Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area | Oregon Coast

Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area is located 3 miles north of Depoe Bay and 10 miles south of Lincoln City. The park was established in 1950s and named after the local judge John Fogarty.

A part of Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area, Fogarty Beach is a scenic cove beach bisected by the creek with interesting rock formations. This stretch of the coastline is sheltered by surroundings cliffs that protect it from strong wind.

This is a good spot for beachcombing, exploring tidepools, bird watching, and fishing. The beach is small and narrow at its edges. The best time to visit is during outgoing high tide at low tide to explore the tide pools and avoid sneaker waves.

There are two access points to the beach, from the south and north sides of the creek. The north parking area provides the shortest hike to the beach under the highway bridge along Fogarty Creek.

The area is a day-use site with picnic tables and a covered picnic shelter in the shade of the coastal trees. There is a wooden bridge over the creek that links North and South Parking Areas.

This beach is a popular spot and can be crowded during the summer months and weekends.

Rockhounding

Fogarty Beach is a great place to search for agates. Also, be on the lookout for jasper, petrified wood, and invertebrate fossils. The beach is composed of course sand. There is a mound of gravel at the creek and the northern cliff.

Before you go, check Rules and Rockhounding Regulation for Oregon Coast and Oregon State Parks.

The best time for rock hunting is between November and April when winter storms and king tides remove the top of sand layers.

Note: A permit is required to collect vertebrate fossils.

Cautions: Beware of changing tides, rip currents, driftwoods, sneaker waves and never turn your back to the ocean.