Oswald West State Park

Let me start by stating the obvious—this place is achingly beautiful! The entire Oregon Coast is, but there is something really special about this little peninsula. The forest is largely old-growth with massive trees and lush ground cover. The beach is pristine with some tide pools. The beach was also essentially trash free which as a Texan was shocking to me! It’s also cool that it’s completely free—in Texas every State Park charges a day use fee. Just be aware that there really aren’t any facilities to use here. Unlike those State Parks in Texas, there are just basic trails here and a single working bathroom—no drinking water anywhere either.

Short easy trails to beautiful cliff and beach views !

This place has some of the most rugged and stunning viewpoints on the Oregon Coast, but it has gotten *popular*. Over the past six years, the increase in foot traffic is obvious, and you can see it in the trail conditions. The steeper sections have become more packed down (which means less traction, more feet slipping) and wider, making them a little trickier to navigate. If you’re planning an elopement here with a small group (we're talking no more than half a dozen, to be comfortable with crowding at such exposed viewpoints), make. sure. your. guests. are. mobile. The walk from the viewpoints back to the car is only about 10-15 minutes, but if someone has bad knees or a hip replacement, it could easily take closer to 45 minutes. That said, it’s still an incredible place for an intimate elopement, especially at sunrise or sunset. The views are worth the effort. Just be mindful of the changing trail conditions and follow Leave No Trace.

Family loved it. Had a great time. Even pushed our daughters wheelchair all the way down to short sands to look at the beach. So thankful for a great trail.

This is a beautiful state park . The trails we walked were well marked. The old growth forest was beautiful , full of huge ferns and evergreens. Short Sand Beach was also a treat. Lots of good waves so it was fun to watch the surfers and also a great place to walk our dog. We will bring chairs next time so we can spend the day .

As a local micro wedding + elopement photographer– this is hands down one of my favorite locations. Always beautiful and offers a variety of landscapes in a relatively small state park!

Easy hike down to the beach for some early morning views and exercise before heading to Bandon.

The hike is a bit steep and one needs to watch for roots along the way to avoid tripping, but it is not as rugged as the sign says. The views along the way are absolutely astonishing.

Such a great trail with beautiful beaches at the end of the hike. Pro Tips: Parking was easy to access Restrooms were clean and well maintained Hike difficultly was easy (good for all ages) The parking lot can be hot while the trail is cold as you get near the water. For the summer I dressed summer on the bottom, Winter on the top. The trail/beach is pet friendly Parking is free Great hiking option while visiting Manzanita, OR

If you are looking for "Devils Cauldron"...You'll probably miss pulling off of 101 and pass this spot, I missed it and had to flip a B and go back. It's a little pull off spot off the side of the highway. Good luck! Short hike down to see the overlook for Devils Cauldron, hike down the gravel trail, stay straight and you will eventually see the sign directing you. I don't even think it's a mile walk. When you get there, it's a beautiful amazing view. Luckily, we were the only ones there when we came by, we got plenty of time to take some photos, sit on the bench, look around, send our condolences to the little memorial site, tried to look over as much as we could. There is a small barrier so you don't fall off so it's probably best not to jump that. Hope you aren't afraid of heights, but it's beautiful!

Beautiful beaches but SO windy and sandy, I kept getting sand in my eyes and mouth even with them closed. Much colder than NE Portland so definitely bring or dress in extra layers. There's a town there with coffee shops, brewery, restaurants, gallery, and cute shops. Pretty darn busy at all times. Free public parking and street parkings but gets packed pretty quickly. Water is usually freezing there but gorgeous view. A few different picnic areas and trails around too. Pet friendly beaches and restroom by the public parkings. Decently clean restrooms and easy to find with large signs. Cool place to check out!

How to get to DEVIL'S CAULDRON. We had to zig zig back and forth several times because there was no sign. Go exactly 1 mile past the Short Sands Beach parking lot and you will see a small parking lot on the right side. The sign will say Elks Flats Trail. Take the trail and you will come to another sign instructing you to go straight. The easy hike to the cauldron from the parking lot is only .5 miles and well worth it. Enjoy this hidden gem!

I am not a nature dude, but Oswald West State Park is accessible for even us urban infused people. It is gorgeous, well planned and groomed for people of all walks of life. All parks should be this cool and egalitarian, bringing nature to everyone. I was able to go everywhere and anywhere, even with a torn meniscus! The trails are magical and the beaches transcendent. Summer would be a zoo, but late October is just perfect, the most overused word of the 21st Century. Yet, in this case, the experience was actually perfect.

Cape Falcon Trail was a relatively small incline trail however similar to other reviews incredibly MUDDY. Wear good waterproof hiking boots and avoid in rain and high winds. Beautiful area.

Beautiful but crowded so make sure you get there early! Surf break at Short Sands Beach aka "Shorties" is good (best at high tide). Be respectful of the locals and you shouldn't have a problem! Little bit of a hike down there, about 10-15 mins, but parking is free!

Drove by Oswald West State Park. The park was below me but I did't head down. There are lots of view points to stop and admire the beautiful view. It was very cold and foggy the day that I was in Oregon Coast. I loved the view. I mean to be honest where ever you go in Oregon its beautiful. BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL. What more can I say. I find the rock in Oregon Coast very interesting.

¡Híjole! It's all about the views. Being from LA, we hardly get this kind of vista at home. Needless to say, we relished in it and were in awe. The park stretches along four miles of coastline in dense, temperate rainforest. OWSP has secluded sandy beach and miles of trails leading to breathtaking views of the Pacific. It also contains Neahkahnie Mountain, Short Sand Beach, Short Sand Creek, Necarney Creek, Cape Falcon, Smugglers Cove and the Oregon Coast Trail. Urban legend claims pirate treasure is buried near Smugglers Cove but has never been found. We didn't find it :( Nonetheless, you can catch the grey whales migrating and take fantastic shots. Kind of mind blowing. Be sure to stop while on the 101.

Did the Cape Falcon Trail. Arrived 8 am on a Thursday and was only one out there. Quiet. Serene. Mostly wet rainforest trail with a few peekaboo views towards the end. Once out on the point - great views down the coast. Round-trip in a little more than 2 hrs. Several parties passed by on my way back. Beach was fairly crowded by 11 am.

We spent a few hours on the Cape Falcon Trail, which runs through the park. The hike isn't difficult, but wear hiking shoes and plan to get dirty as there are quite a number of spots on the trail that are muddy - like, really muddy. Still, it's worth the extra laundry for the magical views at the end of the route - overlooking smugglers cove, with waterfalls at your side. Most of the trail is quiet and rainforest. We got there early(ish), which I recommend, as it does get busier through the day and the small lots quickly run out of space. Well worth the time spent - a very nice hike and outdoor spot, and fantastic views at the end.

There are a few magical days every winter when the wind is gusting west from the gorge and the Oregon coast is significantly warmer than Portland. The day after Christmas, we decided to avoid the malls and head to one of our favorite beaches at Oswald West State Park. There are other beautiful beaches nearby, but Oswald West seems to be a bit more sheltered. After a leisurely stroll through the former campground, which closed in 2009, you can access Short Sands Beach or take the scenic Cape Falcon hike. The hike is around 2.5 miles and filled with old growth trees and salal bushes. The trail ends with a spectacular lookout above the cape. Most of the hike is under a canopy of trees and you just get peeks of the shoreline and beach along the way. The trail is relatively level, but covered with roots and fallen trees. Short Sands Beach is a beautiful spot and if you walk to the north end of the beach, you'll see a waterfall. The beach is in a relatively small cove, so it is an entirely different feel from Cannon, Tolovana or Manzanita beaches which tend to draw the masses and the wind. Since you hike in, most visitors are there to beach comb and don't bring huge coolers or other beach gear. Fingers crossed for more sunny days this winter.

I love Oswald West State Park. And there even is a secret cove which requires crossing private property and a fierce climb to reach. I was fortunate to camp when the camp ground, small tent sites in the hollows of tall trees, was open. It was the Fall and we were awakened by animal noises in the middle of the night. I was worried it was a big fierce dangerous animal in my dream-addled sleep. But in the morning I found it was just hungry squirrels who chewed a hole in my pack to get some nuts for Winter. Camping is no longer allowed because a large tree fell in the campground. There is a large parking lot. Drift logs collect in the narrow beach and it's a good place to surf or watch surfers. There is another trail down to the South of the beach which is not busy. Just be aware the logs can shift if you are climbing over them.

Five Stars as in As Good as It Gets: I am paying the ultimate compliment to Oswald West State Park by shouting out loud that it is the most beautiful coastline that I have seen in person. The way that I saw this breathtaking Oregon coastline scenery was from an exclusive tour of the northwest Oregon coastline from Seaside to Tillamook on 6.3 miles of US 101/ Oregon Coast Highway south of Arch Cape and north of Manzanita. Oswald West State Park is a 2,498 ocean side celestial nature wonderland where mountains from the interior touch the Pacific Ocean. This is the first time that I was in a landscape where a windy, hilly, and forested road cut through mountains and bluffs overlooking the ocean. Travelling southbound on US 101, as soon as we passed under the tunnel we left the picturesque seaside towns and entered 6.3 miles of roadway bringing us into a dense rain forest as US 101 briefly left the shore line into the interior of Oregon. If I got out of the vehicle and explored the trails from one of the four parking lots, I'd be hiking in forests of western hemlock, Douglas fir, and Western red cedar. If I hiked far enough, I would be walking along an undisturbed Necarney Creek. If I had climbed high enough I could of reached the summit of Neahkahnie Mountain.If I was adventurous and walked the other way, I might of ended up on short sand beach with its forested Smugglers Cove. If only I could live in western Oregon all this would be more than keyboard dreaming . However, I live in the moment when I am in nature. When US 101 returned to the Pacific Coast, I had the privilege of spending some time living in the moment looking at the majestic Pacific Ocean from the high up Neahkahnie viewpoint that faces south towards Manzanita and Rockaway Beach. This is a post card view of the tree covered mountains merging with the Pacific Ocean in a dense rain forest landscape. Oswald West State Park is one of the many state parks and beaches that embrace the Oregon shoreline. In addition to the celestial Pacific Ocean coastline, what is beautiful about the Oregon Coast is that the public owns the majority of the beaches. This leads into the point that there is no Oswald East State Park. Oswald West was a late Governor of Oregon that fought the good fight to keep Oregons beaches preserved for the public. The result is that Oswald West State Park is not an island of nature in the middle of McMansions along the coast. It is part of the tapestry of the Oregon State beaches along US 101. When I die and if I don't get to Heaven, I hope that I get to Oswald West State Park. This is my way of saying that this is the most beautiful ocean side landscape that I have seen in person.

Hidden gem of the coastline. Don't tell anyone about the epic cliff-top views. There's a rad little trail in the trees and ferns that feels like you're in a tree fort above the ocean.

There is no nicer beach on the planet. I could stop there and let the secret be held by only a few. But this is truly a pleasure to behold. A diamond in the vast offerings of beaches. From Hawaii to Florida, you should take the time to come behold this magical place for yourself. The trail down to the beach is a fern jungle with river crossings and wooden bridges. Each mature tree has moss growing on their shaded sides with their branches draped in lichen. Jurassic park has nothing on this walk back in time. The trail ends with a beach surrounded by shear cliffs that form a bay over a mile wide. The river pours into the south side of the bay and both sea and fresh water life collide. I'll just close with this. "You don't know what you don't know." This place is just that, one to experience.

Gorgeous beach reached by easy 1/2 mile hike. Have been coming here for years. Divine. Parking can be scarce on holidays and summer weekends.

Hiking Cape Falcon was amazing. A little muddy, so be weary! Just park at Oswald, easy to find the trailhead.

We escaped a sweltering heat wave (95º) sucking the life out us in Portland. We headed to a sunny but cooler Cape Falcon on the Oregon Coast 10 miles south of Cannon Beach. In the park there is a network of trails through old growth forest out to a long stretch of sandy beach. From the beach climb the trail (ascending up 500 feet) and winding along the cliffs through a variety of thick lush green ferns, The trail is spotted with lots of white, yellow and purple dainty wildflowers. You walk under the shades of Hemlock and Spruce--68º--way more comfortable than sizzling Portland. Oh, phenomenal ocean views! Hiking is easy out and back in the shade of trees for about 5 miles. Bring a snack and beach blanket and hang out awhile at the beach. It's another grandiose day on the Oregon coast!

Park your car in the lot, load your things in a wheelbarrow, and make your way down to the best camping ever. Every campsite is vastly different from the next in shape and size, and the ocean is less than five minutes away on a little scenic trail. In addition to the crashing waves, there is a bubbling brook running along one side of the campground. Can you tell I love nature sounds? Don't forget a flashlight or headlamp...no lights anywhere, even in the bathroom. Can be quite popular on weekends and does not take reservations. If you're not wanting to stay the night, great hiking in the area and Short Sands is supposed to have excellent waves for surfing (my dog and I like it just for the smooth sand and ocean views).

Takes your breath away beauty. While the entire Oregon Coast is stunning, particularly the stretch between Cannon Beach and Manzanita, Oswald West State Park is an easily accessible place that will take you back to your natural self for very little effort. Park and walk down 1/2 mile through old growth forest, a twisty, rope suspension bridge leads down a creek side of spear ferns, douglas fir and sausal which opens to a secret cove with towering cliff sides, a beachfront waterfall, tidepools with sea anemones and a walkable sandy beach. Rugged, ancient and beautiful.

Absolute favorite part of the Oregon Coast!! Everything about it, the views, a charm that has so much value, an awesome beach and walk to it, can't wait to return someday soon!!

Cape Falcon trail is an easy hike that can be done in under 3 hours roundtrip. Some spots were muddy so wear good hiking shoes. This is the place to bring those weird ski poles that I will refrain from using until I'm at least 50 years of tender age. When you come to a fork in the trail, stay right, go through bushes that tower over even an 8ft giant. You'll come to a clearing where you can see the bluff below. This was the exact spot my best friend proposed to me while we were munching on baked pastries. Don't forget to wear sunscreen and long pants. And not sure if those glistening purple berries were huckleberries. Don't eat berries on this trail because the nearest hospital is probably more than an hour away. At least that's what I kept telling my crazy inner bear whenever I saw a nice patch of huckleberries just chilling in the breeze. Trust me, I'm a medical corp ninja.

If I could only show a visitor one spot on the coast, Oswald would be a good choice. It's a cove sheltered by two sharp cliffs. To the north is a waterfall with tidal pools of mussels and anemones at its base. You can see incredible colors striped through the rock along this cliff. There's even a spot with a muppet-style face in the rocks! To the south is a stream that trails out of the forest to join the ocean. (John Denver anyone? Where the River Meets the Sea, Muppets Christmas album, so good) There's an awesome wide log you can walk to cross the stream for the fun of it. There's plenty of drift logs, practically the size of whole trees, upon which to sit and share a moment with a loved one gazing at the peace of the bay. Or watching a surfer biff it on a big one. There's a walk from the parking lot to the beach, not strenuous, that meanders by a tree with a hallow base you can stand in, trees growing on top of a fallen tree, a burbling waterfall, and a tree too wide for two people to hold hands around. It's a wonderland. FYI, the campground is still closed in order to let the ecology recover.

Amazing place to view both old forest and an amazing cove with a beautiful beach. Highly recommend going here. Plan to spend some time if you love nature.

Don't miss this gem! There are few better spots in the coast. Water fall, creeks, beautiful scenic hikes. Tide pools, etc. Cape falcon offers relief from the nasty north wind that is so familiar in the summer. I have had a love hate relationship with surfing here over the decades. Right now I'm loving it, the sand bars are perfect. The way I see it you'd be hard pressed to locate a prettier setting. Heads up its busy, and not just on the weekends anymore. Remember to STAY SAFE! I can not begin to tell how many coast guard rescues I have seen here over the years. One of those rides is about $15,000 and yes they will charge you. Stay on the trail if your a hiker. "If in doubt don't paddle out!" Short Sands has some strong rips throughout the year. You will here people say it's a good beginner beach. From time to time that's true. Under 6ft. If you want to learn, know the code, and a lesson never hurts. Hang onto your board! You have 10ft of board, 13ft of leash, and I don't have dental.

Shorts sands. Best Oregon beach ever!! Great trail for crappy car riding kids. I always laugh to myself about the walk back tho, crappy car ride kids don't like it as much as the trip down but that's a better part of the experience here, they sleep the whole way home after this one, and the whole night thru. Make sure you bring hardy snacks to eat before the walk back. That ensures a complete and quiet night for the parents. Parking can be tough at peak times tho. 3 parking lots apparently is not enough at times. Love this beach.

Beautiful! Go to crescent brach. Park on 8 the street and walk up to the entrance sign for trail.

"Ocian in view - O Joy" - Lewis and Clark This is a little sliver of paradise. Wonderful at any season. Bring a picnic. Enjoy the cove, the cliffs, the mighty spruces, the waterfall, the tidepools...... Be optimistic that our earth will forgive us and heal. Note - the campground is closed, probably forever, due to a huge tree that fell on a calm night with no warning.

They have both difficult and easy hikes here. There are public bathrooms too. Lots of old growth forest and trees. It's so beautiful even in the rain. Had a great hike/time.

Great 5 mile hike round trip to the Northern rock off of Short Sands beach in Oswald State Park. Parking if easy on the weekdays-on the weekends, come early (especially during summer months). The trail head is easily identifiable going southbound on 101 it's a small parking lot to the right before the large parking lot on the left. If you've gone over the bridge over Necarney Creek then you've gone too far. The hike starts out easy enough-flat with a gradual incline. Then as you tread further the terrain gets a little bumpy with tree roots and muddy spots. There is one 'bridge' that's made from a large log that can be precarious for some. Dogs are welcome on this hike and the view at the top of the hike is definitely worth the work! Reason it got 4 stars instead of 5: toward the end of the hike the trail was very overgrown (wear long pants and long sleeve shirts) AND beware of hornets nests (my husband got stung by a group of angry hornets). Overall a great hike-intermediate level and great for dogs.

Ecola State Park is the better known park on the northern part of the coast. However, a friend recommended that I go to the Manzanita area instead because there is better geography to see. I took his advice and am glad I did. Coming from the north, the parking lots are on the side of the highway. A smaller lot is on the right while the primary lot is on the left. The Cape Falcon trail starts near the smaller parking lot. As an added bonus, there is no fee to park. It is approximately an hour hike to and from the cape. The hike is not strenuous since the elevation changes are minimal. The trail is also pretty well maintained. I experienced some mud but you could run on it if you feel inclined since I saw someone do it without much trouble. The trees and foliage on the path are very beautiful. In my travels, Cape Falcon delivers the best view of the coast. The sight of Neahkahnie Mountain and cliffs next to the Pacific Ocean is spectacular. I also hiked up Neahkahnie Mountain. I drove down the highway in an attempt to find the trailhead. I missed the sign for the north trailhead. As a result, I parked at the south trailhead which appears on the left shortly after you exit the state park. The hike to the summit is definitely a good exercise with a decent level of elevation gain. However, the views are obstructed by the tall trees. On the mountain, the best views of the coast occur during the hike up since there is no clearing that provides a payoff at the top. Near the top, the path splits into three directions. The path on the left takes you to a phone tower that has a decent view but it is nothing special. The path straight ahead took me in a circle back to the same intersection. The path to the right is another way that takes you back to the bottom. It is a wide path and easy to hike down. Unfortunately, I could not find where the trails on the south side of the mountain connect to the trails on the north side. As such, I did not get an opportunity to explore those trails which may be better. The view of Neahkahnie Mountain from Cape Falcon is much better than actually being on the trails on the south side of the mountain. If you want to try the trails on the north side, make sure to look for signs for the "Oregon Coast Trail" on the drive down from Cape Falcon. It is not called Neahkahnie Mountain so I missed it on the drive down. There are also a number of lookout points on the drive so that you can enjoy awesome views of the coast. If you are visiting Portland or hiking in the nearby area and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found via my Yelp profile.

If you can find it, Oswald has a spot with the best view in the area. Camped here during Memorial Day weekend while _all_ of the other campsites were jam packed, we were undisturbed. Also located in the park is Short Sands Beach; best place for surfing in the area aside from occasionally Crescent Beach up north and rarely packed as you have to trek in ~ one Mile from the 1.

Absolutely stunning park! Pass the first sign and the tunnel and all the parking lots. Pull over on the right just before the park ends. Hike down to the cliffs. Incredible!

This was our last stop along the Oregon coast before we headed back to Portland and it was worth the extra 20 minute drive. Absolutely gorgeous!

Thought it would be a short, muddy trail, but it was fairly long, with beautiful views along some Rapids.

Got a 24 hrs "exclusion" for illegal camping on the beach at Short Sands and was told by the female ranger that next time it's a citation with a steep fine. Looks like Oregon rangers are cracking down, be aware.

Great great trail! We parked in the lot and took the trail through the stream over the highway and into the trail. It was sooo pretty with green ferns and berry greens along the patch. Small quaint nature path that goes high then forks into two trails, one to the beach one higher into the mountain. We took the beach trail and ended at Short Sands which was a lovely little beach with big logs to play on and take pictures. There was a huge bananna slug along the walk with twig camoflauge on its back.

Fave short and easy trail. A must see. So many interesting and jungly moments and opens up to the awesome and surfable beach. Check tidal pools for giant starfish and sea anemones

The first hike I ever took was from the 101 to Short Sand Beach. It's a nice and pretty short hike, although the beach is not as spectacular as some of the other beaches in the area (Indian, Arcadia and Neahkahnie especially). However, the hike to Cape Falcon is very worthwhile. The forest is gorgeous with interesting twists and turns. The views of Neahkahnie Mountain are spectacular. I'm honestly not sure if we got to Cape Falcon (there was no signage where we ended). If you're walking towards Cape Falcon, do what another hiker told us on the way up--when the train sort of splits as you're getting close to the cape, bear to the left and walk through thick berry bushes to the top of the hill. It's fun and the view at the end is a huge pay-off in all directions. Sit on the steep, rocky cliff and enjoy Neahkahnie Mountain and the spectacular rock formations all around.