While Oregon is known for its lush forests, high deserts, snow-capped mountains, and remote hot springs, its rugged Pacific Coast is perhaps its greatest outdoor asset. The Beaver State boasts miles of largely unspoiled ocean shoreline complete with stunning offshore rock formations, dramatic headlands, and wind-swept stretches of sand.
Many people head to the Oregon Coast to simply unwind amidst nature, while others pursue activities such as kayaking, kite-flying, ATV riding, and agate hunting. Sea glass is also a sought-after treasure with some beach-combers, and the Bayocean Peninsula is one of the best places in the state to find it.
Sticking out for 4 miles like a slender finger into the mouth of Tillamook Bay, the Bayocean Peninsula is remarkable for its pristine sands and raw, undeveloped state. Once home to an ill-fated resort complex, the sea eventually reclaimed all of the buildings. Today you will only find sand dunes, salal bushes, and pine trees — and if you’re lucky — a few shimmering pieces of sea glass.
Echoes of the past on the lonley sea breeze
Dive into the sublime surroundings
The Bayocean Peninsula connects to the mainland at Cape Meares, which is one of Oregon’s most arresting scenic viewpoints, boasting sweeping vistas of the Pacific waves rolling past rocky islands and outcroppings amidst old-growth forest. During the winter and spring, Cape Meares is an excellent spot to watch for migrating gray whales and the cliffs are also home to thousands of seabirds. While you’re there, make sure to check out the famous octopus-shaped Sitka spruce, along with the iconic Cape Meares Lighthouse, whose beacon is still visible more than 20 miles out to sea.
Tillamook Bay and its surroundings also offer loads of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers can explore 200 acres of pristine nature at Kilchis Point Preserve, or check out the cliffside views at Cape Lookout State Park. The region is a paddler’s paradise, with the Tillamook County Water Trail boasting more than 200 miles of navigable routes across five watersheds. Surfers can hit the waves at this gorgeous, budget-friendly beach, and anglers will find plenty of opportunities to hook into feisty salmon, steelhead, or trout in one of the five rivers emptying into Tillamook Bay.
The Bayocean Peninsula is a straight shot out to the coast from Portland (the nearest airport) that takes about an hour and 40 minutes by car. For lodgings, check out the Ashley Inn of Tillamook or the Oceanside Inn. For more of Oregon’s incredible natural scenery, head on this loop road trip that hits many of its hidden gems.
