Parks and State Beaches

Bring Your Passion For Parks To The North Coast Of Oregon:

Seaside / Cannon Beach / Gearhart / Arch Cape / Manzanita !

You can be here for a couple weeks and not hit them all so to narrow your itinerary the following would be an overview.

Our biggest is Fort Stevens which borders the beach and mouth of the Columbia River (more info below). Bike riding, Fishing, Walking, Military History, and Surfing are all popular here.
East of Fort Stevens is Fort Clatsop that is home to a replica of a fur trading post of yester year. History buffs, hikers and kayakers enjoy this park.
South of Fort Stevens and Fort Clatsop are Seaside City parks that have great play structures for the kids. The big one including a skate boarding park is off of broadway and east of the 101. You can find two more smaller ones north and south of that both near the river.
South of Seaside is Ecola State Park and bring your camera as this is the most photographed spot on the north coast of Oregon. It's also home to movies such as Twilight and Point Break. Great park for light hiking, amazing views and surfing.
South of Ecola your will find a couple beach parks for normal beach going in arch cape and most notably is the Hug Point park where you can check out a waterfall on the beach after we have had rain. Not easiliy accessible at a medium tide and not accessible at all at high tide so plan ahead.
South of Hug Point is Oswald West / Short Sands which is a super cool hike in spot to spend the day and surf.

Fort Stevens

Now a 4,200 acre park full of history, nature, and recreation. Fort Stevens used to be a military defense installation, part of a three fort Harbor Defense System at the mouth of the Columbia River (Forts Canby and Columbia in Washington were the other two). The fort served for 84 years, beginning with the Civil War, the fort lasted 84 years and closed at the end of World War II. Today, Fort Stevens has grown into a 4,200 acre park full of history, nature, and recreational activities.

Camp, beach comb, or enjoy freshwater lake swimming. Experience trails, wildlife, an historic shipwreck and an historic military area. Nine miles of bike trails and six miles of hiking trails allow you to explore the parks wetlands, dunes, even spruce and hemlock forests. Coffenbury Lake has two swimming areas, a picnic area, restrooms, and a boat ramp (10 mph boating speed limit). Two other smaller lakes offer boat ramps for fishing and canoeing. Throughout the year, you can browse through displays dating back to the Civil War at the museum, visit the only enclosed Civil War earthworks site on the west coast, and explore the gun batteries.

Fort Clatsop:

Corps of Discovery buffs often end their journey over the Lewis & Clark trail at Fort Clatsop, which is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Oregon and Washington. While the exact site of the original fort has yet to be found, this Fort Clatsop replica was built very close to the original spot where the Corps of Discovery wintered, based on their description of the spot.

It's a great spot for a family-friendly day of fun and education. Start with a visit to the interpretive center, then head out to take in the park's other activities. Join a ranger for canoeing on the Lewis and Clark River, hike the trails through old growth forest, explore the log cabins in the replica of the fort. Pick up a great book or souvenir in the gift shop. In summer, each day features ranger programs and living history demonstrations with hands-on activities. A favorite of kids is learning to start a fire with flint. The Junior Ranger Program is a hit with kids ages 4 through teens. In exchange for completing a series of activities and sharing their answers with a ranger, they get a badge or patch and a certificate.

Hug Point:

Imagine traveling by stagecoach along the beach (before the highway was built, the beach was the only way to go). Just south of Cannon Beach, Hug Point gives you easy access to the beach and some history. North of the parking area you can walk along the original trail carved out by the stagecoaches, thus Hug Point. Looking further north and see Haystack Rock, one of the most identifiable landmarks along the coastline.

Hug Point State Recreation Site is located five miles south of Cannon Beach on Highway 101. Activities also include tidepools, small caverns along the beach, picnic, play in the water, or fly a kite! Restrooms are available in the parking lot. Caution to visitors; be aware of the tide! It is possible to become stranded at high tide when exploring the point. Take a look at the stagecoach trail, the view of Haystack Rock and the two caves around the point, but have a plan. Pick up a tide book at one of the local shops: have fun and be safe.

Oswald West / Short Sands Beach:

This is not a secret beach by any stretch of the imagination and in fact could be considered one of the busiest beaches on the north coast despite it's hike in to access.... WHY = it is a cool beach. Cliffs surround the sand protecting it or creating a pocket to shelter beach goers for the wind making it very protected. The sandy bottom has a gradual incline so in the summer time beginner surfers flock to test and hone their skills. A fresh water creek feeds this cove making rinsing off of kids / toys / surfing gear very easy for the hike back to the car. If you have time it is worth hitting up. If more seclusion is in your interest there is a cove just north of short sands called falcon cove which is worth while but the surfing is not as good.

Astoria Column:

Info Coming Soon!!!

Ecola State Park:

One of Ecola State Park's first attractions was a beached whale. In 1806, Capt. William Clark and twelve members of the Corps of Discovery climbed over rocky headlands and fought their way through thick shrubs and trees to get to the whale in what is now Ecola State Park. Today, a paved road from Cannon Beach makes your trek to the park much easier. Winding your way through towering Sitka spruce, you suddenly emerge upon a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. Be sure to have your camera ready. Ecola State Park offers year-round recreation for all types of modern day explorers. Stop for a picnic to feed your hungry adventurers before taking to the many miles of trails. At Indian Beach you can begin your own expedition on The Clatsop Loop Trail, a new interpretive trail you that gives you the chance to walk in the footsteps of Capt. Clark and his men. There's more to the park than this rich history. Surfers ride the waves at Indian Beach and tide pools await your discovery. Keep a watchful eye open for the many species of wildlife and birds that call Ecola home. Spot migrating gray whales during winter and spring. And after a long day of exploration, stop for an overnight rest on Tillamook Head in the park's primitive cabins.

Seaside Oregon Parks

Great family friendly parks for kids can be found in Seaside including our major park off of Broadway which has a indoor heated pool with rope swing, slide, Jacuzzi, kiddy pool and outdoor skate park.