In Oregon, Life’s a Beach

Short Sand Beach in Oswald State Park

With mile upon mile of wide open sand beaches, Oregon has one of the most spectacular coasts in the country. And, with few exceptions, it’s all open to the public. That tradition goes back to 1913 when all 363 miles of the state’s coast was declared a public highway. The public’s claim extends over the entire slope of the beach which can be up to 200 yards wide in places at low tide. Compare that to Maine where folks are still fighting over whether or not the public still has miserly access to a narrow strip of land between high and low tide marks for “fishing, fowling and navigating.” In Oregon you can drive on the beach, picnic, sunbathe (when it is sunny) go swimming, go clamming, fly kites, have open fires, surf, and generally hang out just about anywhere. The ability to have fires is especially alien to those of us on the East Coast. In fact, gift shops in towns here also sell bundles of kindling and firewood. The taking and burning driftwood is prohibited and no fires are allowed in the vegetated dune areas. Dog are permitted, and leashes are recommended. Some local ordinances require them. All access points have supplies of doggie doo bags and most owners we’ve observed in the past week or so seem to comply. Oregon doesn’t just pay lip service to beach access either. Paths and roads are frequent and well-marked. There are plenty of parking lots, restrooms and places to fill water bottles. South of the Columbia River, where some beaches can’t be accessed by road, the state maintains wide, gradual, smooth-surfaced trails and there are restrooms, running water and trash cans near the sand, even when it’s nearly a mile from the road. It’s almost like they want people to enjoy themselves. It’s no surprise then that even in late October, there are lots of people still picnicking, surfing, and enjoying the out of doors. One of the best parts is that there aren’t a ton of “Don’t” signs telling people what not to do. Most seem well aware of the rules and their responsibility to follow them.

Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach

There are few offshore islands here although one unique feature on this coast are the volcanic “haystacks,” that are the geologic punctuation marks of creation. They are the eroded remnants of vast beds of lava that flooded this area millions of years ago. One of the most famous is Haystack Rock, located just a hundred yards offshore at Cannon Beach. It rises nearly 250-feet from the sand and can be circumnavigated at low tide. Also rare in Oregon are sheltered harbors and coves where recreational boats can be safely sheltered and commercial fishing operations can be based. Couple that with the frequent rough weather and high winds, and the treacherous currents associated with the mouth of the Columbia River, and it’s no surprise boating on the ocean here isn’t as big as it is along the Atlantic Coast. Maine, of course, has few miles of sandy beach, especially north of Portland, making it doubly important that there are strict rules to protect the resource. With Acadia National Park getting nearly four million visitors annually it wouldn’t take long before Sand Beach’s 200-yard length would be totally ruined by dog-doo, trash and charcoal. Perhaps more analogous would be Maine’s Great North Woods, which, despite being privately owned, remain open to the public for recreation, hunting and sightseeing. But even there, like in the intertidal zone when the upland is privately property, the public is occasionally permitted as guests, not rightful owners. Oregon’s dedication to keeping their beaches open, easy to use, and fun places to visit is a rare and incomparable gift. It’s good to see that it certainly seems to be equally prized by those who enjoy them, respect nature, and know what a special privilege it is.

Overlooking Manzanita Beach