will likely be parking off on the side of the road and walking back towards the head of the trail. A popular surfing cove is located at Short Sands beach and during optimal surfing weather and surf conditions, it can be one of the busiest places on the North Coast. Lots of surfers will be out riding the waves, but even more people will just be hanging out on the beach watching the action in the water.

main beach access at short sands beach

Despite all the visitors there are many trails and unless you are going to get in the water the extra traffic should not stop you from being able to enjoy this peaceful and beautiful place.

There are several trails that branch off from the main path, so make sure to check out the trail maps near the parking lot and down near the beach before venturing off. The creek that runs through the forestland along the trails is large enough that it splits off part of the beach. The main trail leads to the large section of the beach at the north section of the cove and will have more people. The Sitka Spruce trail heads over to connect with the South Beach access point and requires crossing over a cable bridge over a large creek. The south beach access puts you in the sand south of the creek so you can explore that side of the beach and view the impressive cliff that jut out into the ocean making the southern boundary of Short Sand beach. The various trails running through the forest are easy to moderate in difficulty, must due to the consistent moisture of the soil, good hiking shoes are a must as the trail can get muddy and slippery at certain places.

This is one of the most popular places to surf on the entire Oregon Coast, the cove is protected from lots of the weather on the coast and has the right underwater features that generate waves big enough for people to ride. Due to the limited number of awesome spots to surf on the coast, Short Sand beach should not be your first choice if looking for a place to go surf perch fishing. While the fishing can be really good in the cove, you might not make many friends chucking large weights and hooks in between the surfers.

A street view map of the Short Sands Beach trail parking and access:

Nehalem Bay State Park

01 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in Beach, Boat Launch, clam, Nehalem, Outdoor Location

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The Nehalem state park is located just north of the Nehalem jetty where the river enters the Pacific Ocean. To access the state park you need to turn off highway 101 just outside of the town of Nehalem before reaching Manzanita. The state park is a day use fee park, so everyone that parks a car in the lot is required to pay the $5 fee unless you have a state park permit.

The best feature of the park is the massive number beach access points. Unlike other sections of the Oregon there is no homes built out onto the Nehalem spit and so the views from the sand dunes hiking into the beach are really impressive. The line between the Oregon coast forest and the Oregon sandy beaches is so defined here, it is really impressive.

The park is home to several facilities for people that like to horseback ride can use. Including large number of trails and stalls for stable a horse for a temporary time during the day.

This specific state park also has a 2 lane boat ramp and is a nice alternative to the public county ramp located further up the river or the often overcrowded private ramps located right next to the mouth of the bay. Nehalem Bay is well known for its spring and fall runs of salmon and exceptional crabbing at certain times of year. The bay is also loaded with several species of clams that can be harvested during the low tides. The mud flats that line the shores of the bay side of the state park are perfect places to go for a dig. Cockles, Gapers, and Purple Varnish are the most plentiful ones that most people find.

This park gets a lot of seasonal use so expect to not be alone during the peak season or during really nice weather days on the weekend year round.

Remember to get your day use permit, the park is regularly patrolled by the local law enforcement. Here is a list of all the park fees on the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Website: Nehalem Bay State Park fees

Looking for a great place on the Oregon Coast for a camping trip, this might be the right destination for your family. The huge beach is an amazing playground for summer fun and the bay side offers opportunities for clamming, crabbing, boating and fishing. There is something for everyone that likes the Oregon Coast outdoors at the Nehalem Bay State Park.  This park even has a primitive airport camp something not found in the other large camping sites nearby.

Campground Info

  • Approximately 265 electrical sites with water
  • 18 yurts (two pet friendly)
  • Hot showers and flush toilets
  • Horse camp with 17 primitive sites
  • Hiker/biker camp
  • Airport camp with primitive fly-in sites
  • RV dump station
  • Meeting hall

Oregon Coast Fireworks Shows – 4th of July

02 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by in Cannon Beach, Florence, Lincoln City, Newport, Pacific City, Port Orford, Reedsport, Rockaway, Seaside, Tillamook, Warrenton, Yachats

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The communities along the Oregon coast now how to celebrate Independence day. There are many different options to choose from if you are looking for a good time this upcoming 4th of July weekend. There will be lots of family friendly events and a few places for adults to party as well.
coast fireworks
The following cities will be holding firework shows on either the 3rd or 4th.

Rockaway Beach – July 4
Rockaway Beach is home to a full weekend of fun. The firework show begins at dusk and is hosted by the local fire department near the Wayside. Get a spot on the beach and enjoy the show. During the day the morning is the local parade. The Lions Club will be putting on their Fun Day at the Beach with activities for kids and it will be the 8th annual Firecracker Weiner Nationals dachshund races at the local park.

Click for a full schedule of events for Rockaway Beach 4th of July

Manzanita – July 4
The Manzanita parade starts at 1PM. The city sanctioned fireworks display is planned to start at 10PM on the beach at Manzanita, the show is expected to last about 20 minutes.

Cannon Beach – July 4
Cannon Beach will have a firedancer show on the beach and several other Puffin friendly activities to be careful not to harm to the birds that reside in the area during the summer. There is a concert from 7 – 9 PM at the City Park and several other planned events. http://www.cannonbeach.org/events

Tillamook – July 4
The Blue Heron is the place to be if you are in the Tillamook area and looking for a more adult friendly environment. Live music and wine tasting.
wine tasting on july 4th Blue Heron on Facebook

Seaside – July 4
The Seaside chamber of commerce puts on a great family fun focused Fourth of July celebration.
11AM – Parade starts at The Seaside Museum
12PM – 4PM Seaside Museum Old Fashioned Social
1:30PM – Drum & Bugle Corps. Show at Broadway Field
Late Afternoon – Stunt Kite Show
10PM – Seaside July 4th Fireworks Display on the Beach

Pacific City – July 5
The fireworks show will at Bob Straub State Park at dusk. http://www.pacificcityfireworks.com/

Lincoln City – July 4
There is a ton of activities in Lincoln City this weekend. Here is a brief schedule of events.
8-11AM – Pancake Breakfast at Glenden Beach
9AM – 3PM Craft Fair and Food Court at Glenden Beach
1PM Parade at Glenden Beach
Dusk Fireworks show over Siletz Bay.
More details about Lincoln City 4th of July Celebrations

If you decide to do a little shopping at the Tangier Outlets in Lincoln city make sure and take advantage of these coupons and any other special holiday discounts that may be going on.

Depoe Bay no longer holding fireworks display due to bird sensitivity.

Yachats July 4
Enjoy the fun and whimsical la de da parade at Noon that is put on by the Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce. The afternoon is the mouth of the river is home to a rubber ducky race in the river and in the evening there will be a public fireworks show.

Florence – July 4
There will be live outdoor music in Old Town and a fireworks display over the Siuslaw river. Local shops and restaurants will be open late to accommodate people out celebrating the holiday.

Pacific City 54th Annual Dory Days

19 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by in Pacific City

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Dory days is a long standing tradition in the summer in Pacific City. This weekend is a celebration of hardworking fisherman that handled the dory boats of the coast going offshore in simple wooden dory’s and catching fish from the city and returning to the beach.

oregon dorymen

Check out the schedule of events below.

Schedule of Events:

Friday
Artisan Fair 10:00am– 6pm at the four-way stop in downtown

Saturday
Pancake Breakfast 7am – 10am Kiwanda Community Center
Marine Fair 10am – 6pm at Cape Kiwanda
Artisian Fair 10am to 5pm at the 4-way stop
Parade 11am
Fish Fry 12pm – 5:30pm
Kids Activities 1pm – 5 pm
Live Music 10am – 6pm at Cape Kiwanda

Sunday
Marine Fair 10am – 4pm at the Cape
Color Guard Ceremony for the Dorymen’s Memorial Wall 2pm at the Cape
Fishing Contest- weigh-in 11am
Fish Fry – 11am – 3pm
Fillet Contest- 12pm – 1:30pm
Live Music – 1pm – 4pm
Kid’s Activities 1pm – 3pm at Cape Kiwanda
Artisan Fair 10am – 4pm at the 4 way stop

Learn more about the history of the dory fisherman of the Oregon coast by visiting the website of the Pacific City Dorymen’s Association

If you have never seen a dory launch into the ocean from the sandy beach head on out to Pacific City this weekend and watch them live in person. These boats are fun to watch launch and come back ashore.

Seaside Fourth of July Celebrations

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Seaside

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Seaside Oregon 4th of July activities will begin at 11AM with an Independence Day parade that includes the Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corp at the Seaside Museum & Historical Society and continue through and around downtown Seaside. From noon to 4PM there is a whole lot of activities to keep the kids busy, seaside really has a ton of different things lined up for everyone to enjoy. Activities include: a cake walk, face painting, live music, variety of small games, food boths, raffle drawings, silent auction, and bingo. Take a few minutes in between the activities and check out the museum for free as well.

Fireworks Show
The fireworks show at seaside gets started at 10PM and is centered around the beach at the turnaround. The Seaside Chamber of Commerce puts on an excellent fireworks display and the expansive beach area makes a perfect place to set up a few blankets and enjoy the show from the sand or from the view of your hotel window if you are staying right on the beach.

Beach at Seaside, Oregon

CC-BY 2.0 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/benkun2000/

Remember to be careful and smart about being on the beach this weekend. If you make a beach fire keep it modest, make sure to put it out properly and be careful with the fireworks that you are lighting off.

Here is the Seaside Independence Day Parade Map provided by the seaside of Chamber of Commerce

View Seaside Oregon July 4th Parade Route in a larger map

Important information from the Seaside Chamber of Commerce that is good information for any fourth of July beach goer.

Please Read Our Ordinances And Special Considerations

NO FIREWORKS ZONE….. The fenced off sections to the north and south of the turnaround are “fireworks free zones”. This area is for those who wish to view the fireworks show in a “safe zone”. NO FIREWORKS PLEASE!

BONFIRES: Bonfires are allowed on the beach away from beach grass and large drift logs. Bonfires must not exceed 3 foot square in size.

DIGGING PITS: DIGGING LARGE PITS PROHIBITED-MAXIMUM FINE $700 IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY, DIGGING FIRE PITS OR SHELTERS LARGER THAN 6 FEET IN DIAMETER AND 2 FEET DEEP IS PROHIBITED. (Seaside Municipal Code 96.23—Public Nuisance)

ILLEGAL FIREWORKS: ILLEGAL FIREWORKS PROHIBITED– violators will be ticketed! THE POSSESSION AND/OR USE OF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS (MORTARS, FIRECRACKERS, MISSILES, ROMAN CANDLES, ETC.) IS PROHIBITED IN THE CITY OF SEASIDE – ILLEGAL FIREWORKS ARE SUBJECT TO CONFISCATION – THIS IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND VIOLATORS ARE SUBJECT TO ARREST WITH A FINE OF $500.00 PER VIOLATION (ORS 480.110 to 480.165).

TREASURE THE BEACH: The BEACH DRIVE BUCCANEERS will be handing out SOLV trash bags during the parade & on the beach before the fireworks display. TAKE YOUR TRASH OFF THE BEACH WHEN YOU LEAVE! Bags may be left next to trash cans along the Prom………….

Always Time for a Beach Walk

17 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by in Beach, Rockaway

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Enjoy a Long Walk

Who doesn’t like a nice walk on the beach during the summer. Even with a light cloud cover and slight breeze the Oregon coast is often still warm enough to enjoy a stroll on the sand without getting cold.

Twin Rocks Off in the Distance

Manhattan Beach, Rockaway Oregon

Kids Love Making Beach Forts

All of the driftwood on the beach near the Nehalem South Jetty is always great for making a beach fort with.
A driftwood fort on the sand

Jellyfish

There is always interesting things washed up on the shore including these jellyfish.
Jelly fish

View of the Beach

It is always relaxing to take a stroll and just enjoy the views, sea breeze, and fresh ocean air.
beach view

Sand Castle Day in Cannon Beach June 15, 2013

11 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Cannon Beach

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This upcoming weekend is the 49th annual contest to build the best sculpture on the sands of Cannon Beach, Oregon at the Sand Castle Day contest. Starting in 1964 as an idea to keep the local townsfolk entertained the sand castle contest has grown into a huge weekend event drawing in people from all over to enjoy this art on the beach. The rules are very simple and no one is required to build based on a specific theme resulting in often very elaborate and intricate sand sculptures. Every participating team is given a specific plot of sand to work within and they are only allowed to use natural objects found on the beach to add as accessories to their design such as shells, rocks, seaweed, wood, etc.

sand castle event

Check out the Facebook page for details about the event and for pictures of past sculptures and activities from previous contests – https://www.facebook.com/SandcastleDay

This is a perfect activity for a family looking for a day trip this weekend from Portland. Take a drive to the coast in the morning, take in all of the fun activities going on at the beach, have a nice dinner somewhere along the beach between Seaside and Tillamook and drive back to town.