Ona Beach - Coastal Adventures at Brian Booth State Park

Ona Beach, part of Brian Booth State Park, is a stunning Oregon Coast destination just a few miles south of Newport.

Nestled between Seal Rock (2 miles south) and Lost Creek Beach (1.5 miles north), Ona Beach offers an extended stretch of shoreline perfect for exploration. The long shoreline is fantastic for relaxing, hiking, and uncovering treasures left by the ocean, including unique blue Newport agates.

Brian Booth State Park consists of two distinct areas: Ona Beach and the Beaver Creek Natural Area. The Beaver Creek area sits on the other side of the highway and features tidal marshes and forested hiking trails, making it a prime spot for birdwatching, kayaking, and wildlife viewing.

How to Get to Ona Beach

Getting here is easy. Ona Beach is located right off Highway 101, about 9 miles south of Newport and 7 miles north of Waldport. There's a large parking lot at Brian Booth State Park that provides plenty of space.

It's approximately a quarter-mile walk from the parking area along a scenic nature trail to the sandy beach. After 0.1 mile, the trail splits. The right route leads to the quieter northern section of the beach, while the left path takes you across a wooden footbridge over Beaver Creek to the southern shore. Beaver Creek is wide and deep, making it difficult to ford.

Ona Beach Rockhounding

One of my favorite things to do at Ona Beach is beachcombing. If you love the thrill of finding hidden treasures, this beach won't disappoint.

You can find interesting rocks year-round, but you will have the best luck after a storm or at low tide. Here you can find agates including rare blue Newport agates. They're hard to find but absolutely gorgeous when you spot one.

Jaspers come in shades of red, yellow, green, and brown. Sometimes, you'll even find "jasp-agates", a mix of jasper and agate in one stone. Keep an eye out for fossilized clams and shell fragments. These fossils come from the Astoria Formation.

Birdwatching and Wildlife Spotting

Are you a nature lover? Brian Booth State Park is full of wildlife. The mouth of Beaver Creek is a fantastic spot for birdwatching. You can see birds here year-round, but migration season is the best time.

Here, you might see sandpipers, whimbrels, and sanderlings darting along the shore. Black oystercatchers and turnstones perch on the rocks, while bald eagles soar overhead, hunting or scavenging near the beach. In late summer and fall, brown pelicans glide gracefully over the waves.

In the estuary, you might even spot otters or harbor seals.

Kayaking, Canoeing, and Boating

Brian Booth State Park has a boat launch. If you're into kayaking, Beaver Creek offers calm, scenic paddling, especially in the summer when the park offers guided kayak tours.

Fishing

Surf perch fishing is excellent along the entire beach, particularly during lowlight hours on an incoming tide.

Camping is not permitted at Brian Booth State Park, but nearby campgrounds offer great alternatives.

Beachside State Recreation Site, located about 10 miles south of Ona Beach offers 32 campsites, some with electric hookups. Amenities include restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers, picnic areas, and direct beach access.

South Beach State Park, about 6 miles north near Newport, has over 200 campsites, including tent sites, yurts, and RV spots with full hookups. The park also features a playground, amphitheater, nature trails, restrooms with flush toilets and showers, and an RV dump station.

For those seeking more comfortable accommodations, Newport offers numerous hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals.

Lodging in Newport

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long-term stays in Newport