Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach State Recreation Site is a coastal park on the northern Oregon coast in Tillamook County, providing access to a wide sandy beach near the community of Rockaway Beach. The site offers a quieter beach experience than the more crowded areas nearby, with miles of sandy shoreline backed by coastal dunes and forest. The beach is named for the Manhattan Beach resort community that developed here in the early 20th century.

The broad beach supports shorebird communities including sanderlings, western snowy plovers, and semipalmated plovers. Brown pelicans and Caspian terns patrol the surf zone. Harbor seals are visible offshore. Gray whales pass during migration. The adjacent dunes provide habitat for small mammals and songbirds. Razor clams are found in the wet sand during open seasons.

Beach grasses dominate the foredune, with shore pine and Sitka spruce behind the dunes. Salal, wax myrtle, and evergreen huckleberry form the coastal scrub. The dune system supports a succession of plant communities from pioneer species on the active beach to mature forest inland. Native and invasive beach grasses compete in the foredune environment.

The wide, flat beach is composed of fine sand derived primarily from the Columbia River and distributed by longshore currents. The area sits on the broad sand spit separating Tillamook Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Beneath the surface sand, layers of older deposits record thousands of years of coastal change.

Cool, wet maritime climate with foggy summers and stormy winters. Annual precipitation exceeds 85 inches. The broad, flat beach is exposed to wind, making it popular for kite flying. Summer temperatures average in the low 60s.

The Tillamook people inhabited this coastline for millennia. Manhattan Beach developed as a resort community in the early 20th century when the railroad made the north coast accessible to Portland residents. The community has maintained a quiet, residential character.

Manhattan Beach State Recreation Site was established to provide public beach access in this resort community, ensuring continued public enjoyment of the beach.

Miles of sandy beach offer walking, running, and beachcombing. Kite flying is popular due to consistent winds. Razor clamming is available during open seasons. The beach connects to the broader Rockaway Beach shoreline. Nearby Tillamook offers the famous Tillamook Creamery.

The site is along U.S. Route 101 near Rockaway Beach. Parking and beach access are provided. The surrounding community and nearby Rockaway Beach offer lodging and restaurants.

Western snowy plover nesting habitat may require seasonal protection. Invasive beachgrass management is ongoing. Coastal erosion and tsunami preparedness are important management considerations for this low-lying area.