Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

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teachpdx
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by teachpdx » February 6th, 2023, 11:27 am

retired jerry wrote:
February 6th, 2023, 6:21 am
North of Cape Blanco is a good beach access point to camp on beach. I've only checked out the trailhead next to that airport. I keep meaning to do that sometime.
I just googled that trailhead and one of the first photos shows a very large 'NO CAMPING' sign.

Is it possible to camp on the beach for free anywhere, anymore? The places where it would be feasible, there's nowhere to park your car overnight. Everywhere else is a county park, state park, state natural area, etc. Maybe parking in a larger town (also very limited) and taking (infrequent) coast public transit to a 'no overnight parking' wayside and hiking in from there would be the only realistic option at this point.
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retired jerry
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by retired jerry » February 6th, 2023, 12:52 pm

It's in Sullivan's book that camping is allowed

Maybe, there's no camping at the trailhead but it's okay if you hike over to the beach

You can walk north on the beach and camp along there, but water might be scarce. You can easily walk as far as the New River. That might be drinkable, but it might have salt in it - at high tide ocean water flows inward.

Close to the trailhead there's a stream and a waterfall onto the beach. That would make good drinking water, although I'd definitely treat it.

I think maybe the beach is sometimes closed for some nesting birds

There's a county park a couple miles from the ocean, along the New River. As I remember, there's a campground.

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retired jerry
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by retired jerry » February 6th, 2023, 1:04 pm

Looking at this a bit more, I see Bobcat has written this up in field guide

https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guid ... _Lake_Hike

I can't find anywhere that says you can or can't camp

Aimless
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by Aimless » February 6th, 2023, 1:09 pm

Under "backpackable" the Field Guide says "no".

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dirtman
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by dirtman » February 6th, 2023, 3:17 pm

I've camped out there near the outhouse on the bay side before there was day use fees. There is a really nice camp site. I came by motor boat and paid for 2 launch days (overnight parking) at the Garibaldi launch. But it does sound like they dont allow camping now. There are much better places on the coast to backpack and camp near the beach.

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bobcat
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by bobcat » February 6th, 2023, 5:48 pm

There were a couple of fresh looking campsites near that old outhouse on the bay side of Bayocean Spit, but I bet they were boaters. The only other human presence on the beach when I was hiking it was a State Parks vehicle patrolling.

As for the Blacklock Point area, you can probably pitch a tent along the trail if you are thru-hiking the OCT. I wouldn't camp on the beach. High tide comes right to the base of the cliffs. Don't know about parking near the airport and packing in to camp in the woods (again, you won't be camping on the beach in that area or you'll get washed away).

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teachpdx
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by teachpdx » February 6th, 2023, 6:43 pm

dirtman wrote:
February 6th, 2023, 3:17 pm
There are much better places on the coast to backpack and camp near the beach.
Care to elaborate? It seems that legal camp spots are extremely limited.
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retired jerry
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by retired jerry » February 7th, 2023, 6:10 am

yeah, I have looked for places to camp on beach in Oregon. That is, well above high tide next to beach.

In Washington there are many places in Olympic National Park where you can camp on or next to beach.

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dirtman
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by dirtman » February 7th, 2023, 9:45 am

teachpdx wrote:
February 6th, 2023, 6:43 pm
dirtman wrote:
February 6th, 2023, 3:17 pm
There are much better places on the coast to backpack and camp near the beach.
Care to elaborate? It seems that legal camp spots are extremely limited.
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guid ... _Loop_Hike

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dirtman
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Re: Bayocean Spit 2-1-23

Post by dirtman » February 7th, 2023, 9:53 am

bobcat wrote:
February 6th, 2023, 5:48 pm
I wouldn't camp on the beach. High tide comes right to the base of the cliffs.
I concur - camping on the beach is too dangerous. Plus, there is no break from the wind which drives sand. When I used to backpack in the Olympic NP, all my camps were well off the beach.

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