Rockaway Beach State Recreation Site

Rockaway Beach State Recreation Site provides beach access along one of Oregon's most popular north coast resort towns. The site offers easy access to a wide sandy beach popular for walking, kite flying, and beachcombing. Located in the heart of Rockaway Beach, this recreation site serves both locals and the many visitors who flock to this charming coastal community.

The beach hosts shorebirds including sanderlings and plovers that forage along the tide line. Harbor seals may be spotted in the nearshore waters. Gray whales pass offshore during seasonal migrations. Brown pelicans and cormorants fish the coastal waters. The beach provides habitat for sand-dwelling invertebrates.

Beach grass stabilizes the foredune, with native plants like beach morning glory and sand verbena growing in the sandy substrate. The area behind the beach transitions to Sitka spruce and shore pine forest. Salt-tolerant vegetation occupies the transition zone between beach and upland areas.

The beach is composed of fine sand delivered by longshore currents from eroding coastal bluffs. Twin Rocks, visible offshore, are resistant basalt sea stacks that have survived while surrounding softer rocks eroded. The wide sandy beach extends for miles along the Rockaway Beach shoreline.

Rockaway Beach experiences the mild, wet climate of the north Oregon coast. Summers are cool with temperatures in the 60s°F and frequent fog. Winters are mild with temperatures in the mid-40s. Annual precipitation exceeds 80 inches. Coastal winds are common, making kite flying popular.

The Tillamook people utilized this coast for thousands of years. Rockaway Beach developed as a resort community in the early 1900s when railroad access brought visitors from Portland. The town has been rebuilt after major fires and continues as a popular beach destination.

The recreation site was established to ensure public beach access in this resort community. Oregon State Parks manages the site to serve visitors and residents. The beach access point is one of several along the Rockaway Beach shoreline.

The wide sandy beach is the main attraction, offering excellent walking, running, and beachcombing. Kite flying is popular due to reliable coastal winds. Twin Rocks offshore provide a scenic backdrop. The beach connects to miles of walkable shoreline in both directions.

The site provides parking and beach access. Day-use only with no camping. Located in the town of Rockaway Beach, accessible from Highway 101. The town offers numerous restaurants, shops, and accommodations. Open year-round.

Oregon State Parks protects beach access while the community manages adjacent development. Visitors are encouraged to practice Leave No Trace principles. The beach participates in coastal cleanup programs. The site helps maintain public access along the developed shoreline.