The Area

Netarts is a quiet, non-touristy village of a few hundred people. It's one of the closest beaches to Portland Oregon (75 miles, or a 90 minute drive). People come to the Netarts area to surf, parasail, kayak, scuba dive, hike, walk on the beach, enjoy the wonderful scenery and relax. The beach is dog friendly, and bonfires are allowed at night.

The area features some excellent restaurants, lots of wildlife, state parks, and many other different types of activities. Seals nest on sandbars offshore from the cottages, Great Blue Heron fish in the waters off our beach, Pelicans sail in the sky, and in the summer wild roses and lilies bloom in the yards. The area is known for Dungeness crabbing, fresh clams and oysters, fishing and whale watching, and is part of the Three Capes Scenic Route.

Netarts Bay is a marine-dominated estuary, one of only two of this type on the Oregon Coast, where the input of freshwater is relatively small and the tidal influence considerable. The bay is nearly 5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide at its center. It is situated between Cape Meares to the north and Cape Lookout to the south, both of which are prominent headlands that project out into the ocean. Netarts Bay remains one of the least disturbed estuaries on the Oregon Coast.




Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint is located on the north end of the beautiful Three Capes Scenic Route. The park is open daily, throughout the year, from 7 am to dusk with no day use fee. The trail head to the Big Spruce, Oregon's largest Sitka spruce, is located near the park entrance. Cape Meares Lighthouse is open daily April through October from 11 am to 4 pm. A wide, asphalt trail that is wheelchair accessible, provides easy access to the lighthouse.




All along the Oregon coast, huge rocks can be seen jutting out of the Pacific. Each of these rocks is protected as part of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge includes 1,853 rocks, reefs and islands and two headland areas and spans 320 miles of the Oregon coast. Spectacular viewing opportunities exist at numerous locations along the coast or visit the Coquille Point Unit of the refuge where visitor facilities will enhance your experience.




One of the Oregon coast's best-known landmarks, the refuge consists of three large and six smaller rocks totaling 15 acres. The refuge is one of the smallest National Wilderness Areas in the country. The rocks provide habitat for Oregon's largest breeding colony of Tufted Puffins and the largest breeding colony of Common Murre south of Alaska. It is also the only pupping site on the north Oregon coast for the federally threatened Steller sea lion. Measuring 10' in length and weighing up to 2,000 pounds, the Steller sea lion is the largest sea lion found on the Oregon Coast.




Bayocean, Oregon, sometimes known as "the town that fell into the sea", was a planned resort community founded in 1906 on Tillamook spit, a small stretch of land that forms one wall of Tillamook Bay. By 1914, the town's population had reached 2000 inhabitants. In the 1920s new single jetty made for a much smoother journey into the bay, but the one-sided change to the coastline began a process of erosion to Bayocean's beaches, slowly narrowing them. Only a few decades later, Bayocean had become a ghost town. The town's unforeseen destruction was a product of many storms, and by 1952 what was left of Bayocean had become an island. In 1971, the last remaining building finally fell into the sea. With the addition of a second jetty built in the 1970s, sand began to re-accumulate on the spit. The location now hosts Bayocean Peninsula County Park and all that remains of Bayocean is a commemorative sign at the south end of the park




Whale watching is a year-round activity on the Oregon Coast with gray whales by far the most commonly seen. Any location with an ocean view may yield whale sightings. March and into April is when gray whales are migrating along the Oregon coast. The whales are moving north along the coastline on their way to the rich feeding grounds of the Bering Sea, and many of the females have calves in tow. Places to observe these migrating mammals include the Three Capes Route; Cape Lookout, Anderson Viewpoint, and Cape Meares. Look for signs designating "Whale Watching Spoken Here", and bring your binoculars and spotting scopes for optimal viewing, which is best on calmer days when the ocean is smooth, and morning light with the sun at your back is best.


Upon final confirmation of your booking you'll be sent our special 15 page guide to the Three Capes area, including information about the best restaurants, sight-seeing and recreational activities. Please call or email if you have any questions.