Hiking to Short Sand Beach on the North Oregon Coast

Looking to explore more amazing Oregon Coast beaches?
Check out Winema Beach near Pacific City or hike to the beach at Sitka Sedge.

CURRENT INFO

Information about Oswald West State Park is found on the Oregon State Parks website. For a map showing the loop hike we took, following the Cape Falcon and Short Sand Beach trails, check out the AllTrails website. Information on hiking to Short Sand Beach is also included in the excellent guidebook Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon by Zach Urness and Bonnie Henderson.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking is free at Oswald West State Park. There are several parking lots on both sides of Highway 101 within the park boundaries. This is a popular area, so on weekends it’s not unusual for the lots to fill with even more parked cars lining the highway.
• A restroom is available at the main parking lot on the east side of Highway 101, and vault toilets are located near the entrance to Short Sand Beach. Garbage bins are also available at both locations.
• Picnic tables with an ocean view overlook Short Sand Beach. Near Highway 101, a few picnic tables are located along the trail connecting the main parking lot (the one with the restroom) with the lot to the north. This forested area is well protected from the road.
• Dogs are welcome on Short Sand Beach. They’re allowed off leash on the beach as long as they remain under control. Always carry a leash with you and pick up after your pet.
• Visit at low tide to view tide pools and access the waterfall at the north end of the beach. Check the tide tables before you go.

HIGHLIGHTS

Take a short hike through lush coastal forest to a wide beach surrounded by sandstone cliffs and the turquoise water of the Pacific. Does life get much better? Throw in a lacy waterfall sliding into the sea and a handful of tide pools to explore and you have paradise found on the Oregon Coast!

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Initially, the kids weren’t thrilled with the idea of hiking to the beach. I assured them it was a short hike, and guess what? It was! In no time, the boys were on the sand, pulling out their buckets and shovels, eager to dig the deepest hole of all on Short Sand Beach. It was a noble goal, and they happily occupied themselves in the sand for the better part of two hours. The trail also provided plenty of engagement, with logs to walk across, tree roots to hide under, and several wooden bridges.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There’s no shortage of places to explore on the Oregon Coast! Oswald West State Park offers many other wonderful trails. Try the hike to Cape Falcon, Neahkahnie Mountain, or Devil’s Cauldron. Just north of Oswald West State Park, the beach at Hug Point is another popular spot. North of Hug Point, the town of Cannon Beach is a favorite coastal getaway. Another charming town, Wheeler, lies to the south. On our trip, we enjoyed a delicious pre-hike breakfast at The Roost cafe in Wheeler.

Further south past Tillamook, the short loop hike at the Sitka Sedge State Natural Area is a great option, with views of Sand Lake Estuary, coastal forest, and a gorgeous secluded beach. Winema Beach is another fantastic beach to explore in this area.

After camping at Kilchis River County Campground near Tillamook, it was time to head home to Seattle. But not, of course, without a visit to the beach first. Oregon’s beaches are worth a stop at any time of year, but on a sunny summer Sunday, this was an opportunity not to be missed.

Understandably, the rest of the population of northwestern Oregon had the same idea. We drove past several parking lots in Oswald West State Park before finding one with a space available to accommodate our teardrop trailer. Little did we know how lucky we were — on our return later that afternoon, the line of parked cars along Highway 101 stretched far beyond our parking spot. I was thankful we arrived when we did.

Once parked, we headed south a short distance along Highway 101, then crossed the road to the Cape Falcon trailhead. Located by another parking lot on the west side of the highway, the trailhead was clearly marked. We headed into the woods and were soon surrounded by the verdant green canopy of the Oregon Coast Range. At first, the sound of traffic speeding down Highway 101 drifted through the trees, but we soon left the noise of civilization behind.

The Cape Falcon trail is a true “trail”, meaning it’s a little bumpy and rooty, with some ups and downs. Still, this segment is easy by hiking standards. It’s also a great way to avoid the crowds that follow the wide, flat Short Sand Beach Trail. But for those with mobility concerns, the Short Sand Trail is the better bet.

It felt like almost no time had passed when we came to a fork in the trail. A signpost pointed right to continue the trek to Cape Falcon, or left to the day use picnic area. In this case, “day use picnic area” also means beach, so we turned left and followed a short series of gentle switchbacks to a gorgeous picnic spot overlooking the ocean.

What a view! By now everyone was feeling the excitement, although J was taken aback by how many people were gathered on the beach below.

“It’s fine,” I assured him. “There’s still plenty of room to spread out and find a place of our own.”

We followed the sandy path down to Short Sand Beach. Our eyes took in the scene… aquamarine water dotted with surfers waiting for the next wave, and a wide swath of pale sand where people of all ages gathered in small groups or walked in pairs… in swim shorts and bikinis no less! Let me tell you, this is not the usual attire of Oregon beach-goers. But with temperatures in the low 80s, sun-starved Oregonians were lapping it up.

Sure enough, we had no difficulty finding our spot on the sand. The boys got right to work digging, and once they began there was no stopping them. Michael, more interested in shade than sun, sought out a seat on the driftwood near the forest’s edge. Apparently, no one was interested in joining me for a beach walk, so I headed north up the shore on my own. I can’t say I was disappointed with this turn of events.

The crowds thinned as I walked on, passing wind-carved sandstone cliffs on my way to the north end of the cove. Crystal clear water pooled around rocky slabs encrusted with barnacles, and Blumenthal Falls flowed delicately across the slanted cliff face to the sea.

I was entranced. Returning to the dig site, I did my best to encourage the boys to join me on another walk to the waterfall.

“There are caves, too!” I enthused. “Not very deep ones, but still caves.”

They weren’t about to budge. J was determined to dig the deepest hole Short Sand Beach had ever seen, encouraged by the substantial pool of water collecting in their well. No time for waterfalls!

At this point, Michael decided to walk out with me. But he, too, soon wandered off on his own, while I stayed behind to explore the tide pools. This is one of the wonders of the beach; each person has the opportunity to enjoy it in their own unique way.

All too soon, it was time to go. Michael and I contemplated playing hooky from work the next day to buy a little more time, but duty called. We convinced the kids to leave their hole in the sand and turned to head up the trail. This time, we took the Short Sand Beach Trail, the most direct route. This broad, easy-going trail follows Short Sand Creek. While a little bumpy, it’s gentle enough for a heavy-duty wagon or stroller. Many of our fellow hikers took advantage of this, lugging cartfuls of picnic supplies and outdoor gear to the beach.

Like the Cape Falcon Trail the Short Sand Beach Trail passes through verdant second growth forest. The kids discovered a few interesting tree specimens on our walk, perfect for exploring.

The Short Sand Beach Trail leads to the main Oswald West State Park parking lot, located a short distance south of the Cape Falcon trailhead. Whether you park here or not, it’s a good stop for those in need of a restroom. A trail behind the restroom leads north to the Cape Falcon trailhead, offering a pleasant alternative to walking along Highway 101. The trail crosses Short Sand Creek a few times, with a few picnic tables scattered along the route, hidden away from the road.

We soon reached our car and were back on the road, heading north up the highway. More gorgeous views awaited us along the coastline, though none quite as satisfying as the view from Short Sand Beach. Disappointing as it was to leave, I felt a sense of gratitude more than anything. Gratitude that so many could experience the wonder of this beautiful place, and that we had the chance to share it, too.