South End Beach Access Points
These beach access points are located between the Rockaway Beach Wayside and the southern city limits.
The Wayside, S. 1st Ave. Between U.S. Highway 101 and S. Pacific
This is the most visible of all the beach access points and the one most often used for all manner of tourist activities, fairs and community events. From U.S. Highway 101, you will recognize the spot as the home of the Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce office in the Little Red Caboose next to the railroad tracks. The office is staffed by volunteers during peak visitor hours. There is ample parking in this area. Diagonal parking faces Highway 101 along the railroad tracks, and there are an additional 29 spaces in the adjacent parking lot, plus two spaces for RV parking.
The beach access is marked by a monument erected in 1995 by Post 7558 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and dedicated “In memory of those who have sacrificed their lives in the armed forces of the United States.”
Adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce caboose is a small park and a covered seating area. The median area of the parking lot has benches and two picnic tables. Once you’re on the beach, you’ll note Rock Creek to the north slicing through the sand on its way to the ocean.
S. Pacific & S. 2nd Ave.
This pedestrian access is located at the end of 2nd between the Silver Sands Hotel and the Sand Shore Condos. The parking in this area is reserved for guests. Do not park here. However, there is good pedestrian access to the beach.
S. Pacific & S. 4th Ave.
At the end of S. 4th Ave., there is a parking area with unmarked beach access. There is room for approximately 20 vehicles in the parking area. The short path is a straight shot to the beach flanked by dune grass.
S. Pacific & S. 6th Ave.
At the end of S. 6th Ave., next to Getaway Oceanfront Lodge, is a prime access point. Here, you will find a path that also is a fire lane, so be careful not to block it or you may have your vehicle towed. The Getaway maintains parking for its guests, so park along the access road between the Getaway and the home at 211 S. Pacific. Also note, one of the city’s tsunami sirens is located on a tall pole here.
The road leading up to the beach is paved, then drops off to the sand. Be careful not to camp or throw your blanket on the sand below the access road. You could find yourself under a speeding emergency vehicle racing to the beach. Once you get onto the beach, you will see Salt Air Creek, which empties out of Clear Lake across Highway 101. It is just to the north of the beach access and flows across the sand to the ocean. It’s a favorite of gulls and children.
S. Breaker Ave. & S. 7th Ave.
There is no formal parking lot here, so park along the street. A pair of tall pilings marks the entrance to the access trail. As you walk the path, you’ll see a large expanse of dune grass to the right, Shore Pines to the left. Be sure to heed the “Private Property” signs and stay on the path. It’s a short walk to the beach, but there is a sharp, 6-foot drop to the beach at the end of the path.
S. Breaker Ave. & S. 8th Ave.
From Washington, go north on S. Breaker to 8th Street. There is no formal parking area, so you can parallel park along the street. Don’t park any closer to a home than a utility pole. To get to the access, you will walk across a large lawn between houses at 807 and 777 S. Breaker Ave. The short trail to the beach is open and sunny, flanked by low manzanita, a few shore pines and endless mounds of dune grass. To the right, you’ll see a thicket of small pines. At the end, the sandy path splits into two sections for the drop to the beach.
Twin Rocks Turnaround
You won’t easily find Twin Rocks Turnaround on your map. It is on Breaker Ave., north of W. Washington at S. 9th Ave. Across from the park, there are four paved and marked parking spaces. In front of the park are two handicapped spots. Twin Rocks Turnaround is a small park constructed on the site of the former home of a Tillamook County pioneer. The park is a charming retreat with lawns, tall trees, benches and picnic tables. Leading toward the beach from the park is a wide, paved trail that is accessible for those with disabilities. At the end of that trail, overlooking the beach, a matched pair of benches bear memorial plaques. The paved trail ends at the beach with a sharp, 3-foot drop to the sand below.
S. Breaker Ave. & W. Washington St.
At the end of W. Washington Street at S. Breaker Avenue, there is parking for 10 to 12 vehicles. The short access path cuts through manzanita, shore pines and dune grass.
S. Breaker Ave. & Stark
From Minnehaha, take S. Breaker Ave. north to Stark. There is no parking area, other than what can be found on the street. Take the access path for a lovely walk — about 180 paces. The narrow path winds uphill through vines and manzanita bushes, shore pines and dune grass. When you emerge again into the sunlight, you will enjoy a stunning view of Twin Rocks as you step down to the beach. Minnehaha & S. Breaker Ave.
Minnehaha & S. Breaker Ave.
Take S. Minnehaha Street west from 101 and drive to the end. The parking area is next to the Twin Rocks Ocean Front Motel. There is sufficient parking for about 12 vehicles. Take the sandy path straight down to the beach. Directly ahead offshore will be a view of Twin Rocks. Nearby to the south, a stream fed by Spring Lake, winds through the sand to the ocean.
North End Beach Access Points
These beach access points are located between the Ocean’s Edge Wayside and the Rockaway city limits.
N. Pacific & N. 3rd Ave.
There is a parking area at the end of the street that can accommodate about 20 vehicles. The beach is a few short steps down over flat rocks.
N. Pacific & N. 4th Ave.
There is no formal parking area here, so park on the side of the street. The beach access is at the end of 4th, between houses numbered 393 and 411. To reach the beach, you will step carefully down a series of riprap boulders to the beach, which is about 8 feet from the path.
N. Pacific & N. 5th Ave.
There is no formal parking area here, so park on the side of the street. The beach access is at the end of 5th between houses numbered 475 and 505. From the access, you will step carefully down a series of riprap rocks to the beach, which is about 8 feet from the path.
N. Pacific & N. 6th Ave.
This beach access is at the Rockaway Beach Resort. The parking here is for the resort, so you should park on the street. The access is for pedestrians only. Take note of the tsunami warning siren on the tall pole near the access.
N. Pacific & N. 7th Ave.
There is no formal parking area here, so you must park on the street. The beach access is at the end of N. 7th. N. Pacific & N. 8th Ave.
N. Pacific & N. 8th Ave.
There is no formal parking here, so you must park on the street. The access is at the end of 8th. To get to the beach, you will take about a dozen steps down riprap stones to the sand below.
N. Pacific & N. 9th Ave.
The public right-of-way here is not wide. You will find the access between houses numbered 961 and 1005. To reach the beach, take the sandy path past the houses. It is flanked by shore pines and dune grass. When you reach the drop-off, you will take about 12 steps over riprap stones to the beach below.
N. Pacific & NW 13th
Take 19th west off N. Miller St. to reach this designated access. You will find a parking area that can accommodate about 20 vehicles. The access is a sandy path flanked by dune grass on either side. A gentle sand path leads down to the beach.
Manhattan Beach – Beach St.
Off U.S. Highway 101, turn west at the Manhattan Beach sign on Beach Street. The beach access at the end of the street at Beach Drive is wide enough for vehicles, and there are tracks to prove it, but the site is prohibited to vehicular use. Observe the signs and don’t use it for vehicular access. However, it is an excellent pedestrian access point.
To get to the jetty, your only access is Beach Drive, which comes off Beach Street from U.S. Highway 101 at the Manhattan Beach turn. When traversing Beach Drive, take it slowly. The road is rough with lots of dips. The jetty access is at Section Line Street and Beach Drive. Here you will find a large parking area. The access path to the beach is marked a the monument sign, which says “Nehalem Bay South Jetty, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, constructed 1910-1916.”
To get to the beach, you will take a long, wide path. Early in your walk, the path will split off to the north, but stay the course. Soon you will walk through a forest of driftwood of every size almost as far as the eye can see. At first, you may think it is the most driftwood you have ever seen in one place. That is, until you cross a small berm and see even more, this time stacked high with tree trunks, giant roots and limbs.
After you pass through this area, you will at last come to the beach, which is just south of the mouth of the Nehalem River.
