Nehalem Bay Trail Loop

Nehalem Bay State Park is a great central location on the Oregon Coast to use as a base camp, whether you want to go south to explore Cape Kiwanda or go north to photograph the famous Cannon Beach. There are six loops: A-F, and only A-C are open in the winter. The only first-come-first-served area is Loop C, but you shouldn't have an issue finding a campsite especially in the off-season. We too...

Crabbing is just one of those things everyone should do along the Oregon Coast. Its fun, fairly straightforward, and then you get to eat them! Total win-win. We were taking our time along the Oregon Coast and had heard that Kelly's Brighton Marina was a great place to learn to crab. For $100/hour (2014) we were able to rent a boat, bait, traps, and all the gear we needed to head out into Nehale...

You have a couple different options on how to access this hike (North and South trailhead) also if you would like to hike the loop trail or out-and-back option. Driving directions for this hike isn't to difficult, heading south on highway 101 drive 16.6 miles past the exists for Cannon Beach and Oswald West State Park parking areas and turn left up road 38555. Drive about 0.05 miles a gravel ro...

This hike can be done as either a loop or an out-and-back beginning from either the North or the South trailhead, both located off Route 101. If opting for the loop you will have to walk ~1 mile on the highway to connect back to your starting point. Since we were hiking with our kids we wanted to avoid the highway portion, and so started and ended at the North trailhead, which has parking dire...

It is located just off the side of highway 101 north of Manzanita and south of Cannon Beach. To get here, you need to just pull off into the Oswald West parking lot on the ocean side of the freeway. From here, It is just a short walk through the old growth forrest covered in dense green moss where you will continue and cross a wooden hanging bridge that crosses a small river that empties into t...

The beach in Oswald West State Park is one of the more secluded beaches on the Oregon coast. Most tourists tend to stay by Canon Beach and Seaside, Oregon, so this little gem gets much less traffic.The parking lot is right on the highway with plenty of parking, a bathroom, and a drinking fountain. You hike under the freeway and down a well groomed path for about a half a mile. Eventually, yo...