The Best (Less Popular, Secluded) Beaches in Oregon
While I love Cannon Beach and Cape Kiwanda, let’s be honest – just about everyone has heard of them, which means they’re always pretty crowded. Even at sunrise and sunset, you’ll usually find lots of people at these popular beaches. So, in this guide, I’ll tell you about the best secluded beaches in Oregon – where you’ll find some of the most amazing scenery, and get it all to yourself!
Whether you want to hike or find an easily accessible view, Oregon has a perfect, scenic beach for you!
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The Best Time to Visit the Beaches in Oregon
The most popular time to visit the beaches in Oregon is summer. The coast is notoriously rainy, and summer offers a break from the gloomy skies (sometimes). The weather is warm and sunny, and great for hiking, swimming, and surfing!
However, I think the best time to visit these best secluded beaches in Oregon is fall. In September and October, there are fewer people out and about, so you’re likely to get the views to yourself! The temperatures are still moderate (in the 50s), but the weather can be a little unpredictable – so bring a rain jacket and be prepared for muddy trails. But, there’s truly no bad time to visit the beaches in Oregon.
Getting to the Beaches in Oregon
It’s pretty hard to get around without a car, so if you don’t have one, or you’re flying in to explore the coast, you have a few options!
The first one is to rent a car – you can use Expedia to find the best deals, or check out Discover Cars and Rental Cars.
But, another fun way to see these secluded beaches in Oregon is with a camper van! This is amazing if you want to turn this into a road trip, and you’ll get a vehicle and a place to stay, all in one.
With Escape Campervans, you can rent a professionally built, fully decked out van! Another option is to use Outdoorsy, which tends to be more budget friendly. It’s like Airbnb, but for camper vans – you rent a van, trailer, or RV from a person in the area.
What to Bring to these Secluded Beaches in Oregon
Whether you’re hiking or visiting one of the easily accessible secluded beaches in Oregon, here’s what you need to be prepared!
Waterproof Shoes
This is a must for the beaches in Oregon – the weather is known for being rainy, and if you’re exploring tide pools, hiking muddy trails, or walking on the beach, you’ll need waterproof shoes!
My favorite hiking boots are my Danner boots – they’re cute, comfortable, and waterproof! I also love hiking in my Chacos, but I would only recommend sandals in the summer on the Oregon Coast – any other time of year is just too muddy! The sandals are great once you get further south too, when the weather is warm.
Rain boots are another great option for muddy conditions, and are definitely the easiest to clean.
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Windbreaker
No matter the time of year, I recommend bringing a wind breaker and some layers to the beaches in Oregon. It’s breezy by the ocean, so even on a warm day you can feel the chill pretty quickly! The coast is also known for moody weather, so it can be a bit unpredictable.
The North Face Class V Windbreaker is a great lightweight, packable option for exploring, and it’s perfect for windy days that aren’t too cold. The RVCA Meyer Packable Anorack Jacket is another cute windbreaker , and folds up nice and small! For added warmth and layering, add a a Patagonia fleece.
A Day Bag
You won’t need a big hiking backpack for most of these (unless you have a lot of stuff), but a day bag is a must for carrying water and snacks! I love my Topo Designs Y-Pack. If you need a bigger bag (maybe for a picnic blanket), check out the 37L Mountain Backpack by Topo Designs! If you’re carrying camera gear, the best backpack is the Alex Strohl Mountain Light.
Hydration!
Water is important no matter whether you’re hiking, or just hanging out on the beach! Single use water bottles are, of course, terrible for the environment, so avoid that and bring a reusable one.
For hiking, the CamelBak water reservoirs are convenient and easy – they can fit in your hiking backpack for water on the go. Nalgene water bottles are great for day to day, and if you want an insulated water bottle to keep your water cold and refreshing, Hydro Flasks are the best!
Where to Stay When You Visit the Beaches in Oregon
Turn your beach day into a getaway! There are plenty of options near the coast.
Glamping, Cabins, & Yurts
For a unique place to stay during your trip, check out Hipcamp! It’s like Airbnb for campsites – and you can find yurts (like this one close to the Oregon Coast), cabins, glamping sites, and more.
You can even get $10 off your first booking here!
A Camper van
With a camper van, you get a vehicle and a place to sleep, all in one! This is my favorite way to travel, and you can rent a fully decked out van with Escape Campervans.
Find a Campsite
Whether you car camp, tent camp, or rent a tiny home on wheels, The Dyrt is the best way to find campsites! There are also options for free camping by the coast – for tips on finding the best ones, check out this guide.
The Best Secluded Beaches in Oregon
Now, let’s get into the best secluded beaches in Oregon – these are listed from north to south, so that if you want to make this a road trip you can see the beaches in order.
Crescent Beach
The best Oregon Beach for: Hiking, unique sea stacks, and one of the most scenic beaches in Oregon
The Crescent Beach trail in Ecola State Park is just a short drive away from Cannon Beach, but so much more private! It does require a hike, which will take you through ferns and old growth forest. The hike is 2.3 miles roundtrip, and because the beach is only accessible by taking this trail, it’s one of the most secluded beaches in Oregon! The scenery is unique, with sea stacks poking through the water.
Arcadia Beach
The best Oregon Beach for: Easy Access, Tide Pools, Sea Caves
The Hug Point State Recreation Site has one of the most scenic beaches in Oregon, with sea caves and a waterfall over the sandy cliffs. But, it’s pretty well known – if you want something more secluded, there’s a lesser known spot just north of the park! Arcadia Beach is small but scenic, with a parking lot right off the highway. To see tide pools and sea caves, stop at this less popular Oregon beach – it’s especially beautiful at sunset!
Elk Flats
The best Oregon Beach for: Cliffs over the ocean, easy hike, secluded views
Elk Flats in Oswald West State Park is one of the most secluded places on this list! A short hike from the parking lot will take you to an incredible viewpoint where you can see cliffs over the ocean.
God’s Thumb
The best Beach for: Hiking, Incredible Views
God’s Thumb is one of the most scenic spots on the coast, and one of the best hikes in Oregon! The trail is a little under 5 miles, but it’s steep, and muddy – but so worth it when you get to the thumb and are met with sweeping views of the ocean as you stand on top of the cliff.
Hobbit Beach
The best Beach for: Short hike, forest and beach views
A short, half mile long hike through the magical forest will take you out to Hobbit Beach! It’s the perfect easy trail, and the beach is secluded and you’ll likely have it all to yourself, especially if you go in the off season.
Otter Point
The best Beach for: easy access, cliffs over the ocean
Though the trail to Otter Point is short (only a quarter of a mile!), it’s truly one of the most scenic spots I’ve been to on the Oregon Coast. You’ll walk through dense foliage to reach an incredible viewpoint, where you’ll stand on a cliff over the ocean, with sea stacks and rocky formations below.
Secret Beach
The best Beach for: one of the most scenic beaches in Oregon, Hiking
Secret Beach has stayed a secret, and is one of the best secluded beaches in Oregon! The hike to get here is 1.6 miles roundt rip (there is a shorter trail, but it’s steep!), and you’ll see gorgeous old growth forest, beautiful cliffs, and unique sea stacks poking through the ocean. While you’re here, make sure to check out the iconic Natural Bridges nearby!
Map of the Best Secluded Beaches in Oregon
Here’s a map of all the beaches mentioned in this post!
Have You Been to Any of These Secluded Beaches in Oregon?
If you’ve been to any of these secluded beaches in Oregon, or have recommendations for other spots to check out, let me know in a comment below!
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