Light at the end of the tunnel, photo by CarriAnn Sparks Nearby Attractions OK, so I’m generally not a fan of hitting up places just for the photo op, but Tunnel Beach is so unique and cool that you really shouldn’t leave without taking at least a couple photos. RELATED: The Best Tide Pools on The Oregon Coast & Where to Find Them Snap a Photo for your Insta Remember to always be cautious anytime you’re near the ocean and be on the lookout for sneaker waves. Here you’ll find sea stars, anemones, mussels, and barnacles. Explore Tide Poolsīoth Tunnel Beach and Short Beach to the north are great places to explore tide pools at low tide. You can see these animals with the naked eye, but for the best viewing, bring a pair of binoculars. On any given day you’ll also see plenty of Steller sea lion and their pups. This protected land is home to Oregon’s largest breeding colonoregony of tufted puffins and common murre. When standing on Tunnel Beach looking across the ocean, you see Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge. You’re also likely to find some cool sea glass when beach combing. This is due to the heavy storms that churn up the sand and rock beds. In 1979, a landslide blocked the tunnel for 20 years until major storms in 1999 flushed it out again.īecause you can only access Tunnel Beach from this point you’ll sometimes hear it referred to as “Isolation Beach.” Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, photo by CarriAnn Sparks What To Do at Tunnel Beach Hunt for AgatesĪgate hunting is a tried and true past time for Oregonians since the Pacific Coast is one of the best places in the country to find these semiprecious stones.Īlthough you can find agates all year round, you’ll have the best luck at low tide in the winter months and early spring. Over the years, the tunnel has seen its share of calamity. The first half of the tunnel is made of concrete which soon gives way to the natural basalt rock that makes up Maxwell Point, the headland that sits 161 feet above your head. Prior to this, you could only safely access the main beach (Oceanside Beach) since the cliffs of Maxwell Point effectively cut off all approaches to the northern beaches. The 90 foot passageway to Tunnel Beach was built nearly 100 years ago in 1926 by the Rosenberg family (who founded the beach town of Oceanside) to give guests at their resort more access to coastline. The entrance to the man made tunnel is at the north end of Oceanside Beach which is hard to miss, but there’s a sign next to it reading: “CAUTION: FALLING ROCKS.” Most of the time the tunnel is safe enough, but if there’s been heavy storms, do indeed proceed with caution! Tunnel entrance, photo by Bordin Endinjok via AllTrails History The parking lot doesn’t often fill up, but if it does you’ll have to scout out street parking. You’ll head straight to Oceanside Beach State Park where there’s a large parking area with clean restrooms. Oceanside is about an hour and a half drive from Portland, making Tunnel Beach an easy day trip. RELATED: The Goonies Road Trip: Visit These 11 Filming Locations Oceanside Beach parking lot, photo by Stephen Dean via AllTrails Getting there
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