Cape Meares Coast, by Stuart May

From north to south, the drive runs through Cape Meares, Oceanside, Netarts, Cape Lookout, Cape Kiwanda and Pacific City. From the north, you can access the scenic route through Tillamook. From the center of town, take Third Street (Netarts Highway) west to Bayocean Drive. Bayocean travels around the point to Cape Meares Loop/Bayshore Drive. From the south, access is through Pacific City via Cape Kiwanda Drive and Sandlake Road.

Cape Meares State Park

Cape Meares, named for British sea adventurer John Meares, sits 200 feet above the ocean and provides more than three miles of hiking trails and a mile-long walking trail that winds through old-growth spruce trees. One giant Sitka spruce, known as the Octopus Tree for its massive branches that radiate out from its base, has been featured in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.

Meares arrived here in 1788, and a lighthouse, built in the 1890s, still stands today. During the winter and spring, visitors can expect excellent views of migrating whales. There is no fee to use the park or to tour the lighthouse.

Note: At press time, vandalism had caused Cape Meares State Park to be closed until further notice. For more information, call 1-800-551-6949.

Oceanside

Overlooking the beach and the Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, the small community of Oceanside boasts many opportunities for outdoor adventure. Hundreds of sea lions and seals inhabit the wildlife refuge, and during the summer months as many as 200,000 birds perch on the rocks.

Netarts

Grasslands and ocean meet to create a beautiful estuary in Netarts Bay. Bald eagles can be sighted above and brown pelicans dive from the air to feed on fish near the bay’s surface. If you are lucky, you may even spot some gray whale as you look down from Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, or more than likely, you will see the seals sunning themselves on the spit. The bay and estuary play a critical role in the food chain of fish, birds and marine mammals which provides an important connection between man and nature. Catch some of the largest local Dungeness crab or take a kayak out on Netarts Bay.

Cape Lookout State Park

Cape Lookout State Park is a popular overnight and day-use area with more than eight miles of hiking and walking trails. Its campground, located on a sand pit between Netarts Bay and the ocean, pleases guests with a wonderful view and easy beach access. Always a fun pastime, beachcombing here provides visitors with an opportunity to discover glass floats, more likely on the first high tide following a storm.

Clay Myers State Natural Area

The Clay Myers State Natural Area at Whalen Island is a virtually pristine
coastal estuarine ecosystem, adjacent to the Sand Creek estuary. The area is a ecological smorgasbord, with woodlands, grasslands, fresh and saltwater wetlands and rare native dune sedge land. Species in the area range from salmon and steelhead to shorebirds, deer, otter, and even bear and cougar.

Named after Clay Myers (Oregon Secretary of State 1967-77 and State Treasurer 1977-84), the site joined Oregon’s park system in 2000.

Cape Kiwanda State Park

Cape Kiwanda, a sandstone headland that stretches half a mile out to the sea, may be the smallest of the Three Capes, but it’s certainly the best when it comes to storm watching and spectacular wave action. Kiwanda provides wonderful kite flying and hang-gliding opportunities.