Local Information
PACIFIC CITY, OREGON
Whether it is halibut that you are after, rockfish, albacore tuna, dungeness crab or salmon, this is the place to go for it. We have over fifty years of Doryman's history in this little beach town. In fact, we are the last remaining Dory fleet on the Oregon Coast. Depending on the season and the ocean conditions, you can go out on a Doryboat launched right from our beach at Cape Kiwanda.
The spring and fall bring anglers from all over to our rivers. We have the Little Nestucca River and the Nestucca River that come together at the Nestucca Bay which opens up to the Pacific Ocean. This is the perfect formula for Salmon runs. If fishing is not your thing, there are soft shelled clams in the Little Nestucca. The local hardware store sells the fishing licenses and all you need is a bucket and a shovel to take home these East Coast Steamer Clams. These rivers are great for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and bird watching as well. Check out the article on the Tillamook County Water Trail at www.portlandmonthlymag.com/articles/2015/7/13/10-best-beaches-rivers-and-pools
We have multiple festivals in our area in the warmer months. Birding & Blues (Pacific City) in May, Clover's Day (Cloverdale) in July, Dory Days (Pacific City) in July, September has both the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic (Pacific City) and the Surfslam Blowsion (Tierra del Mar) where jet skiers from across the globe come to compete doing big air flips and stunts. We have a world class surf spot known as Gas Chambers. Because of this we have half a dozen surf contests in the area throughout the year. Hiking trails include the Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge, Sitka Sedge State Area, Cape Lookout and the Pacific Pathways.
Less than ten miles north we have Sand Lake State Recreation Area. Quad enthusiasts camp there throughout the year. 4x4s of all kinds visit this attraction to be able to explore the sand dunes by the ocean in their motorized vehicles.
If culture is of more interest to you, the Neskowin Chamber Music Festival puts on a series in the winter with performances almost every month drawing classical musicians from around the world. Nature is abundant here and most people spend their time exploring new hikes, discovering wildflowers and even foraging for nature's bounty. Summer season brings our Farmer's Market every Sunday with live music. Jacobson Salt Quarry is just down the road, if you call me I can help you find the location and see if they will arrange a tour of the process.
Check out this link for a facinating video documenting the many attractions of the Oregon Coast in the off season: https://vimeo.com/117670644
AFAR MAGAZINE ARTICLE
CLIMBING THE SAND DUNES AT CAPE KIWANDA by Marc Murfitt
The Oregon Coast is always spectacular, but on warm, sunny days like this, there are not many better places to be.
This photo is looking north from the top of the sand dunes at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City.
Climbing these dunes in a few minutes gives you such an amazing view of this northern part of the Oregon Coast.
Don't forget to sit for a while at the top and watch the Dory Boats return from their fishing trips by riding a wave right onto the beach.
EXCERPT FROM TERRY RICHARD'S 2007 OREGONIAN ARTICLE,
"10 BEST HIKES ON NORTHERN OREGON COAST, MOUNTAINS"
No. 3 Cape Lookout: One of Oregon's best whale-watching sites, Cape LookoutState Park juts two miles into the ocean north of Pacific City. On a calm spring day, you can nearly always spot Alaska-bound whales spouting off the tip of the cape. Watch for resident whales in summer, too.
No. 4 Cascade Head: A rare coastal grassland crowns the top of Cascade Head,where the view encompasses the Salmon River estuary and the long stretch of beach that fronts Lincoln City. The Nature Conservancy, which manages 300 acres atop the south side of the cape, asks that hikers stay on the trail to avoid trampling the rare Oregon silverspot butterfly and its habitat. Other parts of the cape are managed by the Siuslaw National Forest but access may be restricted until summer to protect sensitive habitat during spring.
No. 7 Bayocean Spit: Separating Tillamook Bay from the ocean, Bayocean Spit has a surprisingly remote feel because the only land access to the spit is from the south. That leaves a four-mile walk to the spit's tip, farther than most hikers like to go in the sand. But if you do make it that far, return on the bay side, where an old road makes for easier walking.
No. 8 Drift Creek: The Drift Creek Trail in the hills eight miles east of Lincoln City as the crow flies) is one of the prettiest hikes in the Coast Range, with its waterfall and suspension footbridge. Gravel roads reach it in about 10 miles from the North at Rose Lodge or the south at Siletz Bay.
No. 9 Kings Mountain: This Oregon Department of Forestry peak is in the Tillamook State Forest, on the north side of the Wilson River Highway (Oregon 6), about 25 miles east of Tillamook. For a real workout, hike the Kings-Elk Mountains loop.
No. 10 Munson Creek Falls: At 266 feet, this is the highest waterfall in the Coast Range, though it's not the most graceful plunge you will ever see. The hike is a short 0.6 of a mile. Look for it east of U.S. 101, a few miles south of Tillamook, in a state park that carries the Munson Creek Falls name.
Excerpt from Oregonian article mentioned below:
"The view down onto the Pacific City beach from on top the dune takes in action you won't see elsewhere on the Oregon coast because of the comings and the goings of the dory fishing fleet. This is one of the few places in the world where boats launch and return this way."
And for more activities highly recommended, check out this online article
http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2015/07/tillamook_countys_10_best_outd.html
