Wreck of the Peter Iredale

The wreckage of the ship is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area. It’s a unique sight, and we were pleased to find the beach in such clean condition. On the day we went, it was quite windy, so we didn’t spend much time lingering, just taking in the wreckage. There’s ample parking available, and accessing the beach involves a relatively easy walk, but be mindful that it can be a steep trek down a sand dune, which might be challenging for those with mobility issues. There’s also no fee to park or access the beach.

Watched the sunset this evening at Peter Iredale Shipwreck. Wow. Truly incredible. The wreck is alongside this sunset was breathtaking to see. There are some interesting Youtube videos discussing the history of the wreck which I'd recommend watching before you visit. Lovely beach, great history and prefect evening stroll if you catch a good sunset. I would highly recommend!

This beach is beautiful. The shipwreck of the Peter Iredale is really cool. Sad thing about it, is that vehicles are allowed on the beach. I saw a dune buggy driving erratic and making a mess on the beach by their driving. Another pickup truck was , imo, was trying to run the birds (sandpipers?) over. All of that took away the peacefulness.

Fun place to visit- easy parking, and the walk to the shipwreck isn't terribly far at all. Its a beautiful little stretch of beach filled with so much history and information. We love stopping and visiting whenever we can!

Really awesome site to check out and play in the sand. There are sand dollars everywhere on the beach. Look for low tide and go out. Before sunset was really cool!

Went on a Wednesday, lots of parking. It was so neat to get to stand on top of a very old shipwreck. If you bring your pets make sure to clean up after them.

This was definitely worth the 2 1/2 hour drive from Salem. The drive is beautiful and the beach is perfect. The shipwreck is located at Fort Steven’s State park. The wreckage is a short walk from the parking lot. The beach has small dunes for the kids or big kids to roll down. This kept my son busy for hours. You can even drive on the beach and bonfires are allowed. The wreckage makes for great pictures, especially at sunset. Look up when low tide is and you can walk right up to it. It’s also a great beach to find sand dollars.

An iconic monument to the coast known as "the graveyard of the Pacific." Definitely worth seeing. Also, a beautiful beach.

After lunch we took a drive to see the shipwreck. It was a BEAUTIFUL sunny afternoon and was high tide. Been here years ago and it was as just as stunning as it was then. Will return at low tide.

What a tragedy. Another ship added to the pacific graveyard. Over 2,000 ships and over 700 lives lost in this area. The Peter Iredale met strong winds and tides the day she saw Oregon and became a permanent resident. Now she's a haunting reminder of the power of the ocean. She's easy to get to. You can drive on this part of the beach. Or park and walk. Most days the sand and surf cover most of what's left leaving only the bow to be seen. Today, the previous storm uncovered a good section and we went at low tide. I'm reminded of the people who sailed on this vessel as I walk what was the deck. I can touch parts that have seen other places and feel the history behind it. Men built this machine with thoughts of the future she would bring but now she sleeps forever in history on the shore of Oregon

Super cool to check out if you're in the area! Lower tides are better to see the ship wreck. There's an informational board to learn about it as well. Free parking and dog friendly!

Was visiting the area after a few years so I stopped by to see the shipwreck again and WOW it's changed so much! A large amount of sand has washed away and the entire wreck is now exposed (July 2023)! When I visited back in 2021, only the top of the front hull was exposed - the sand was so high I could just walk right through it. On this visit the front hull towered waaay over me - I'd have to climb it! The ruins are surprisingly intact and you can still make out the shape of the vessel. It's best to visit at low tide to see as much as possible and walk around the ruins. The maritime museum in Astoria has a really lovely exhibit dedicated to this shipwreck with artifacts, lots of info, and a book full of pictures of the shipwreck throughout the years going all the way back to the early 1900s!! What a find! You'll find the shipwreck in Fort Stevens State Park on a really nice beach and it should come up in google maps easily. There's a medium size parking lot at the beach but it fills up fast in busy tourist times. Free to enter and park and the parking lot has bathrooms.

Arguably the most recognizable feature of the Fort Stevens State Park, the wreck of the Peter Iredale is a rusty, barnacle-covered, half-submerged and slowly-deteriorating landmark that serves as the cherry on top of an already incredible beach. Great for photos; not recommended for climbing on - there are sharp, jagged and rusty edges, insecure footholds, and almost always enough wind to send you flying off its skeletal remains, if you're not careful. During low tide, look for tidepools forming around the bases of its bony, protruding remains.

Super awesome landmark. I came here in February and the drive from Beaverton to Hammond can be dangerous due to the ice on the road there, so be sure to load some sandbags in your trunk if you do not have snow chains, or use snow chains to be extra careful if you're driving here to winter. The drive itself was mesmerizing and the shipwreck was amazing! There are also sand dollars on the beach which was a great additional touch to an already great beach. It is also a great read as well if you want to read about the history.

A Beautiful piece of history. Disheartening to slowly watch it disappear. If you're just here visiting, the Peter Iredale is a real site to see. This is one of my daughter's favorites spots

This was the most incredible thing I have ever seen. Poor Peter. Amazing beach. Great place to have a fire.

Another must see. This ship wreck will not be here much longer as it is withering away. The Wreck of the Peter Iredale is what brought us here but it was the beautiful landscape that kept us here. Strongly recommend. Parking was very close to the ship wreck.

My happy place. The shipwreck is dynamic, living in the ins and outs of ocean waters, the sands and the sands of time. Decades of presumed disintegration, and the rest of the ship's skeleton appears from beneath the sand!

The wreck of the Peter Iredale a 4 mast British steel ship ran aground near Ft. Stevens. In 1906, the ship left Mexico, bound for Portland but never made it.. The lifesaving station sent a team of men to rescue the ship. It was ruled that the sudden wind shift and the strong current were responsible for the stranding the ship. The wrecked bark became an immediate tourist attraction. Although the ship has been broken up by waves,wind, & sand over the years, the wreck of the Peter Iredale is a popular tourist attraction.

We were visting Portland and made a day trip up towards Astoria - decided to stop by Peter Iredale Ship Wreck to check out the sights and the Oregon coast. - PARKING - Small lot that sits right behind the beach shore! When we went, there wasn't any fee and plenty of space. - ENVIRONMENT - VERY windy! We went mid-October but the breeze was very cold and the strong winds made it even colder. Be sure to bring a warm jacket! - EXPERIENCE - The ship wreck is definitely... wrecked. There's not much left to see, but you can make out what is remaining. The beach itself has very fine sand, and is nice to walk around in. - OVERALL - A nice photo op for the family, very different weather conditions to experience, and a fun beach visit.

Who knew a 100+ year old hunk of rusty steel could be so captivating? We were able to go twice: once when it was storming, which was so appropriate given that the wreck occurred due to a crazy storm. There were only a few people out, which meant I got some great photos and time lapses with no one in them! The second time, we went during a break in the rain at sunset. Evidently, this is a popular spot for sunsets! A lot of families out with kids running around, photographers trying to catch the structure at the perfect angle and light, and then some just hanging out and enjoying the view. Much better photo ops at this time, but hard to catch without some random person in them. Such different experiences, but I liked them both!

it seems to be shrinking... well i guess it should, as its been 34 years since we visited last..... It is a great example of how treacherous the Oregon coast can be. It is a great place to enter the beach area and drive up the beach!

The shipwreck is inside the Fort Steven's Park. It's an interesting site you don't see all the time - on a quiet beach with nearly black fine sand, sits a shipwreck that is over 100 years old. Google the history to find out how it landed here, and google when low tide is. We were there 35 minutes before the lowest tide time, and it was ideal. It was a fun stop for both kids and adults. The beach at low tide also has neat pockets of sand and water that makes for nice photos. This stop will be a highlight of our trip!

An absolutely stunning sight, went with my SO on my birthday to spend time on the beach and take in the beauty of the shipwreck and the ocean. Made for excellent pictures at sunset, definitely a sight to see.

This is a cool stop to make if you are on the road or in the area. We stopped here on the way back home to check it out. The parking was easy and the actual shipwreck wasn't too far from the parking lot. The beach area itself was clean and well maintained. I believe when we came it was high tide so we couldn't get very close to take pictures. But overall it was a nice sight to check out.

The shipwreck is cool. The tide was in a bit high so couldn't get super close to have a better look but it was still nice to see it.

Easy to find, free, not busy beach. A beautiful piece of history. Was happy with the historic area which is affordable daily fee of $5 Enjoyed our experience

So cool! Going at low tide is best but you can see it whenever. Sit up on the hillside during sunrise or sunset. Absolutely stunning!!!!

Nice place to recreate with the family. Had a wonderful time. Was not too busy. Had more fun here than Disney land. Seriously !

Went out of the way to come and see the ship wreck. When I got there, I was deeply disappointed to see a small piece of scrap metal. Not impressive at all, but maybe it was bigger (?). I think this is an interesting place if you are just passing by, but this is definitely not worth a trip out of the way.

Neat little pit stop during my road trip down the Oregon coast. It is located in the Fort Stevens State Park and there is a parking lot that is right next to the beach. Once you park and walk towards the ocean, you will see it right away. I think I came during low tide so I was able to see most of the ship but if you were to catch high tide, you might see less of the sunken shipwreck. There were people climbing on it and whatnot and the view of the coast itself is beautiful. Great spot to stretch your legs if you're driving along the Oregon coast!

This is such a cool structure on the beach with an awesome story behind it as well...fun AND educational! And the pictures alone are definitely worth a stop to see the remnants of the Peter Iredale! Climbing on the structure is fun, and examining the marine life on and around the wreck is also great, you never know what awesome encrusting creatures you will find! The beach its sitting on/embedded in is also great, makes for a fun afternoon walk. My goal next time is to get those great sunset pictures with the wreck in the foreground, another excuse to see this great landmark! Its located within the Fort Stevens State Park, go there and check it out!!

This is a gorgeous beach and the shipwreck is quite a sight to behold. We thought we'd just swing by the beach for a look and we very glad we did. If you are in the neighborhood ... go!

Beautiful beach, and a historic place to visit. However, service on the ship's lido deck was dreadful, shrimp at the midnight buffet were past its peak, the forward bar ran out of vodka, handrails were a bit rusty, and the whole cruise just ended badly. We would do it all again, nevertheless.

Shitty beach with rusty scrap metal as a main attraction? It sucks. Not worth the time or drive. But our strong selfie game made up for it.

1906 Ship Wreck is an amazing piece of history along the Oregon Coast. If you're driving along the Coast this is a must stop and snap a photo of. Then swing over to Fort Stevens.

Incredible sight. A must see on the oregon coast. The steel bones of the ship stick out of the sand. It is a very unique sight. Located just inside fort stevens state park. Well worth the stop. I would love to bring my nice camera next time, i could spend the whole day photographing the wreck.

Pretty cool shipwreck, deeply buried in sand right on the beach. Easy to access, didn't have to walk far at all from the parking area to snap a few pictures. If you find a bunch of X's all over the beach, that was my 7 year old. It was NOT a pirate ship, there is NO treasure . After spending a week or two going up and down the coast, a lot of beaches start looking the same, but this one is unique! Love that you don't have to go snorkeling or scuba diving to see a shipwreck.

As stated by previous reviewers, this is a really neat site to see when in the area. It's not often you get to see a shipwreck, let alone a ship that is over 120 years old!! The beach in this particular spot is great - very wide for flying kites or playing catch with a dog. I will definitely come back here in the future.

The kids loved the shipwreck! We were there when the tide was coming back in, so they couldn't get too close, but it was pretty cool.

We enjoyed our visit to Fort Stevens and took the opportunity to visit the skeletal remains of the Peter Iredale. With the understanding that this ship ran ashore 112 years ago, I marvel that anything is left of the ferrous metal because the sea will gradually and inexorably reclaim everything of this nature. The Iredale was a fine-looking ship in its day. It now reminds us that the waters off the Oregon coast are treacherous. Any Coast Guardsman or professional fisherman will tell you that. The Iredale came to rest on a beach that allowed us a long walk and gave our dogs a chance to run. They rarely get that exercise, so they slept well. The weather during our Fri-Sat-Sun-Monday morning visit was overcast with intermittent showers, so photo opportunities were more limited than I'd hoped, but it's an incentive to return. The Iredale is not a vessel you can explore at this point but it fuels the imagination and compares sadly to photos of the vessel in its prime. A wooden hull would be gone in a few years, but this remnant of the Iredale remains, eventually to be claimed by the sea. If you want to see a more intact wreck, you'd have to be a scuba diver. Vehicles are permitted on the beach but it's better appreciated to walk, enjoy the salt air and exercise.

Not the best wreck I've seen but it's a wreck. Go for the beach and ocean breeze. Enjoy the cool and calming effects from the waves as you ease into a deep meditation. Relax,relax................relax.

If you love the ocean and shipwrecks then this site is a must-see! It was so cool to be so close to a real shipwreck and actually touch it. There is history about the wreck on a board nearby. We didn't get to explore the beach much because it was super cold, rainy, and windy, but it was totally worth the visit.

Very nice . quick stop on the beach Interesting back story on the cause of the wreck. A piece of the boat is mentioned in the army truck tour originating at the museum/gift shop on the historic side of Fort Stevens.

After spending the night in Gearhart, my husband I decided to drive further west to check out Astoria and then Fort Stevens State Park. I'd read about the Peter Iredale shipwreck on a blog about things to see on the Oregon coast. It would have been neat to have seen the ship when there was more than just the remnants of the bow, but it was still a cool sight nonetheless! One day it will have completely washed away. We went in a very windy, rainy day and there were a few other people on the beach as well as a couple of intrepid wind surfers. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth checking out a bit of tangible history!

We stopped by here in the early morning and it was quiet and beautiful. Not much is left of the ship but it is still a really cool place to stop. The shipwreck is right at the parking lot so there isn't much of a walk.

One of my favorite places in clatsop county! Always a good view of the wreck unless its high tide. I've seen whales and all kinds of wild life and there's some interesting finds on the beach. A definite must see up here

5 stars. A definite must for anyone driving the Oregon coast. There is not a whole lot remaining of the ship wreck but it worth checking out - the wreck is accessible when the tide is low. The beach is quaint and tranquil. The review is in context to a quick stopover on a coastal drive vs. a camping trip.

Popular beach. Easy access, ample parking and lots to choose from; kite flying, beach combing

Super cool site to see! Hard to get a clean pic because there are so many people, but it's not often you get to see something that rare! Great place for the kids!

This was a very interesting thing to see. It looks exactly like the picture and it's right there in the beach. It's just a part of the landscape and that's how people treat it. It's definitely worth checking out. I just wish the water was warmer so I could've also gone for a swim.