Pets allowed
Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Located just 10 miles south of Cannon Beach, Oswald West State Park is one of Oregon’s finest wilderness recreation sites.  Smugglers Cove is home to one of the state’s best surf destinations, Short Sand Beach, but the park also offers day-use picnic areas, an incredible old-growth coastal forest featuring some of the state’s largest Sitka spruces, and many miles of trails, including hikes to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain, Cape Falcon and Arch Cape.  A walk-in campground with 30 sites functioned until 2009, when it was closed due to abundant tree falling hazards.  The park is named for Oswald West, Oregon’s 14th Governor (1911-1915) and the chief advocate for protecting the public's right to access and use the state’s beaches.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Sitka spruce old-growth forest. Numerous hikes. Surfing. Short Sand Beach.

Cons

Peak summer crowds.

Features

Flushing toilets
Potable water
Picnic tables
Surfing
Old-growth forest

Location

Nearby Adventures

Comments

11/11/2017
A vast park offering miles upon miles of hiking trails through thick coastal forest and high upon steep, rugged bluffs.
09/02/2017
Take the trail to the south beach. I can't say that it's quieter, but it's less dense with people, surfers and dogs running off leash. It's odd, it's the same beach, but it's not where everyone congregates. Make it a point to hike Cape Falcon.
06/26/2017
Well.... I joined because you have p hotos of p laces I want to paint but I guess you don't allow printing so... I will have to leave and continue searching for the right references
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