Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area

Jaw dropping scenery... just beautiful. We caught the super waves in November this last time when we stayed on the coast for Thanksgiving. I cannot recommend the Oregon Coast in winter enough. It was sunny, and all about were artists, dogs, surfers, bums like us, and beer.

Spectacular views and amenities! Cape Kiwanda's RV park is within walking distance of the beach and everything we needed or could want. Gretchen and Cody welcomed us at the RV park and made us feel welcome and at home. Cafe Stimulus had world's best quiche and scone. We had the Wild Lavender Berry Latte, we don't usually like Lavender but it was yummy so we got it every day. Superb family stay, we will definitely be back this summer!

Worth the drive to get there.

My fam, my cousin's fam, and my uncle's fam convoyed to this beach from Hillsboro, and the cool and breezy climate at Cape Kiwanda was a nice change from the blazing hot conditions we experienced earlier in the day. There were lots of people out enjoying the day by picnicing, swimming, boating, and hiking up the sand dunes. Such a vibe!

The coastal views here are different than other places on the coast- definitely worth a visit (and more)!

What a great little getaway! Did I think it was secluded? No. Did I expect it to be busy? No, but it was. We first checked out this place on a lovely Juneteenth Friday afternoon. The temperature was in the low 80s, but the cool ocean breeze made everything just right. It had been raining all week prior, so we thought we'd explore and give our little mutt, Tha 'il Nana, some much needed sun. So, here's a few things about Cape Kiwanda:

First off, there's a public parking lot at the beach where Pelican Brewing is located that requires a Daily Fee of $10. Just remember to place the parking pass on your dashboard. The lot probably holds about 125-150 spaces, so we had no issue finding a spot. People coming and going as well.

Second, expect high winds and sand blowing down the dune and along the beach. And expect those high windy days to kick up the sand along the beach. It's also pretty scenic so bring a camera or make sure your phone is fully charged. Speaking of dune, there were plenty of folks challenging themselves running up it. And usually folks would end up heading towards the tidepools. There's definitely a lot of interesting things to see from crabs, to green anemones, to fancy sandstone rocks, and starfish. Oh yeah, and speaking of high winds, there were plenty of folks flying kites too.

Third, the beach is a long and wide straightaway stretch, so everyone has plenty of room to run and play in the cold water. Great for dogs to play fetch and intermingle with other dogs. Our mutt was all over the place and I could tell she was having fun. She simply loved it! As far as the sand in general, it looks fine and bright. Not as white as the beaches in Cancun, but definitely cleaner than the ones in Cali. Bring a towel or two and enjoy the sun. Hell, some folks even had a whole tent set up.

Fourth, some fellow yelpers mentioned there are no public restrooms, but there actually is one public restroom way up in the corner of the parking lot. Maybe because of covid they were closed, I don't know. But from relaxing on the beach, I can see how long of a walk it would be just to wanna relieve yourself.

In closing, we accomplished our goal of making our old dog happy, and getting away from the inland heat. I truly enjoyed it here and plan to return someday. One final note; I was told from a local, "pretty much from here to Astoria (north) the beaches will be packed, but south of here will be a bit more secluded". Gotta love the Oregon coast! Enjoy!

Talk about a hike.. To see these vistas, you have to walk straight up a 200+ ft sand dune.. but it is WELL WORTH IT. Located just steps from the main drag of pacific city, this sandy, duney cliff offers some of the best view of (the better) Haystack Rock.

You don't really want to do it barefoot because once you get up there, you will find lots of little spots to explore. There are great views not just of the beach and the rock, but also crashing waves, little ocean spots, and tons interesting rock formations like caves and trenches.

If you can make the trip up the hill, it is a great place to spend a few hours taking in the natural views. It is also well gated and I felt completely safe the entire time I was up there.

If you are visiting Pacific City, add this to your list!

My daughter and I could not visit Oregon and not stop by Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. It is part of the three Capes scenic route. The three capes are Cape Kiwanda, Cape Lookout and Cape Meares. Cape Kiwanda is the smallest but it is known for having outstanding wave action.

It was clear and beautiful on the day that we visited. We were able to hike around the park and enjoy the lovely views from multiple locations. It is definitely worth a visit.

For safety reasons they fenced off areas and put up caution signs. Some people decided to risk it to take daring selfies but we decided against it.

This was the first time here. Highly recommend you park in the visitor lot by Pelican Bay Brewery, go down to the beach and hang a right. Hike up the large hill that's in front of you and follow the trails to the upper park area. The views are amazing.

As Stefon would say, "this place has everything". An expansive stretch of beach, glorious geology (offshore and on), a huge dune for those of all ages whose knees are up for the challenge, tidepools, tidepools, and tidepools.
Even when the parking lot is tending towards full, there is enough space to wander that social distancing is pretty much a natural occurrence.
I've probably eaten at the brewpub that shares the parking lot about half the times I've visited here, so I hadn't noticed the lack of restrooms that other Yelpers have commented on, but do be aware of that.
Regardless of the weather, be sure to bring your good camera with you - this place invites picture taking at all times of the year.
An FYI for getting here from the north: there's a small coast road alternative to highway 101 that runs from Netarts (west of Tillamook) and takes you right to the parking lot. If you're not in a hurry, it's a lovely part of the coast to see.

This place is awesome!!!! Dogs love it. Kids love it. The big truck loves it. It's the perfect getaway. And there is lots to do. You can walk along the beach. Play in the tide pools. And of course there is the huge sand dune. So cool! You have to run and jump and play in the sand at least once here. The view is wonderful at the top. I'm glad that this place is not too packed with crowds. But you will still need to get there plenty early for parking. The lot is pretty small.

A must see attraction for any locals and or tourists like we were! If you are in Portland or nearby you have to stop by and check it out, absolutely worth a long drive. The beach is spectacular and has all the diversity in the world. It has tide pools, dunes, coves and a insane huge rock right by the shore! Looks like something exactly for stars wars or Jurasic park! I swear to you. This spot is also very easy to get to yet not too packed because how massive it is.

The ideal day of course is a sunny one so plan ahead and bring some snacks and a towel and head there as soon as possible!

10/10 Would definitely recomend for anyone and everyone looking for a easy adventure or even just trying to relax!