Pacific City Oregon: Experience Cape Kiwanda's Sandstone Cliffs That Shouldn't Exist
With massive sandstone cliffs, epic views, an impressive haystack rock, a sandy beach, and a stunning natural area, Pacific City, Oregon, is an incredible year-round destination for adventurers of all styles. Read on for how to visit this coastal beaut and experience its magic for yourself!
Table of Contents
At a Glance:
Location: Pacific City, Oregon
Entrance Fees: None to enter the park. $10 Day Use Access Pass to park in the Tillamook County-run parking lot at the Pacific City Boat Launch.
Level: Moderate
Length: 1-2 miles
Elevation gain: 187'
Route type: Loop
Native Lands: Nestucca
Open: Year-round
Best Time to Visit: Anytime! Summer for warm weather and winter for storm watching!
Dogs Allowed: Yes
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Cape Kiwanda is in Pacific City, Oregon, and is the smallest cape of the Three Capes Scenic Route. It’s an awesome year-round adventure–in the summer, visitors often try their balance with a surf sesh or soak up some quality West Coast rays, but the winter is where Cape Kiwanda, Oregon, truly comes alive. You’ll want to dress in your waterproof layers: it’s storm season, baby!
How to get there:
Drive to Pacific City, Oregon. Once there, find Pelican Brewing. Day-use parking is available just north of the oceanfront brewery for $10/day.
The Geology
The Oregon Coast is dotted with millions of years of stories that created the epic formations we frequent today, and Cape Kiwanda is no exception. In fact, it’s kind of a miracle that it’s still around at all. If it weren’t for Haystack Rock, locally known as Chief Kiwanda Rock, it would’ve been long gone–either suffocated by the many massive volcanic eruptions in Idaho that flowed into the ocean (creating some of our favorite coastal spots like Cape Perpetua), completely eroded by the coast’s unforgiving waves, or overgrown with forests like much of the surrounding area.
The basalt Chief Kiwanda Rock breaks up the massive waves and significantly slowed Cape Kiwanda’s eroding timeline (its mamma-bear sheltering habit also makes some decent surf for those who want to paddle out!). It’s still weathering away–in fact, geologists say the sandstone cliffs used to stretch all the way to Cape Kiwanda Rock, which is about 0.5 miles out to sea–but there’s still a decent portion around for us to experience! Long story short, you’re standing on 18-million-year-old sand. How freaking cool is that? Yes, I love rocks. Sorry not sorry.
Cape Kiwanda Hike
The hike itself is more of a sandy stroll with no clear trail. The only guidelines are an impressive metal fence–do not cross the fence!! It’s there for a reason.
Sandstone, which is what these epic cliffs are made of, erodes FAST. Bits and pieces of Cape Kiwanda are being washed away as we speak, and occasionally and totally unpredictably, massive sections fall off and plummet into the wild Pacific Ocean. You do NOT want to get caught up in that.
The hike begins on Pacific City Beach. Head north–you’ll see a sand dune in the distance. Yep, we’re climbing it! I’d recommend staying right and (hiking counterclockwise) to get the hardest part out of the way. Take your time, walking up a steep sand dune isn’t easy, but the top is well worth it, trust me.
Important: Check the Tides!
When the tide is high, waves can flow all the way up the beach to the dunes, leaving no beach to walk on. If you’re on Cape Kiwanda when the tide comes up, you could be cut off from the trail. How horrible would that be?! The good news is, tides are much more predictable than the weather, and NOAA has an awesome interactive tool that helps us see exactly what the tide will be on the day you plan to visit.
Find up-to-date tide charts HERE. Don’t forget to type in your specific location! In this case, it would be Pacific City, Oregon.
To be as safe as possible, start your hike as the tide is going out. This will leave you plenty of time to experience Cape Kiwanda at your leisure–that said, it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on the time, just in case.
Remember: high and low tides are six hours apart. There are two high tides and two low tides every day.
Once at the top, take in the sweeping views of Pacific City Beach (sometimes called Cape Kiwanda beach) to the south, Chief Kiwanda Rock emerging majestically out of the Pacific, and if you walk a little further north, the rest of Cape Kiwanda awaits! Absorb the massive orange cliffs and how the waves pound against them, tossing sea foam into the air. You may even feel one or two shake the ground beneath you!
Don’t forget to keep an eye on the horizon for whales! You may find a pod frolicking about, especially if you’re around during spring.
Watch for Dory Boats
If you’re lucky (or you happen to be in Pacific City for the Dory Boat Festival) you may catch a traditional 22-foot fishing vessel known as a Dory Boat among the waves. Dory Boats have been a huge part of Pacific City’s fishing culture since the early 1900s, evolving with the times. There are 300 Dory Boats that call Pacific City home!
Pacific City Oregon Restaurants
Ben and Jeff’s Burgers and Tacos
Just a couple of feet from the day-use parking area, Ben and Jeff’s is a rad local spot for fresh fish and a good brew in a casual setting. Craving fish? They’ve got halibut, cod, mahi mahi, and more. Meat? Carne asada, pollo, chorizo, etc. They also have burgers, quesadillas, clam chowder… the list goes on!
Grateful Bread Bakery
Grateful Bread is more than just a bakery, if you’re ready for a midday pick-me-up, swing by for a tasty selection of omelettes, sandwiches, wraps, scrambles, or my go-to, freshly caught fish tacos!
Twist Wines
Wine fans, swing by Twist for a tasting.
The Riverhouse: Nestucca
For the seafoodies with a bigger spending budget: The Riverhouse Nestucca plucks fish practically right off the line from the Pacific City docks and has it on your plate that night. Lingcod fish and chips, Chinook with gnocchi, or seafood paella: how the heck am I supposed to choose?
Pacific City Hotels
Hart’s Camp Airstream Hotel + RV Park
If you’ve always wanted to stay in an Airstream, now’s your chance! This Pacific City Airstream hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Pacific City Beach. They’re fully furnished and fitted with an oven, microwave, a coffee machine, a toaster and kettle. All units are air conditioned too, which is perfect for those hotter summers!
Sandcastle Cottage
A stunning a-frame-esque Airbnb in a private community with private beach access. How cool, right?
Headlands Coastal Lodge and Spa
If you want to be as close to the ocean as possible without having to jump aboard a boat, Headlands is the way to go. Their resort is literally on top of the beach, which means you’ll pay a little more for it. They offer tons of activities and amenities–aerobics classes, fitness center, free bicycle rentals, spa services, sSpa tub, and yoga classes–are pet friendly, and have a restaurant on site!
Pirates Perch
Pirates Perch is technically in Cloverdale, which is really just a 2-minute drive from Pacific City on the river, or 1,969’ from Pacific City Beach but who’s counting? This gorgeous home has massive windows and a dock down to the river!
Pacific City RV Park + Campground | Thousand Trails Pacific City
Located about 1.5 miles from Pacific City, Pacific City RV Resort is part of the Thousand Trails network of 81 campgrounds, and offers so much more than just RV and tent sites! Book a cozy cabin or consider glamping in one of their yurts while enjoying a ton of amenities like free wifi, an indoor heated pool and spa area, a tennis court, game room, and an on-site store and restaurant!
Don’t forget to Leave No Trace!
Let’s leave these beautiful spaces even better than we found them! Read up on the 7 Leave No Trace principles here.
References:
https://www.beachconnection.net/
https://coastview.org/