Oceanside Beach and Tunnel Beach, nestled in the community of Oceanside, are known for their dramatic beauty and excellent gem-hunting opportunities.

The Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site has a large parking area and a short path to the beach.

Maxwell Point, a basalt headland, juts into the ocean, separating the easily accessible Oceanside Beach from the secluded Tunnel Beach. A narrow tunnel, carved through Maxwell Point in the 1920s, links the two beaches. During very low tides, it's also possible to walk around Maxwell Point from Oceanside Beach.

The tunnel entrance is just 0.2 miles from the parking area. Although some daylight filters through, it' best to bring a flashlight or use your phone's light to avoid tripping over uneven ground or unseen obstacles.

Oceanside and Tunnel Beaches Safety

Both beaches experience strong surf and powerful waves because Maxwell Point funnels and amplifies incoming swells. Waves often hit the shore with more force than at nearby beaches.

During winter storms and king tides, the surf can surge through the narrow tunnel, quickly flooding it with water, driftwood, and debris—sometimes blocking the passage and trapping people.

Always check tide tables and weather forecasts before visiting, and avoid the tunnel during high surf or king tides.

Oceanside & Tunnel Beaches Rockhounding

The cliffs and headlands are part of ancient Miocene basalt flows, remnants of massive volcanic activity that once covered the region. Over millions of years, wave action, erosion, and uplift have exposed these basalt layers—creating rugged coastal scenery and releasing a variety of collectible minerals.

Basalt here is often vesicular (full of gas bubbles), forming natural cavities where zeolite minerals crystallize. Oceanside and Tunnel Beaches are especially rich in these mineral pockets, making it one of the North Coast's few accessible zeolite localities.

Zeolites can be found among loose rocks—look for basalt pieces with hollow spots or crystal-filled cavities. Local varieties include heulandite, clinoptilolite, erionite, and mordenite in white, pink, yellow, or green.

Other minerals found on the beaches are agate (clear, yellow, and carnelian), jasper (green, blue, and yellow), calcite, and marine fossils.

Collecting beach rocks typically requires no tools, but a Sand Dipper Square Scoop can be helpful.

To find zeolites, search for basalt rocks with exposed amygdules and use a small rock hammer, chisel, or geology pick, always wearing safety glasses. Surface collecting of loose pieces is preferred—there's no need to damage the cliffs, as many specimens can be found on the ground.

Avoid digging or removing large chunks of the cliff.

Oceanside’s Marine Life and Three Arch Rocks Refuge

Oceanside and Tunnel Beaches feature a scenic intertidal zone where, during low tide, visitors can discover vibrant marine life such as mussels, anemones, and sea stars.

Just offshore, the Three Arch Rocks area includes several sea stacks, small islands, and rocky outcrops that provide nesting habitat for seabirds and is designated as a National Wildlife Refuge.

It’s also the only pupping site on the North Coast for Steller sea lions.

Tunnel Beach: Hidden Beach Getaway of Oregon Coast

Camping isn’t allowed at Oceanside and Tunnel Beaches, but the nearest campground is at Cape Lookout State Park.

Lodging and vacation rentals are available nearby — the small towns of Oceanside and Netarts offer a few cozy options, while the larger city of Tillamook, just nine miles away, provides a wider range of accommodations.

Lodging in Oceanside

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay at Oceanside

Lodging in Tillamook

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay in Tillamook