Whalen Island
Cloverdale, OR
Whalen Island sits inside the Sand Lake estuary, connected to the mainland by a short causeway, with a small campground and picnic area surrounded on three sides by tidal water. It's a paddling and shorebird watching spot more than a surf beach, popular with locals who want calmer water than the open coast nearby.
A solid, calm water alternative to the open ocean beaches nearby, though it's really built around paddling rather than a classic beach day.
How we score beachesBring a kayak or paddleboard if you have one. The estuary is calm enough for beginners and it's the main reason people come here over the ocean beach at Sand Lake proper.
Free parking at the small campground and day use area.
Flat, developed paths through the campground and picnic area; direct water access varies with the tide.
Summer, June through September, brings the calmest water for paddling; the estuary attracts more birds during spring and fall migration.
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