Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
0.00 ft (0.00 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
4.00 mi (6.44 km)
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.

Nehalem Bay State Park is a wonderful park on the Oregon coast that offers over 5 miles of beach, access to Nehalem Bay, one of the largest campgrounds in Oregon and many options for the hiker or bike rider. One tempting option is the trail out to the end of Nehalem spit to the river and the jetties that guard its mouth. This trail is level and wide and leads to some great views at the river and access to wide stretches of isolated and beautiful beach.

The trail starts just past the horse camp area at the end of the park road and follows the narrow peninsula between Nehalem Bay and the beach for about 2 miles. The trail is likely a remnant of the construction of the jetties and was not designed for its scenic value. In fact, there are no views of the ocean or the bay for the entire stretch, and the sound of the breaking waves is a tantalizing presence during the hike. Once at the end of the spit, hikers can either backtrack on the trail or round the spit to the beach and hike back north to the trail that connects to the parking area near the trailhead. This stretch of beach is wonderfully empty and beautiful. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the entire beach as long as they are under voice control.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

State Park Fee

Pros

Not a crowded trail. Beautiful views at the end of the spit. Solitary beach.

Cons

Much of the jetty trail is monotonous with no ocean views.

Trailhead Elevation

10.00 ft (3.05 m)

Features

Lighthouse
Bird watching
Wildlife
Fishing

Suitable for

Biking
Horseback

Location

Nearby Adventures

Comments

02/12/2017
A fun afternoon stroll on an unseasonably nice February day! Recent storms covered the beach in driftwood and debris...combined with high tide, this made the walk out along the ocean side of the spit a bit tricky. We walked back on the spit trail which wasn't as interesting, but was unobstructed.
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