Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site
Oceanside, OR
Oceanside's beach sits below a steep hillside town, with three dramatic sea stacks just offshore that make up the Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, a protected haul out and nesting site for seals, sea lions, and seabirds. A tunnel through the headland at the north end of the beach, carved decades ago, connects to a quieter second cove.
The sea stacks and wildlife refuge make this one of the more scenic small town beaches on the coast, and the tunnel to the second cove is a genuine bonus most visitors miss.
How we score beachesWalk through the short tunnel at low tide to reach the smaller beach on the other side. It floods at high water, so check the tide before heading through.
Free lot in the small town center, a short walk from the beach.
A paved path and short stairway connect the lot to the sand.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach.
Summer, June through September, is the clearest window for wildlife viewing at Three Arch Rocks; the refuge itself is closed to landing and boating year round.
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