Oswald West State Park

Tucked along Oregon’s dramatic North Coast, Oswald West State Park feels like stepping into an old-growth fairy tale. Towering Sitka spruce and western red cedar canopy a lush rainforest floor thick with ferns and moss, while the Neahkahnie Mountain trail rewards hikers with sweeping views of the Pacific stretching from Tillamook Head to Cape Falcon.

The park’s crown jewel is Short Sand Beach — a sheltered cove framed by basalt headlands that locals call “Shorty’s.” It’s one of the few surf spots on the Oregon coast with consistent, approachable waves, making it a magnet for surfers and boogie boarders year-round. A half-mile wheelbarrow trail through old growth leads to the beach, and yes, the park provides wheelbarrows at the trailhead for hauling your gear in.

Walk-in tent camping sits nestled in the forest along Short Sand Creek, offering 30 primitive sites with picnic tables and fire rings. There are no RV hookups — this is a pack-it-in, lantern-lit kind of place, and that’s exactly the appeal. Sites fill fast in summer, so plan ahead.

Beyond the beach, the Oregon Coast Trail threads through the park with routes ranging from easy creek-side strolls to the strenuous Neahkahnie Mountain summit climb. Keep an eye out for elk, bald eagles, and migrating gray whales from the headlands.

Visit between June and September for the driest weather, though moody winter storms bring their own wild beauty — and the best surf.

Explore Nearby

• Tillamook Rock Light — Lighthouse in Oregon
• Cape Meares Light — Lighthouse in Oregon
• Nestucca River Recreation Area — Public Land in Oregon
• Grays River Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Washington
• Salmon Wild and Scenic River — Public Land in Oregon