Beautiful Hidden Beaches On The Oregon Coast
Whether you are looking to spend a day soaking in the sun or playing in the water, Oregon Coast has a lot to offer. Crowded beaches, however, can be less enjoyable. To rejuvenate yourself while enjoying a great time outdoors, we found you 12 fantastic secluded beaches in Oregon!
Indian Beach
Tucked away in Ecola State Park, this hidden Oregon beach is an intimate place to hang out with your family or friends. It is a popular destination for surfers and those who love to wade through the tidepools. However, it is rarely crowded, and you can enjoy a relaxing time here any time you go.
There are picnic areas available near the beach, and the park has many trails for hiking and viewing wildlife. From the shore, you can also see the Tillamook Lighthouse. Be careful, however, because there is not a lifeguard on duty, and the waves can be strong in this area, so it is not recommended to go swimming here.
Crescent Beach
Another one of the Oregon Coast’s hidden gems can be found also at Ecola State Park. It is a good alternative if you want to avoid the crowds at Cannon beach but still enjoy great views; in the distance, you can see Haystack Rock too.
Crescent Beach is very quiet due to the fact that it can only be reached by walking the Crescent Beach Trail. The trail is a nice walk through the park, but make sure you wear good shoes because some areas are steep and can be muddy.
At low tide, it is accessible from the north end of Cannon Beach too; but very few people know this. Pack some food and drinks and enjoy this (almost) private stretch of sand!
Hug Point State Recreation Site
Hug Point State Recreation Site is one of my favorite hidden beaches in Oregon. This small beach is located at the end of a trail at Hug Point State Park. There is a waterfall, cave, and tide pools with dozens of barnacles, starfish, and anemones; visiting this place will feel like exploring Oregon Coast’s nature at its best!
You will find shaded picnic areas and a public bathroom. There are several trails to explore in the park when you are done with the beach. A unique part of this secluded area is that the views of the rock formations are different during high tide and low tide too. However, if you want to go into the caves, check the tide tables before coming since you see them properly at low tide only.
Manzanita Beach
Located at the base of Neahkahnie Mountain, Manzanita Beach is a lovely uncrowded beach on the Oregon Coast. This quiet, pristine stretch of sand offers sweeping panoramas and stunning sunset views.
It is a perfect place to go for a romantic walk with your loved one as well as an excellent family-friendly beach where you can play in the sand with your kids, go kayaking or collect sand dollars.
There are not any amenities at this beach, so make sure that you bring everything that you will need. When you are done enjoying your day at the beach, stop in at the cute little beach town with the same name. You will find great places to eat, shop, and just relax. There are also several vacation rentals available in the area, making this a great destination for a beach vacation in Oregon.
Cape Meares Beach
Cape Mears Beach is the best-secluded beach in Oregon that wildlife lovers can visit. Located at the end of one of the Cape Mears State Park hiking trails, this shoreline area is the perfect place to watch for whales, porpoises, and seals. It is also an amazing spot to observe rare seabirds during spring.
There are picnic areas, public restrooms, and many different hiking trails in the area. You can even see the Cape Mears Lighthouse. Before you leave the beach for the day, make sure you take the short hike to the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint to see the Octopus Tree, the largest Sitka Spruce tree in Oregon. Both are amazing sights and will make any trip to this beach more memorable.
Short Beach
Short Beach is one of those secret places on the north coast of Oregon that you will miss if you blink. It is named appropriately because the beach is little but so worth visiting. There are no amenities there, so come prepared with everything you need.
You will have to walk down a wooden staircase to reach the beach, so it is not good for those who have mobility issues. Thankfully, there are stopping points with benches midway so that you can give yourself a break and take in the amazing ocean view. There are many rock structures and waterfalls here, giving Short Beach a surreal look.
Tunnel Beach
One of the most interesting, secluded beaches in Oregon is Tunnels Beach which is a great place to take some cool photos, watch the waves, hunt for agates, or simply just to enjoy the mesmerizing views of the Oregon Coast.
Tunnel Beach is accessible from Oceanside State Park through a tunnel as its name suggests. It is unfortunately not a secret spot anymore due to some photos of it that went viral on social media, but if you come here outside the main tourist seasons it can happen that you will have the whole place for yourself!
Just make sure to bring shoes to change (or rubber boots if you have) because the standing water in the tunnel might be ankle-deep.
Neskowin Beach State Park
Neskowin Beach State Park is one of the less crowded beaches on the Oregon Coast, but it really shouldn’t be. This fabulous beach is perfect for swimming, walking, hiking, and just enjoying a quiet day in the sun with your family or friends. What’s more, you can bring your four-legged friends too since this beach allows dogs too.
You can access Neskowin Beach through one of many trails. There are ample picnic spots along the trails making this spot a great lunch stop if you are on your way to the south. If you missed packing food and drinks, don’t worry; there is a little coffee shop and grocery store nearby to grab some snacks.
Nelscott Beach – Lincoln City
As you are heading down Oregon Coast, you will find the lovely beach of Nelscott just past Lincoln City, a popular coastal getaway in Oregon. This beautiful long strip of sand has several ramp access points from the main road, so it is easy to visit for disabled too.
The wide beach area is great for playing beach games, walking your dog, or just laying out in the sun. When the tide is out, you can go out and find many agates here. There are also tide pools to explore, shells to collect, and rocks to climb on. When you are done with your day at the beach, visit the town of Lincoln for a wonderful dining experience.
Bandon Beach
A beautiful hidden gem in Oregon with stunning rock formations and wonderful coastline scenery. The beach area is large and covered with soft, silvery sand. It has scenic vibes to spend a great day at the beach, dreamy sunsets and if you stay longer, it is an excellent spot for stargazing too since there is very low light pollution here.
Bandon Beach is also great to visit if you want to explore the area’s wildlife. You can see many seabirds around the rocks, hunt for agates and shells. What’s more, you can even spot whales during certain times of the year (between December and February when they migrate to the south and between March and May on their way back north) from the bluffs here so make sure to bring your binoculars!
Secret Beach – Brookings
Brookings is famous for having Oregon Coast’s warmest beaches and luckily, most of them are secluded too! Secret Beach is a fine example of a secret paradise with a good mix of mountains, forest and of course, beach.
The entrance is a little challenging to find, though. It is located near mile marker 325. You will see a small gravel parking area, which is where you stop and hike down to the beach. The hike is short, but steep so wear good hiking shoes.
The beach area itself is small yet has fantastic ocean views with several large rock formations. There is even a little waterfall. However, keep in mind that you should come at low tide to fully explore this beach.
Meyers Creek Beach
Myers Creek Beach is off the beaten path in Oregon and is often overlooked by visitors. This large sandy shoreline is located between city areas so mostly locals visit it who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.
A unique feature of Meyers Creek Beach is that the wind creates sand dunes on the beach, which give it a surreal appearance. There are also plenty of cool rocks, shells to collect, and tide pools with marine life to view making this beach an interesting place to visit with kids too.
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