City: Coastal Oregon, OR

Category: Tours & Attractions

Description: Cape Kiwanda is a golden sandstone headland sculpted by the frothy ocean waves of the Pacific and is located at Pacific City. Pacific City is 25 miles south of Tillamook and 20 miles north of Lincoln City off US 101 on the Three Capes Scenic Loop. Pacific City is most well known for its fleet of dory boats. Dory boats are flat-bottomed fishing boats that are launched off the flat, sandy beach at the base of Cape Kiwanda. Locals still launch these boats into the calm morning surf to fish for halibut, lingcod, and other commercial fish species that are plentiful around offshore Haystack Rock. If you want to experience fishing from a dory boat, call Haystack Fishing, owned by Joe & Wendy Hay, (866) 965-7555; www.haystackfishing.com. This state-licensed outfitter offers chartered trips where you can catch halibut, sturgeon, salmon, and lingcod. If you just want to look and not catch, this outfitter also offers chartered whale-watching trips. Many visitors come to Cape Kiwanda beach to watch the dory boats ride the ocean waves back into shore and come to a sliding stop on the sand. Mixed in with the dory fleet, you will also see surfers and ocean kayakers playing in the waves. Walk along Kiwanda Beach at the base of Cape Kiwanda and investigate the rocky tide pools that are home to anemones, sea stars, mussels, and hermit crabs. You may also find sand dollars, mussel shells, and other beach treasures by walking along the flat, sandy beach south from Cape Kiwanda. If you like hiking up steep sand dunes, you can hike to the top of Cape Kiwanda from Cape Kiwanda beach. The soft, sandy, strenuous trek to the top of Cape Kiwanda is well worth the effort. You will have spectacular views of Haystack Rock, Nestucca Bay to the south, and Cape Lookout to the north. Kids can spend hours climbing, jumping, and running down the face of this expansive sand dune. A public parking area and restrooms are available at Cape Kiwanda beach. If you want to try a local microbrew, check out the Pelican Pub & Brewery located adjacent to the public parking area.