Things to do in Oregon Coast

On this full-day tour along Oregon's stunning coastline, immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, history, and nature of the Pacific Northwest. With your naturalist guide, discover the same sweeping views witnessed by Lewis and Clark in 1805. Visit Cannon Beach and state parks teeming with wildlife. Start your day with pickup from your hotel in downtown Portland or at South Waterfront Park. As you set out, spot bald eagles wheeling in the air and local sea lions sunning themselves along the beaches and docks. A careful eye over the water might spot the fins of gray whales, porpoises, or orca. Head to Ecola State Park to retrace the steps of Lewis and Clark with the Clatsop Loop Trail. After the views at Tillamook Head enchant you with their natural grandeur, cast your gaze on the 1,477 basalt sea-stack islands that dot the coast. You may see herds of Roosevelt elk wading in the shallows. Next, explore the charming seaside town of Cannon Beach and revel in the majesty of Haystack Rock, sometimes adorned with thousands of native cormorants, terns, murres, bald eagles, and beloved tufted puffins. In town, feast on a tasty lunch and peruse the many art galleries and quaint boutiques. After an hour for lunch, explore other coastal highlights according to the weather and group mobility. Cruise along the stretch of road featured in the '80s classic flick "The Goonies." If time allows, visit Hug Point State Recreation Site, Oswald West State Park, or Neahkahnie Mountain Overlook. Once you've explored the hidden gems of Oregon's scenic coast, return to Portland to conclude your tour.

We will depart downtown Portland and head west on the Sunset Highway, Oregon’s first automobile route through the Cascade Mountain Range! On our drive to the coast we’ll leave the city behind and drive through rolling pastures and towering forests of Douglas-Firs. As we drop down from Sunset Highway, we will meander through a lush Sitka spruce forest to find our first glimpse of the Oregon coastline through Ecola State Park. We’ll momentarily leave the vehicle behind and explore this coastal oasis. Nestled between Seaside and Cannon Beach, the area was once traversed by William Clark himself along with 12 members of his team in search of a beached whale. A local favorite for outdoor enthusiasts, the park connects with the Oregon Coast Trail, a 382-mile hiking trail that spans the entire length of the Oregon Coastline. Leaving the park, we will make a quick jaunt to nearby Cannon Beach, a piece of coastline punctuated spectacularly by Haystack Rock, a sea stack just off the shore made famous by its resemblance to its namesake. Claimed to be the third tallest “intertidal” structure in the world, it is a huge basalt rock that was formed by lava flows over 15 million years ago! Three smaller adjacent rock formations to its south are appropriately named the Needles. Here we’ll walk along the sandy beach, watch beautiful birds circle the rock (Tufted Puffins, Pelagic Cormorants, and Western Gulls if the season is right), and if we’re lucky and the tide is out, we’ll view many species of marine wildlife in their natural tide pool habitat. The town of Cannon Beach will be the backdrop of our lunch stop for the day. Guests are able to take their pick of several small-town eateries, each boasting their own eclectic menus. On a sunny day, guests may opt to take lunch to-go and enjoy it on a city bench facing the waves! Moving further along our day of adventures, we’ll head south on the famous Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, Highway 101, exploring more beautiful coastal shores. Upon Neahkahnie Overlook, we’ll find stunning views along the highest drive-able point along the Oregon coast! Whale watching is a year-round activity on the Oregon coast, with best times from mid-December to January (southern migration) and late March to June (northern migration), when upwards of 18,000 gray whales pass close to the coast. Here, our journey will take us back north along Hwy 101 to Oswald West State Park, aptly named after the Oregon Governor Oswald West. Governor West is credited with ensuring our vast Oregon coastline would remain open for public use. Time dependent, we can opt to take a short, forested hike following along Short Sand Creek which opens to a driftwood stacked coastline known as Smugglers Cove. A variable from this stop would be a short visit to another beautiful area within Oswald West State Park. Finishing up at this last stop, we will make the trek back to Portland through Hwy 26 to have you back in downtown just in time for dinner.

Marvel at Oregon's scenic grandeur as you enjoy dramatic views of its coastline which may include: Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, Short Sand Beach at Oswald West State Park, Neahkahnie Point and Manzanita while enjoying spectacular views of the dramatic Oregon Coastline and of course the majestic Pacific Ocean. This escorted mini-bus tour, with stops at attractions, runs approximately 8 hours from pick-up to return. Neahkahnie Point: From this spot you look south past Nehalem Bay to Cape Meares and Cape Lookout nearly 30 miles away. With a huge expanse of ocean before you, this is one of the coast’s best whale watching locations. Short Sand Beach/Oswald West State Park: Stretching along four miles of coastline in dense, temperate rainforest, Oswald West State Park has a beautifully secluded sandy beach and miles of trails leading to breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. This vast, scenic treasure is without a doubt one of the most spectacular parks in Oregon. Cannon Beach: This picturesque small-town village by the sea is easily walkable and you will be able to explore meandering pathways, enjoy public art and courtyards spilling over with flowers. Historic Haystack Rock is one of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks, home to colorful tidepools and diverse bird life. It rises 235 feet from the edge of the shoreline. No visit to Cannon Beach would be complete without visiting Ecola State Park, perched dramatically on the edge of Tillamook Head. From Manzanita to Cannon Beach enjoy the dramatic beauty, fascinating history and diverse ecology featured on this Oregon coastal tour.

Walk the beaches and an old growth forest along the Oregon Coast, and discover technological relics as you drive the Three Capes Scenic Drive with a small group led by an interpretive guide. This day trip is a tour along a rugged section of Oregon's northern coast. You’ll travel west of Portland, as your guide takes you through the farmland of Willamette Valley, one of the richest valleys in the world, known for its hazelnuts, berries, Christmas trees, and Pinot Noir.  You'll have the option of making history-related stops near the town of Tillamook, and you'll visit Cape Kiwanda to check out the fourth-tallest offshore monolith in the world, and, if you desire, "slalom" down the tallest sand dune on the Oregon Coast. You'll also hike to the largest Sitka spruce in Oregon, wander around an 1890s lighthouse, walk the beach to a "ghost forest", and, if you're ready, propose at Proposal Rock.

Climb aboard a historic train for a scenic trip along the Tillamook Bay and coastal estuaries between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach. Enjoy onboard narration, beautiful views, and educational information as you travel at a leisurely pace to your destination. Depart from either Garibaldi or Rockaway Beach and take a 30-minute trip to the opposite location from your departure point. Once at your layover point, get off to explore the restaurants, shops, and the beach. Choose a return trip time after selecting your outbound tickets. Typically, this trip is pulled by the 99-year-old McCloud River Railroad steam locomotive #25. Due to scheduled maintenance or unexpected mechanical issues, #25 is occasionally pulled off the train and replaced with a diesel. Seating options include a coach car with cushioned seats and windows at each seat that can slide open, a table car with two-seat and four-seat tables with chairs, a covered open car with bench seats and a roof, and an open-top car with bench seats and no roof.