• Moolack Beach is a great uninhabited beach near Newport
• This is a delightful place to enjoy the ocean, hike, and collect rocks
Moolack Beach is a large sandy beach stretching for about 3.5 miles from the mouth of Spencer Creek at Beverly Beach on the north to Yaquina Head on the south. This is an excellent place for all beach lovers to explore any time of year just 4 miles of Newport.
You can access the beach from Beverly Beach State Park or from a few parking areas along the highway.
The northernmost access with a small parking area is an easy and safe 0.1-mile forested pathway to the beach at the Wade Creek.
The southernmost Oregon State beach access 55 with two short trails is steep and slippery during wet weather and could be extremely dangerous for unprepared visitors.
Though the beach is located to close proximity to Newport, Depoe Bay, and Lincoln City, it looks secluded and doesn’t get big crowds even during the summer and on weekends.
Hiking
All together Moolack and Beverly Beaches extend for about 5 miles from Yaquina Head with Yaquina Head Lighthouse on the top all the way to Otter Rock with its dramatic feature known as Devil's Punchbowl. Those beaches offer pleasant uninterrupted hikes along the Pacific coastline, cascading cliffs, bluffs, and dramatic rock formations.
The southern edge of Moolack Beach at Schooner Point and Starfish can be visited at low tide only.
Rockhounding
When it comes to finding gemstones, Moolack Beach is one of the best on the Central Oregon Coast. During wintertime, storms and king tides take out a lot of sand opening ancient treasures. Here you can search for agates including carnelian ones, jaspers, and fossil shells. Moolack, Coal, and Spencer Creeks are good places to check for better specimens.
You might also encounter animal vertebrate fossils. Keep in mind that those are illegal to collect without a special permit.
Cautions: Beware of changing tides, rip currents, driftwoods, sneaker waves and never turn your back to the ocean.
Camping, Lodging & Vacation Rentals
There is no camping allowed at Moolack Beach. The closest campground is located 2 miles away at Beverly Beach State Park.
There are numerous lodging and vacation rentals nearby since the beach is just 2 miles north of Newport.
Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay in Newport
Moolack Beach | Facts
Open: Year-round
Managed by: Oregon State Parks
Amenities: None
Activities: Hiking, camping at Beverly Beach State Park, rock collecting
Day-use fees: None
Moolack Beach is located:
- 5 miles north of Newport
- 79 miles west of Salem
- 108 miles southwest of Portland.
Adventures Nearby
Directions to Moolack Beach
From Newport,
- Travel 5.6 miles north on Highway 101 to the northern and 4.5 miles to southern parking area on the left.
GPS (Northernmost Parking): N 44°42.977' W 124°03.510' | 44.716283, -124.058500
Northernmost Parking - Get Google Maps Directions
GPS (Southernmost Parking): N 44°42.131' W 124°03.686' | 44.702183, -124.061433