Nehalem Bay State Park

Just off of Highway 101 in the tiny little town of Nehalem is nestled Nehalem Bay State Park. The park sits on 900 acres of land that was transferred to the State of Oregon from Tillamook County in the 1930s. The park sat stagnant until a flurry of activity in the 1940s and 1950s, when thousands upon thousands of European beach grass, shore pine, and Scotch broom meant to strengthen and stabilize the dunes were planted. After over two decades of hard work, the plants had taken root and fulfilled their intended purpose. Nehalem Bay State Park opened to the public in 1972. Hiking, biking, and equestrian trails weave throughout the park, and an airstrip invites pilots to drop in and camp for the evening. Fishing, crabbing, kayaking, and beachcombing are among the favorite activites at Nehalem Bay State Park. In addition to the RV and tent sites, there is also an equestrian camp, an airstrip camp, hiker/biker campsites, and yurts available. Once inside the campground, the beach is easily accessible through a small hike over the dunes that separate Nehalem Bay State Park from the Pacific Ocean. The wildlife includes bears, elk, deer, and mountain lions. The deer and elk will often graze inside the campground, allowing one the opportunity to watch them in a close-up setting.

With over 3,000 trails for hikers to enjoy (210 of which are wheelchair accessible), it's no wonder why Oregon is the number 10 state in the country for hiking. Trails run through and around the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood National Forest, and the coastal region and include the 455.2-mile Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. State parks are amazing for hiking trails, and Nehalem Bay State Park is no exception.

A 1.8-mile paved trail wraps around the campground and is multi-use, with hikers, bikers, horses, wheelchairs, and strollers sharing the space. Though most of it is paved, the path gets very uneven and rough, making it tough for people with mobility issues to get all the way around the trail with ease.

The Nehalem Spit Loop hike is much longer, at 5.2 miles, and is not a good fit for wheelchair users, strollers, and people with mobility issues in general. The hike is well-marked and easy to follow and runs right into the day-use area and the horse camps. Dunes, bayside tidal flats, and beaches await you, each with its own unique landscape and ecosystem. On-leash dogs are welcome on the trail, but only in certain areas. On the bayside of the trail, you can bring your dog with you, but dogs are forbidden on the oceanside, as Nehalem Spit has been deemed a Western Snowy Plover Management Area. Once on the beach, a turn to the north will afford the hiker views of Neahkahnie Mountain and ultimately lead to Manzanita Beach. In the opposite southerly direction can be found birds, jellyfish, and artifacts that have washed ashore from shipwrecks, as well as many things that have traveled the prepossessing Pacific Ocean from Japan.

Use the tide tables to plan your trips. Check once or download and keep it here:

When hiking on the beach, consider tidal changes. Don't ever turn your back on the ocean, as sneaker waves are common on the Oregon coast. Changes on the beach can happen in an instant. Always be vigilant!

In the summer of 1693, the Spanish Manila Galleon Santo Cristo de Burgos set sail from Manila, Philippines, en route to Acapulco, Mexico, filled with an estimated 1,000-1,500 tons of exquisite Asian porcelain, pottery, and beeswax for trade. Along the route, something went terribly wrong, and the Santo Cristo de Burgos was never seen again. If the story sounds familiar, perhaps it's because it was the inspiration for the classic movie The Goonies.

Known as the Beeswax Galleon Shipwreck, the first recorded mention was in 1813 when the Clatsop Indian Tribe began to trade large amounts of beeswax and furniture and tools fashioned from teakwood (the material the ship was likely built with) that they claimed came from a shipwreck near Nehalem. The year 1700 saw a devastating earthquake that shook the Cascadia Subduction Zone, causing a massive tsunami that redistributed and buried the artifacts along the coast. A chunk of beeswax measuring 15x16 inches was found on the beach in 1952 and donated to the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, which is still on display. Other artifacts, including pieces of porcelain and wood from the Spanish Manila Galleon, continue to be found, with the most interesting find in 2013 when Craig Andes, a local fisherman, came upon wooden beams suspected to be from the hull of the Santo Cristo de Burgos in a cave in Manzanita.

Camping at Nehalem Bay State Park is the main attraction, as evidenced by the attention given to maintaining the campsites. There is truly something for every camper at Nehalem. RV, tent, hiker/biker, equestrian, and airstrip sites are available through both online reservation and on-site registration.

ADA sites are fully paved and include a water hookup with an accessible handle situated 37 inches from the ground and an electric pedestal 39 inches from the ground. The picnic table and fire ring are easily accessible, and the sites are close to restrooms. The ADA sites cannot be reserved online and must be done with a ranger or by calling (800) 452-5687. As of October 2024, the price for a standard ADA site is $32 nightly or $224 weekly.

Standard sites include electricity and water, and full sites include electricity, water, and sewer hookups. An on-campus waste dump gives the camper a budget-friendly option if all full sites are booked. As of October 2024, the price for a standard site is $32 nightly or $224 weekly. Reservations can be made online up to six months in advance but aren't always necessary.

Tent sites are a sought-after commodity for hikers and bikers on the coast. Nehalem Bay State Park has located its hiker/biker tent camp at the front of the park. With 25 sites, the park offers gear protection for hikers and bikers from not-for-profit Oregon Parks Forever. The camper can lock up gear and food, charge electronics, fill water bottles, and make minor bike repairs. At just $6 per person per night, they go fast!

Nehalem Bay State Park offers a unique experience with a horse camp. The camp has 17 sites, each with its own distinct features. There is no electricity or on-site water at the equestrian camp, but each has its own corral for your horses. Water is available within the camp, and it is advised that you bring at least a 100-foot water hose with you. Bathroom facilities and hot showers are available in the main campground, which translates to an approximate 685-foot walk from your site. As of October 2024, the fee for an equestrian site is $21 per night or $147 weekly.

Nehalem Bay State Park is the only park with a fly-in camp. Pilots can land their planes on the 2,350-foot runway and pull right up to their campsite! There are six sites that are first come, first served. Access to flush toilets and hot showers is included in the fee for the site, which comes equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. Though most of the year, there will be a spot available, even during the busiest summer months, there are times when all six sites are occupied. Don't take off just yet, though! You are permitted to pitch a tent under your wing at no charge! Be sure to bring your own tie-downs, as they are not provided by the park. Be aware that, particularly during the summer months, heavy winds seem to nose-dive over the mountains to the north, causing turbulence at the surface of Nehalem Bay. There are no services or fuel at the park, but both are available at the Tillamook Airport, just 17 nautical miles south. Fees for the fly-in camp are $11 per night per plane or $77 weekly.

The Greek historian Herodotus was the first to record a description of the living spaces of the Scythians in the 5th century BC. The dwelling was described as having an intricate yet collapsible wooden frame structure covered in wool felt. Yurts have been used in many cultures and many countries for many years, though they are thought to originate in the steppes of Central Asia. The intricate wood frame is designed differently from country to country, and once established within a community, it will be the pattern that is always used for said community. The structure doesn't change for the yurts at Nehalem Bay State Park. Each is still built using a lattice pattern for the wood frame that is visible inside the yurt. The yurts at Nehalem Bay are not wrapped in wool felt but canvas in their stead. You are prohibited from cooking inside the yurt, and a fire pit and picnic table are provided for outdoor cooking. You must bring your own bed linens, such as sheets, blankets, and cookware. Beds are provided by futons, bunk beds, or double beds, and your yurt may have any combination of those. A table with two chairs, electricity, lighting, and heat are included in the cost of the rental. The door locks for your privacy and security. There are no private bathrooms available inside the yurts, but they are just a short walk away. Hot showers are included in the yurt rental and can be found in the common area of the campground. All yurts are ADA-accessible. Pets are welcome, but only in a few of the yurts, so plan ahead if you are bringing your pet! As of October 2024, the fee is $70 nightly or $490 weekly.

Reserve here:

Nehalem Bay State Park will be closed to the public from November 1, 2024, to July of 2025. During this time, new water lines, electricity, restrooms, and shower buildings will be installed. Beginning in 2025, you should expect an increase in fees at all 25 Oregon State Parks as follows:

• Base rates will be increased for all site types. The increase will amount to $2 for miscellaneous sites, $3 for tent and primitive sites, $4 for RV sites, and $5 for cabins and yurts.
• The usual $8 reservation fee will increase to $10 per site.
• The day-use parking permit fee will double in price from $5 to $10.

While camping at Nehalem, there are some exciting side trips that I encourage you to take. Manzanita is a 1.5-mile walk from the park and the Big Wave Cafe is worth every step!

Visit the Tillamook Air Museum and see the nation's last remaining World War II blimp hangar. The hangar is one of the largest wooden structures in the world and houses over 15 aircraft. Aviation and wartime artifacts are on display and you can get a feel for the life of a pilot in one of the aircraft training simulators. Eat lunch at the 1950s-themed diner and don't forget to stop for souveniers at the gift shop!

Tillamook Creamery offers self-guided tours of the factory and it's completely free! During the tour, you will learn about the cheese-making process as well as the packaging and shipping operations of the creamery. The tour ends in the sample room, where you may feel free to sample any or all of the cheeses on display. After filling yourself with THE. BEST. CHEESE. EVER., head on over to the ice cream shop and taste a variety of flavors of the frozen confection, also manufactured right at the creamery. When you have finished with the cheese and ice cream, venture across the parking lot to visit the livestock. Though Tillamook Creamery operates over one hundred farms throughout Oregon, many cows are kept on-site at the creamery. A quick drive north on 101 from the Tillamook Creamery brings you to the Tillamook Country Smoker where you can find the best beef jerky on the planet!

Please remember that all prices and activities included within are as of this writing in October 2024. Prices are subject to change, as are park rules, hours, and tour availability. Please do your own research before booking a trip!