Welcome to the Pacific North West! The Oregon Coast is a top Summer Bucket List Destination. All beaches in Oregon are public, so come explore the breathtaking views, rock formations, marine life, and gorgeous stretches of sandy coast. This is Part 1 of my ‘Oregon Bucket List: Beaches‘ series. There will be more to come, so let’s “take off” into the list of beautiful Oregon beaches that you can’t miss out on this summer!
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Cannon Beach
This small coastal town is about an hour and a half from Portland, Oregon. It offers spectacular views of the iconic Haystack Rock. The proudly protected Tufted Puffins make a home here along with sea stars, crabs, anemones, and many more visible creatures in the tide pools. Haystack Rock is one of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks. This beach was featured in movies such as The Goonies, and Kindergarten Cop. Hug Point State Recreation Site, five miles from Cannon Beach, has small waterfalls, caves, and tide pools. It offers amazing access to the beach and forested picnic areas. This famous Oregon beach will not disappoint for any trip to Oregon.
Secret Beach
Located in Brookings, Oregon, this beach is everyone’s favorite badly kept secret. Secret Beach is a small scenic spot between Gold Beach and Brookings. There are impressive rock formations in the blue-green water. You can swim and enjoy the sun if you wish. Enjoy the peaceful small waterfall. This beach is a great for seal spotting, and feels secluded from the wind due to the stunning natural rock formations.
Lincoln City Beach
Visit the stunning seven mile stretch of soft sandy beach in Lincoln City, Oregon. This is a wonderful area for spotting grey whale, seals, and more. There are tide pools to explore when the tide tide is low, teeming with marine life to appreciate. Lincoln city has more beach than any other Oregon coastal town. The town is quaint and charming with a booming art scene contributing to their infamous Glass Floats. The Lincoln City Glass Floats are hand-crafted glass blown pieces of art that are placed around the beach and coastal fringe all year round, providing for an exciting finders keepers treasure hunt. If you like dazzling sunsets and kite flying, this is the beach for you!
Oceanside Beach
2 hours West of Portland you will find the charming hillside community of Oceanside. This beach is perfect for beachcombing, searching for whales, and viewing tufted puffins! This is also a popular spot for surfing and for exploring the tide pool ecosystems. You can find volcanic black rocks and amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Take some time to relax at the peaceful and cozy cafes nearby.
Meyers Beach
Meyers Beach is on Oregon’s Southern coast, and is a celebrated surfing and windsurfing spot! You can experience beautiful scenery dotted with haystack rock formations, viewed from the beaches 2 miles of silky sandy coast. This is a great stop for road trippers driving along route 101. Have fun at one of the most picturesque beaches in the world!
Thank you for reading! I hope that you take this as a sign to try and visit all of these gorgeous beaches this summer. Your Oregon Bucket List won’t be complete until you do!
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