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.

Located two hours west of Portland on the north Oregon Coast, Oswald West State Park is popular with surfers, hikers and beach goers and has much to offer in the way of recreation.

Nicknamed “Shorty’s” by locals, the beach is just a half mile walk through the woods.

Two prominent headlands, Cape Falcon and Neah-kah-nie Mountain are included in the park and offer great hikes.

Low-growing ferns, salal and salmonberry are shaded by massive western red cedar, western hemlock and Sitka Spruce trees that form the basis of the temperate coastal rainforest ecosystem of the Northwest.

Oswald West does not offer camping.

A popular beach that’s alive with activity on any weekend or summer day, Short Sand Beach lies sheltered in a cove blanketed by forests and edged with volcanic basalt and sandstone cliffs characteristic of the Oregon coastline.

Oswald West State Park offers miles of hiking trails in this 2,484 acre park.

A 13-mile stretch of the Oregon Coast Trail weaves its way through the entire park, starting at the community of Arch Cape and extending south towards the town of Manzanita.

Cross the creek on a railroad-style bridge and you’ll find yourself at a beautiful picnic area overlooking the beach.

Obtained between 1931 and 1976, by purchase and gifts from private owners, E. S. and Mary Collins, Tillamook County, S. G. Reed and Edward Tallman. Land exchanges with the State Board of Forestry and the Crown Zellerbach Corporation completed the park. Once named Short Sand Beach, the park was renamed Oswald West State Park in 1958 at a ceremony honoring former Oregon Governor Oswald West (1873-1960), by whose foresight nearly 400 miles of Oregon shoreline were set aside for public use. Short Sand Beach is located in Smugglers Cove, but there is no evidence of the cove having been used by smugglers. The park is another monument to the acquisition efforts of Parks Superintendent Samuel H. Boardman, who labored hard and long to acquire the principal lands between 1931 and his retirement in 1950. Mr. Boardman's protection foresight is represented by the 354 acres in a rugged portion of the park purchased for $18,000 in 1942. The Oregon Highway Commission agreed to acquisition on condition that enough timber could be sold off the property to cover the cost. This was early in Second World War when timber was needed for the war effort. The timber was offered for sale with enough restrictions that only minimum bids were tendered. These were rejected by the commission and the trees were saved. Early trail improvements at Oswald West Park were made by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1939 and 1941. Neah-kah-nie is thought to be derived from Clatsop or Tillamook languages as the name for the lofty mountain overlooking the ocean and the spirit associated with it. The walk-in campground was closed in 2008 after a 11-foot diameter spruce fell without warning. No campers were injured, though the tree did fall across several campsites. In 2009 after public discussion and an evaluation of the decayed and aging trees, OPRD decided to operate the park as day-use only.