Nehalem Bay State Park - The Oceanfront Park with a Fly-in Campground

Nehalem Bay State Park extends across a narrow 4 miles long spit between the Pacific Ocean and Nehalem Bay. The 890-acre park combines the beach with sandy dunes and a Pacific Northwest forest with shore pines.

This beautiful combination creates a spectacular scenery attracting outdoor enthusiasts including campers, anglers, hikers, equestrians, or just nature lovers. You can see elk and deer wandering around the trees along with various birds, including snowy plovers.

Day-use area visitors have two spot to chose from, one with bay access and another with ocean access. There are picnic tables with fire rings and restrooms. The bay-side site has a boat ramp.

Park gives access to Nehalem Bay, Nehalem Beach connected to Manzanita Beach, and many other spots worth a visit!

There are two day-use areas with picnic areas and fire rings.

Interestingly enough, Nehalem Bay State Park is an airport. It has unique because it has 2,400-foot airstrip accepting visitors by air.

Hiking, Biking, and Horse Riding

The best way to see and take in the beauty of the ocean, bay, and forest is to hike, bike, or ride a horse on the park trails. There are three major trails.

Nehalem Bay Trail - an easy 3.6-mile out-and-back trail begins at Nehalem Bay Jetty Trailhead from a picnic area at the road end and runs along the bay.

Nehalem Spit Jetty Trail - moderate 5.2 miles out-and-back sandy path from Nehalem Bay Jetty Trailhead through a grassy foredune to the North Jetty.

Nehalem Bay Bike Trail - a 2-mile loop trail, partially paved and graveled with a trailhead at the parking area at the main campground.

A guided horseback ride on the beach is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Call 971-237-6653 to reserve your beach ride.

Mushroom Picking

Nehalem Bay State Park during fall is a productive mushroom-picking place. Most commonly, you can find King Boletes and Slippery Jacks. Check mushroom harvesting regulations for Oregon State Parks.

King Bolete | Porcini - Oregon — Nehalem Park King Bolete

Fishing & Crabbing

Easy access to the ocean and the bay attracts fishing, crabbing, clamming, boating, and kayaking enthusiasts.

The park is a favorite destination for anglers coming here for bottom surf fishing including perch and rockfish in spring and early summer. The forth-largest bay in Oregon, Nehalem Bay is popular with chinook and coho salmon.

Check current fishing regulations on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

The main campground sits right in the pine forest and has 265 sites with electrical and water hookups (no sewer hookups) and 18 yurts, five of them are wheelchair accessible and nine are pet-friendly. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring.

A primitive horse camp has 17 sites with picnic tables and fire rings, and corrals. A hiker/biker camp is located near the park entrance.

A primitive fly-in camp on first-come, first-served basis features adjacent airstrip and six sites. Each site provides a space to park an aircraft.

There is a playground for kids.

Reserve your campsite here

Small coastal towns nearby such as Manzanita, Wheeler, and Nehalem offers comfortable lodging and vacation rentals.

Lodging at Nehalem Bay

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay at Nehalem Bay