Oregon Coast State Parks Oregon Coast State Parks

10 Amazing Oregon Coast State Parks to Explore

The Oregon coast has state parks, home to all outdoor activities. If you have ever wanted to visit the Pacific Northwest, below are some of the best places. To know more about the Oregon coast state parks, this is the post for you.

Every turn will mesmerize, from craggy rock cliffs to protruding sea stacks, deep tidal pools, and lush redwood woods. This place is perfect for a vacation with a breathtaking view, miles of hiking and biking trails, pristine beaches, and gorgeous weather.

Oregon Coast offers options for group camping, hiking, biking, and paddle boarding. The parks have excellent and unique opportunities to explore—just a short drive from Portland.

With its rugged coastline, vibrant economy, and charming coastal towns, the Oregon coast is one of the most sought-after destinations in the United States.

There are many ways to experience the Oregon coast, including camping and hiking. These state parks will give you a sense of adventure and a chance to experience the unique beauty.

1. 10 Amazing Oregon State Parks 

Exploring the state parks is the best place for nature lovers to see the coast’s natural beauty.

There are many state parks, so if you’re looking for camping, hiking trails, or a large campground, you’ll be able to find one that suits your needs. However, these activities require planning and patience.

The best way to explore the coast is via the northern coast scenic byway. Explore Cannon Beach, tide pools, hiking trails, and more. From rugged coast to forested hills and rivers to old-growth forests, there are many to enjoy the scenic beauty.

You can also visit Gleneden Beach, a 2.8-mile beach with tide pools and a long sand spit called North spit—occupying a sand spit that divides Netarts Bay and, therefore, the Pacific.

It’s home to eight miles of hiking trails leading through lovely old-growth forests and viewpoints.

Oregon Coast State ParksPhoto by Tyler Shaddix on Unsplash

1.1. Cape Lookout State Park

Address: 13000 Whiskey Creek Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141, United States

Cape Lookout State Park is a 5-acre park with a dramatic ocean view. It is one of the most popular parks on the Oregon coast and has over 330,000 visitors annually.

The park starts to fill up quickly in the summer, and visitors are asked to arrive early. Camping at Cape Lookout is not recommended, but many campsites are near Ecola and Elkhorn state parks.

The Cape Lookout State Park and the Cape Lookout Lighthouse are located. Cape Lookout State Park is south of the Rogue River. The park is known for its incredible views and its pristine beaches.

Oregon’s most southern coastal park provides numerous recreational opportunities, exploring tide pools, bird islands, and more.

This park is ideal for exploring a range of natural beauty, including dunes, prairies, woods, beaches with the Spencer Creek Nature Trail, and other species, such as shorebirds and bald eagles.

Cape Lookout features a fantastic campsite simply behind the beach. Different accommodation alternatives are found in the central northern Beaver state coast cities like Cannon Beach and Pacific City.

Oregon Coast State Parks
Photo by Kieran Wood on Unsplash

Cape Lookout State Park is well hidden off Highway 101. Cape Lookout Park offers a campground that is ideal for tent campers.

As you will expect, this is often a well-liked spot, particularly within the thronged summer months. Over 5 miles of sandy beach are perfect for hunting seashells and building sandcastles.

Sunset Bay State Park is located in one of the major scenic areas on the Oregon coast. Sunset Bay State Park has beautiful, stunning sandy beaches protected by lofty ocean cliffs.

1.2. Cape Arago State Park

Address: Cape Arago State Park, Coos Bay, OR 97420, United States

Cape Arago Park is excellent for exploring Capes’ scenic routes and wildlife. Cape Arago Park is located on the northern Oregon coast. This north Oregon coast is about a 20-minute drive from Cape Blanco Park, near the city of Manzanita.

The park offers visitors a variety of shoreline activities. The Cape Arago Lighthouse is the tallest in Oregon, standing at over 228 feet.

Cape Arago State Park is great for those who want to spend a day outdoors or go whale watching. The park also has opportunities. This is an excellent place for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing opportunities, various bird watching, exploring the forest, viewing ocean lions, and sea kayaking.

1.3. Cape Blanco State Park

Address: 91814 Cape Blanco Rd, Port Orford, OR 97465, United States

The park is on Cape Blanco, the northernmost corner of the Oregon coast.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department manages the park and is the location of Fort Stevens State Park on the Cape’s south side.

The two parks together stretch more than 25 miles (40 km) on the Pacific coast.

Oregon Coast State Parks
Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash

The park is named after James W. Oswald, former governor of Oregon. Oregon, United States, part of the seaside stretches along the Pacific Ocean.

The park also contains the sea lion colony on the cape. There is also a campground available for those who want to stay overnight camping. The place also includes a charming horseback trail open to the public.

1.4. Humbug Mountain State Park

Address: Port Orford, OR 97465, United States

Humbug Mountain State Park is home to the largest Douglas fir trees in the world and a rich diversity of coastal forests, plants, and wildlife surrounded by mountains. It is rare in the United States where both the eastern and western hemispheres meet, with the dividing line running through the park.

Southern Oregon coast offers visitors opportunities for hiking, fishing, picnicking, camping, and swimming. They make up a string of coastal parks along the Oregon coast, from the Tillamook Head State Forest in the north to just south of the Columbia River Gorge national scenic area in the south.

The surrounding mountains mean the park enjoys some of the warmest weather compared to different Beaver State coast state parks and is home to many birds, deer, and even the odd bear painter.

You’ll be able to explore tide pools, beachcombing, wait for ocean birds, and explore tide pools.

1.5. Ecola State Park 

Address: Cannon Beach, OR 97110, United States

Ecola State Park is a park that is located on the coast in the northwest corner of the United States. The Cola State Park is a beautiful, uncrowded, coastal wilderness home to various wildlife.

The park has a campground for visitors and a day-use area for visitors. The campground has a camp kitchen, restrooms, and hot showers.

Oregon Coast State Parks
Photo by Pietro De Grandi on Unsplash

Ecola State Park is comprised of a variety of beaches and dunes. No permanent homes, motels, or campgrounds exist, but it is a popular destination for those who love walking, running, or biking on the beach.

The dunes and beaches are a part of the Pacific shoreline and part of the Pacific Rim National Park. On the top of the Pacific Ocean, the visitors can enjoy the picturesque view of the sea slacks that flank the beach, a magnificent vintage lighthouse, and evergreen forested promontories.

Ecola State Park features famous views of Indian Beach, Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, and great beaches surfing super.

The park’s primary attractions are its beautiful views and myriad hiking options. Activities like surfing, picnics, tidepool exploration, and animal viewing are quite popular regardless of what time of year you intend to travel. But there’s more to do at this park.

1.6. Nehalem Bay State Park

Address: 9500 Sandpiper Ln, Nehalem, OR 97131, United States

Nehalem Bay State Park is one of Oregon’s most popular state parks, located within the city of Nehalem. With plenty of miles of coastline and a sandy bottom, it is the largest place on the Oregon coast with a sandy beach, a place for bald eagles.

Facilities include a 130-person campground and a lodge for visitors. The camping area has flush bathrooms, hot showers, and fuel purchasable. You can also visit Bollards Park on the coast north of Nehalem Bay State Park.

Nehalem Bay Park is a great place for a picnic or bird-watching. The park has several hiking trails. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department operates the park.

It is part of the Oregon coast trail and comprises sand and various habitats. The park is also known as the Nehalem Bay State Marine Wildlife Refuge.

The site is a lovely, one-mile-long beach with a bluff and a tall headland on the northwest shore of Nehalem Bay. Activities available include biking and riding, in addition to recreational fishing. The park has a small, sheltered parking lot and a sandy beach.

There are great views of Nehalem Bay, the dunes, and the mouth of the Nehalem River, but the beach makes it special. Hug Point is a popular destination, so you’ll want to plan to enjoy it.

The Hug Point State Recreation Site is a day-use-only location with a picnic area and beach access. This is the perfect spot to take a break from the crowds of the Oregon coast.

1.7. Smith Rock State Park

Address: Terrebonne, OR 97760, United States

Oregon Coast State Parks
Photo by Brooks Rice on Unsplash

Smith Rock State Park is a popular destination for tent campers and day-trippers. It’s great for hiking, rock climbing, picnicking, and viewing wildlife. The park has a trail leading to a hollow rock formation approximately 200 feet wide, which is excellent for viewing wildlife.

The vast majority of the park is accessible to off-highway vehicles. Some hiking trails require a little more effort.

Spencer Creek is a popular swimming hole accessible via a short, easy-to-walk trail. You can also easily access Spencer Creek from the trail.

Plenty of hot showers are available for those who don’t want to walk a mile back to the parking lot. For new hikers, it’s just a short hike on the Oregon coast trail.

1.8. Beverly Beach State Park

Address: 198 NE 123rd St, Newport, OR 97365, United States

Beverly Beach State Park is a beach on the Oregon coast. It is a low-elevation beach located in the community of Wheeler, Oregon. It is a popular beach for visitors from Portland and the surrounding areas, and other beachgoers camped on the beach.

It is a popular spot for surfing and fishing, and It is a state recreation site that offers a boat launch, picnicking areas, and beach access.

The national recreation area designation for the Oregon coast is a designation of federally owned land managed by one of eleven national park service units. It is a beautiful place to visit year-round.

The beach is a favorite spot for visitors because of its easy access and unique features, such as a tidepool park and a historic lighthouse. It is named for its proximity to the town of Beverly Beach.

1.9. Harris Beach State Park

Address: U.S. 101, Brookings, OR 97415, United States

Harris Beach State Park is a popular spot for beach climbing and hiking. It is a beautiful place to behold the scenery and the water.

Harris Beach State Park is on the river’s edge, so the beach isn’t very wide. The beach is also relatively shallow and is mostly made up of sand with some large jagged rocks. The park is a popular spot with serious beachcombers and hikers.

Oregon Coast State Parks
Photo by Michael Grant on Unsplash

The park offers various activities, including camping, boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, beachcombing, and hiking.

This park is a popular spot for beachcombing and kayaking. There are also campsites and picnic areas. The park is popular with visitors and is a popular place for mountain biking, but the park is also a popular place for coastal hiking and rock climbing.

1.10. Yaquina Bay State Park

Address: Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site, Newport, OR 97365, United States

There are many things to do while at Yaquina State Park, such as camping, riding, hiking, boating, surfing, fishing, and hunting. One of the most popular things to do while at Yaquina Bay is to go whale watching.

Another popular thing to do at Yaquina Park is to go riding. Visitors here may also watch, feed, and play with sea lions and whales. When the lions are at their best, they can be seen jumping into the water and giving their tails a little wag.

2. Closing Thoughts

Whether you are visiting the Oregon coast for the first time or are an old hand, there is a lot to see and do. Oregon Coast State Parks developed a Sunset Bay State Park area to meet the needs of these visitors and the expanding population.

There are so many activities and places to explore in Oregon that it can be difficult to plan a trip. Oregon is home to many beautiful places, many of which can be found on the Oregon coast.

The state parks have a lot to offer regarding natural beauty and recreation. There are tons of activities for both land and sea life.

Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology

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