Home  •   Field Guide  •   Forums  •    Unread Posts  •   Maps  •   Find a Hike!
| Page | Discussion | View source | History | Print Friendly and PDF

Difference between revisions of "Oceanside to Netarts Hike"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

(Add details)
(Add links)
Line 28: Line 28:
  
 
=== Hike Description ===
 
=== Hike Description ===
−
Once upon a time, there was a slick, dangerous, steep path down to this secluded beach between Cape Meares and Maxwell Point. Then a local altruist, Roy Wilson, took it into his head to spend countless hours creating a staircase down to [[Short Beach]]. Over the years, various coastal decorations were added by Roy and others who visited. Unfortunately, the trail became a little better known and has been vandalized on occasion. [http://www.shortbeachtrail.org/ A website] has been set up to help with maintaining this quirky, whimsical path. As an aside, visitors should note, the beach was probably named for a long-gone local resident and not for its length.
+
The view from Oceanside's beach is dramatic: offshore are the Three Arch Rocks (Shag Rock, Finley or Mid Rock, Storm Rock), a national wildlife refuge and wilderness area closed to the public; to the north is dark [[Maxwell Point]], seemingly impregnable but pierced by a 90-year-old tunnel leading to secret beaches. [[Cape Lookout]]'s long volcanic headland juts into the Pacific on the southern horizon. While the beach at Oceanside itself may be busy, the two beaches to the north, Tunnel and Agate, can be reached much of the day. The walk down towards Netarts sees fewer and fewer holidayers and you'll end the hike at Netarts Basin and its busy crab harbor.  
  
−
From the parking area, head down to the beach. [[Cape Lookout]] juts out to the south and [[Maxwell Point]] is just to your north. Three Arch Rocks (Shag Rock, Finley or Mid Rock, Storm Rock) are just offshore. With binoculars, you may be able to see Steller’s sea lions loafing on Shag Rock. Walk north on the beach first. Approach the tunnel through [[Maxwell Point]] that was constructed in 1926. Heed the warning sign about rocks coming down from above. The tunnel itself has standing water although a few planks have been laid. Come out on the cobbled strand of Tunnel Beach, also called Isolation Beach, with its little sea stacks protruding from the ocean on the far side. After wobbling across the little beach, climb up the closest rock to the beach and get a view of [[Cape Meares Lighthouse|Cape Meares]] to the north. The rock is studded with fossil barnacles that are forming little crystal zeolites in their centers. From here, you can proceed to the next beach, little Agate Beach, reachable when the tide is out.  Beyond Agate Beach is the almost inaccessible Lost Boy Cave Beach, best attempted at a minus tide. The cave is in the headland at the north end of the beach and forks to have two seaward exits. Farther north [[Short Beach]] can be reached via a short trail from the Three Capes Road.
+
From the parking area, head down to the beach. [[Cape Lookout]] juts out to the south and [[Maxwell Point]] is just to your north. Three Arch Rocks loom offshore. With binoculars, you may be able to see Steller’s sea lions loafing on Shag Rock. In sparing, look also for large numbers of breeding tufted puffins and common murres. Walk north on the beach first. Approach the tunnel through [[Maxwell Point]] that was constructed in 1926. Heed the warning sign about rocks coming down from above. The tunnel itself has standing water although a few planks have been laid. Come out on the cobbled strand of Tunnel Beach, also called Isolation Beach, with its little sea stacks protruding from the ocean on the far side. After wobbling across the little beach, climb up the closest rock to the beach and get a view of [[Cape Meares Lighthouse|Cape Meares]] to the north. The rock is studded with fossil barnacles that are forming little crystal zeolites in their centers. From here, you can proceed to the next beach, little Agate Beach, reachable when the tide is out.  Beyond Agate Beach is the almost inaccessible Lost Boy Cave Beach, best attempted at a minus tide. The cave is in the headland at the north end of the beach and forks to have two seaward exits. Farther north [[Short Beach]] can be reached via a short trail from the Three Capes Road.
  
 
Back on Oceanside Beach, there may be surfers going into the water. The wide beach leads south below the little community, the Three Capes Road leading up over the next bluff. Cross Baughman Creek, which has a sign warning about sewage treatment effluent, and then walk below a development of largish homes on the bluff above. Then to the left, there’s a shore-pine forested dune with a wooden staircase leading down it. The stairs are closed - No Entry Sensitive Ecologocial Area. soon after this, you're passing mudstone cliffs and have to cross wide Fall Creek higher up on logs laid across it. The end of [[Netarts Bay Mouth|Netarts Spit]] hoves into view and you round a point heading into Netarts Bay, first passing the cottages of Happy Camp nestled above its driftwood strewn beach. Cross Hodgdon Creek where the strand is narrower and not easily walkable at a high tide. Round the bay and head up a narrow beach below a low riprap wall to a breakwater that shelters a little harbor. Stroll onward to a picnic table above the boat ramp and dock where [[O’Hara Creek]] leads into the bay and watch crab boats scoot in loaded with traps and catch. Look for harbor seals bobbing in the placid waters, and then return the way you came.
 
Back on Oceanside Beach, there may be surfers going into the water. The wide beach leads south below the little community, the Three Capes Road leading up over the next bluff. Cross Baughman Creek, which has a sign warning about sewage treatment effluent, and then walk below a development of largish homes on the bluff above. Then to the left, there’s a shore-pine forested dune with a wooden staircase leading down it. The stairs are closed - No Entry Sensitive Ecologocial Area. soon after this, you're passing mudstone cliffs and have to cross wide Fall Creek higher up on logs laid across it. The end of [[Netarts Bay Mouth|Netarts Spit]] hoves into view and you round a point heading into Netarts Bay, first passing the cottages of Happy Camp nestled above its driftwood strewn beach. Cross Hodgdon Creek where the strand is narrower and not easily walkable at a high tide. Round the bay and head up a narrow beach below a low riprap wall to a breakwater that shelters a little harbor. Stroll onward to a picnic table above the boat ramp and dock where [[O’Hara Creek]] leads into the bay and watch crab boats scoot in loaded with traps and catch. Look for harbor seals bobbing in the placid waters, and then return the way you came.
Line 50: Line 50:
  
 
=== More Links ===
 
=== More Links ===
−
* [http://www.shortbeachtrail.org/  The Short Beach Trail Project]
+
* [http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=132 Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site (Oregon State Parks)]
−
* [http://www.oregoncoasttoday.com/short-beach.html Long on Charm: Tillamook County's Short Beach (Oregon Coast Today)]
+
* [http://www.beachconnection.net/oregon_coast/090209626oceanside_pacificcity_capes.php Complete Guide to Pacific City, Oceanside, Netarts and the Three Capes, Oregon Coast (BeachConnection.net)]
−
* [http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2007/06/seeking_out_secret_beaches_at.html  "Seeking out secret beaches at Oceanside" (OregonLive)]
+
* [http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2007/06/seeking_out_secret_beaches_at.html  "Seeking out secret beaches at Oceanside" (Oregon Live)]
−
* [http://www.beachconnection.net/news/022611shortbeach_oceanside.php  Oregon Coast Virtual Tour: Short Beach Near Oceanside, Three Capes Tour (BeachConnection.net)]
+
* [http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/3archrocks/  Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)]
−
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Beach_(Oregon) Short Beach (Oregon) (Wikipedia)]
+
* [http://ouroregoncoast.com/home/national-wildlife-refuges/896-three-arch-rocks-an-oregon-coast-national-wildlife-refuge.html  Three Arch Rocks - an Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge (Our Oregon Coast)]
 +
* [http://www.beachconnection.net/news/happycam071012_424.php  Secretive Happy Camp and Its Beginnings (BeachConnection.net)]
 +
* [http://www.netartsbaytoday.org/ Netarts Bay Today]
 +
* [http://www.netartsbaytoday.org/  Netarts (Visit the Oregon Coast)]
  
  
 
=== Contributors ===
 
=== Contributors ===
 
* [[User:bobcat|bobcat]] (creator)
 
* [[User:bobcat|bobcat]] (creator)

Revision as of 21:22, 23 March 2015

The sea stack on Short Beach (bobcat)
On the trail to Short Beach (bobcat)
Short Creek spillway, Short Beach (bobcat)
Larsen Creek Falls, Short Beach (bobcat)
Bird's eye view of Short Beach (bobcat)
  • Start point: Oceanside Beach TrailheadRoad.JPG
  • End point: O'Hara Creek
  • Trail Log:
  • Hike Type: Out and Back
  • Distance: 6.0 miles round trip
  • High point: 20 feet
  • Elevation gain: 20 feet
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Seasons: All
  • Family Friendly: Yes
  • Backpackable: No
  • Crowded: Yes, at Oceanside

Contents

Hike Description

The view from Oceanside's beach is dramatic: offshore are the Three Arch Rocks (Shag Rock, Finley or Mid Rock, Storm Rock), a national wildlife refuge and wilderness area closed to the public; to the north is dark Maxwell Point, seemingly impregnable but pierced by a 90-year-old tunnel leading to secret beaches. Cape Lookout's long volcanic headland juts into the Pacific on the southern horizon. While the beach at Oceanside itself may be busy, the two beaches to the north, Tunnel and Agate, can be reached much of the day. The walk down towards Netarts sees fewer and fewer holidayers and you'll end the hike at Netarts Basin and its busy crab harbor.

From the parking area, head down to the beach. Cape Lookout juts out to the south and Maxwell Point is just to your north. Three Arch Rocks loom offshore. With binoculars, you may be able to see Steller’s sea lions loafing on Shag Rock. In sparing, look also for large numbers of breeding tufted puffins and common murres. Walk north on the beach first. Approach the tunnel through Maxwell Point that was constructed in 1926. Heed the warning sign about rocks coming down from above. The tunnel itself has standing water although a few planks have been laid. Come out on the cobbled strand of Tunnel Beach, also called Isolation Beach, with its little sea stacks protruding from the ocean on the far side. After wobbling across the little beach, climb up the closest rock to the beach and get a view of Cape Meares to the north. The rock is studded with fossil barnacles that are forming little crystal zeolites in their centers. From here, you can proceed to the next beach, little Agate Beach, reachable when the tide is out. Beyond Agate Beach is the almost inaccessible Lost Boy Cave Beach, best attempted at a minus tide. The cave is in the headland at the north end of the beach and forks to have two seaward exits. Farther north Short Beach can be reached via a short trail from the Three Capes Road.

Back on Oceanside Beach, there may be surfers going into the water. The wide beach leads south below the little community, the Three Capes Road leading up over the next bluff. Cross Baughman Creek, which has a sign warning about sewage treatment effluent, and then walk below a development of largish homes on the bluff above. Then to the left, there’s a shore-pine forested dune with a wooden staircase leading down it. The stairs are closed - No Entry Sensitive Ecologocial Area. soon after this, you're passing mudstone cliffs and have to cross wide Fall Creek higher up on logs laid across it. The end of Netarts Spit hoves into view and you round a point heading into Netarts Bay, first passing the cottages of Happy Camp nestled above its driftwood strewn beach. Cross Hodgdon Creek where the strand is narrower and not easily walkable at a high tide. Round the bay and head up a narrow beach below a low riprap wall to a breakwater that shelters a little harbor. Stroll onward to a picnic table above the boat ramp and dock where O’Hara Creek leads into the bay and watch crab boats scoot in loaded with traps and catch. Look for harbor seals bobbing in the placid waters, and then return the way you came.


Maps

Regulations or Restrictions, etc.

  • Keep to the beach; respect private property
  • Take care around the tunnel through Maxwell Point

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this hike

  • Oregon's Best Coastal Beaches by Dick Trout

More Links


Contributors

Retrieved from "https://www.oregonhikers.org/w/index.php?title=Oceanside_to_Netarts_Hike&oldid=55953"
Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

Hiking is a potentially risky activity, and the entire risk for users of this field guide is assumed by the user, and in no event shall Trailkeepers of Oregon be liable for any injury or damages suffered as a result of relying on content in this field guide. All content posted on the field guide becomes the property of Trailkeepers of Oregon, and may not be used without permission.