I loved this park. I took my 79 yo mother and 4 small dogs. It was a reasonable walk for my mother…read morewho uses a walker. We were able to park at the trailhead and we had the park to ourselves for the duration of our visit. The path is rock/gravel and there is a wooden staircase and a wooden bridge, both with hand railings. When we went it would have been impossible to approach the bottom of the falls without wading through the river, but nonetheless we had a lovely perch on a fallen log. The pictures I've seen of the falls online did not do it justice at all! It is a tall falls and quite relaxing and beautiful. There was a rocky portion next to the river where the dogs could wade into the water and explore, and some trails leading up to the highway. We heard very little traffic from the nearby highway. We will definitely return. This is a perfect trail for less physically active persons and also for children. Regarding the bathroom, there is one 3 miles south on 202 at the elk reserve (marked public restrooms at the turnoff). This is accessible. Beautiful picnic and outting!

Not far from highway 26, this is a nice detour if you want some quick waterfall action. Ample…read moreparking but not much of a park itself. There's a short, simple trail that will take you to the waterfall. It's a nice, rumbly gushy waterfall. I'd you're looking for more of a hike, I suggest elsewhere. This is a nice pitstop though or a place to meditate as the waterfall drowns out all the road noise.

Great park and beach. Not an easy access and not for disabled folk! The trail to the beach is not…read moregentle.

We stopped here on the way from driving from Seaside to Tillamook. We had intended to drive to…read moreLincoln city but never made it that far. Anyway, we stopped at the park which is quick turnout with parking, then a short walk to the beach. Parking is free but the lot small. The beach and views from it are spectacular. I envy the people who live close by the park or on the Oregon coast in general. They are lucky people because the Oregon coast is among the most beautiful in the world. Arcadia beach and Ecola State park (a few minutes north of Arcadia) are absolutely must-see when driving Pacific coast highway 101.

A short hike from the parking lot trailhead leads you to this beach. I was surprised since there…read morewas a restroom with plumbing right next to the beach, in addition to the one at the trailhead. I guess it gets very busy during the summer. The trail is well marked and well maintained, with only one or two muddy areas which are easily navigated to avoid getting wet. I wasn't able to get close to Blumenthal Falls on the north end of Short Sand Beach due to the tide and waves, but I could see it from the end of the trail on the beach. It's on of the very few waterfalls in the PNW that cascades into the Pacific Ocean. Very pretty! The beach itself is very picturesque as it's located in a cove surrounded by mountains. Several benches are present to let you take it all in.

We always drive right by, as most of the year parking is impossible. Luckily we decided to pull off…read morelast weekend, so glad! Varied winding trails from the parking lot through gorgeous trees. The trails go off in different directions with decent signage along the way. Let's be real, the Oregon coastline is gorgeous no matter where you decide to stop off, and Short Sand is no different. Two creeks emerge from the trees flowing onto the sands and into what feels like a huge "cove" with great waves (at least this day) and a lovely beach. Beautiful spot! I can see why it's so busy during most of the year, but it's sooo peaceful right now during the winter!

Lovely spot to start the Tillamook Lighthouse trek, but not for lighthouse spotting, just a more…read morechallenging trail. Plenty of free parking, but no services or porta-potties. We only hiked for about 30 mins, but enjoyed all the lush green and mostly empty trail.

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, to the grandest attraction on the coast the legendary Seaside…read morePromenade in dazzling Seaside! Built in 1920 and unveiled to the cheering crowds on August 7, 1921, this 1.5-mile concrete thrill ride replaced the old wooden boardwalk like a brand-new roller coaster replacing a rickety carnival track. For the jaw-dropping sum of $150,000 overseen by city engineer L.C. Rogers they poured what might be the smoothest "ride" on the entire Oregon Coast. No tickets required. No height restrictions. Just lace up and go. From Avenue U to 12th Avenue, it's a straight-shot midway of ocean views, charming hotels, storybook cottages, and that massive cove of beach stretched out like the main stage. You don't just walk it you parade it. Rain misting your face? That's the splash zone. Wind whipping sideways? That's the special effects machine working overtime. And somehow, tucked back just enough from the surf, it stays the perfect ride year-round. Summer turns it into bumper cars bikes, strollers, dogs, families, laughter everywhere. It's shoulder-to-shoulder energy like the midway on opening night. But winter? That's VIP access. Wide open lanes. Moody skies. Waves crashing like applause just for you. You feel like you rented out the whole park. No flashing lights needed. No roller coasters required. This is the main attraction. Five stars, hands in the air, screaming all the way down the track.

Yep, take the time to come and take pictures of the Seaside sign and the End of the Trail statue…read more We have traveled the Oregon trail several times and see the end of it at this location is pretty special. It was a long trip for the expedition but to get the payoff of seeing the ocean, WOW!

What a beautiful beach. Not too crowded on this Saturday night. There were maybe 30 other people…read more(give or take) on the entire beach, as far as our eyes could see. We watched a spectacular sunset here earlier tonight, and we were treated to an unparalleled sky show for almost 2 hours. Some of the sand on this beach is quite soft and a bit deep. There are beautiful streams of water crisscrossing the sand in various places. These streams cross the stretches of sand perpendicular to the ocean, and they lead in to the ocean. Our shoes and socks got soaked multiple times crossing these streams on our walks along this beach, but it was worth it! There are several logs to sit on. Very clean beach. We saw no litter whatsoever. A few Surfers and Frisbee-throwers were hanging out here tonight, as well as a few people with dogs (the dogs seemed to be having a blast here!), and a couple of families with small children. We got some gorgeous photos! Will post the photos here to this review in a week or two.

Such a chill vibe in the fall. Lovely town and great for off season visit, but know many stores…read morewill be closed. The little market has everything you need. It's close enough to Tillamook and Cannon Beach for day trips. Great place to stay for a getaway. I'm sure it gets bananas in the summer.

One of my all time favorite hikes in the area! You can see 5 snow clad peaks on a good clear day!…read moreRainier, Adams, Helens, Hood, Jefferson! Loved the peaks view along with the every beautiful shiny coastline! The climb is hard at the end but truly rewarding at the end. Be aware of the poking sticks and metal rods on the trail. The slope could be slippery due to rain and water and lose gravel but I appreciate the barbed wire all along the lose rocky path!

Two hours and twenty minutes to complete this hike with a 20 lb pack strapped to my back. It's…read morechallenging. And you don't get the payoff of a wickedly sweet view unless you're lucky. Doesn't matter. It's worth it. You'll work your calves and quads and gluts and muscles you forgot you had. You'll marvel at the abundance of wildflowers and amount of mist that lands in your eyes. You'll step off of the trail and immediately begin bragging on social media, if not because you snapped some great photos than definitely because you feel strong and proud. Okay then, you awesome hiker, drive the half hour to Seaside and splurge on a celebratory beer! Pro Tip: Go early to avoid the crowds. This trail is packed by noon. Another Pro Tip: Leave your dog at home. This trail has several sections that are covered in wiring to help maintain the trail and prevent hikers from slipping on wet rocks and gravel. That wire netting is not something you want your dog to have to walk on. IMHO it's inhumane.

This is a really cool park to explore. It has a nice view of the water and lots of benches and…read moregrass to sit on. We got some lunch across the street and enjoyed it here. This park tells the history of the area and and has a bunch of trolls throughout the park to find. Each one has their own story. There is also a section with flags from all the Nordic countries. It was a really nice place to spend the afternoon. They also had a brand new, very clean bathroom that looked like it had just been put in, so that was nice too. The whole park felt clean and safe and I learned a lot.

August 1, 2025 - Astoria…read more This small park pays tribute to the contributions of Scandinavian immigrants from the late 1800s and early 1900s through fun and engaging displays. The steps leading up the path are inscribed with the names of the countries the immigrants came from. And the trolls--so cute and photogenic! The decorative arch adorned with national flags, the steamer trunks, and the photos of actual immigrants (the profession stones) make this a must-see while in Astoria." Note: The website for Astoria Nordic Park has stories to go along with each of the trolls. If you have kids (or even if you don't), it might be fun to check it out before you visit the park. From the website: "The six trolls in the Nordic Park are assumed to be immigrants. Viktor brought his grandfather's pipe to remind him of his grandfather. Margit needed new friends in a new country so she found Fat Cat. Olle (pronounced Oh-luh) could only bring one toy but sometimes visitors to the park bring him new ones. Sven brought his accordion and remembers the old tunes so people in Astoria can dance them too. Annette (pronounced Annettah) is outgoing and likes to sing with the sea lions. Come at night and maybe you'll hear her. Leif (pronounced lafe) is very shy because he grew up in a cave so he hides under a leaf." Check out the website for their full stories! (And audio playlists!)