Bob Straub State Park

In the 1960s, state highway planners proposed running a coastal road right out along the Nestucca sand spit. To Bob Straub, then Oregon's state treasurer and later its governor, that was exactly the wrong future for the coast. A committed conservationist and a champion of the landmark Oregon Beach Bill that keeps the state's entire shoreline public, Straub fought the highway plan hard and won.

The land was pieced together through purchases and exchanges in the early to mid 1960s and set aside as a park, first called Nestucca Spit State Park. In 1987 it was renamed Bob Straub State Park in his honor, a fitting tribute to a man whose name is tied to the whole idea of the public Oregon Coast. Walking the spit today, you are walking ground that was very nearly asphalt.

What makes the spit special is that it is two worlds at once. On the west side is the raw Pacific, with rolling surf, drifting fog, and a long clean beach littered with sand dollars and driftwood. On the east side, sheltered behind the dunes, is the tidal lower Nestucca River, quiet and glassy, winding out to meet the sea at the spit's tip.

That meeting of fresh water, salt water, dune, and beach makes the area rich with life. Shorebirds and waterfowl work the river edge and the wet sand, harbor seals sometimes haul out near the mouth, and the Nestucca is a legendary salmon and steelhead river. Behind the beach, shore pines and beach grass hold the dunes in place, and the whole spit feels satisfyingly wild and undeveloped.

The classic outing is simply to walk. From the day-use parking you cross soft sand and dunes to reach the open beach, then head south along the spit as far as you like, with the option of a loop back along the river side. It is flat and open, so distance is up to you, and the farther out you go the fewer people you will see.

Respect the ocean while you are here. This is a stretch of coast known for sneaker waves that surge far up the beach without warning and for strong currents near the river mouth, so stay well up on the dry sand, keep an eye on children, and never turn your back on the surf. Bring layers for the wind, footwear for the sand, and everything you need, because the spit has no services. Do that, and you get one of the coast's most rewarding, least crowded walks.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

It is a large, quiet coastal park at Pacific City, occupying the Nestucca Sand Spit, a long finger of dune and beach with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Nestucca River on the other. Known for its wide, uncrowded beach, rolling dunes, and big sunsets, it is a favorite for peaceful walks, wildlife watching, and beachcombing, with none of the crowds of more developed spots nearby.

The main outing is a beach-and-marsh loop out along the spit, roughly five miles, with the ocean beach on one side and a river-marsh route on the other. Be aware the marsh path is unmarked and can flood at times, and the beach walking is on soft, deep sand that makes for a workout. The reward is sweeping ocean and river views and a real sense of solitude.

Yes, it is a relaxed, dog-friendly beach with plenty of open room, welcoming for leisurely walks, kite flying, and sunset watching, and horseback riding is popular here too. Just plan for the conditions: it is a steep descent over soft sand to reach the beach and a workout to climb back, and there is no drinking water or trash service, so bring your own water and pack out everything you carry in.

Respect the ocean, since sneaker waves can surge up the beach without warning, so never turn your back on the surf, keep well back from the waterline, and watch children closely. Wait for suitable tide conditions before venturing far out on the spit, wear sturdy shoes for the soft sand, and bring layers, as it is often windy. Check a tide table so a rising tide does not strand you far out on the spit.

It sits right at Pacific City, next to the famous Cape Kiwanda with its towering sandstone headland, giant dune, and offshore Haystack Rock, where you can also watch the local dory boats launch straight off the beach. Between the two, plus the town's shops and eateries, you can easily fill a day, using Bob Straub for the quiet, wild beach and Cape Kiwanda for the dramatic scenery.