Roads End State Recreation Site
🏆🏆🏆 Lincoln City Beach — North end beach access at Lincoln City with tide pools and sunset views
Roads End State Recreation Site marks the northern tip of Lincoln City’s 7-mile beach — one of the longest uninterrupted public beaches on the Oregon Coast. The rocky headland at Roads End features excellent tide pools, a small protected cove, and views north to Cascade Head. The site is especially popular for sunset watching as the sun drops directly into the Pacific from this vantage point.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Lincoln City (north end), OR |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Beach | 7-mile beach starts here |
| Feature | Tide pools, Cascade Head views |
Frequently Asked Questions
What about the glass floats?
Lincoln City drops hand-blown glass floats on the beach October–May in the “Finders Keepers” program. Roads End is one of the drop zones — find one and it’s yours!
About Roads End
Roads End State Recreation Site marks the northern terminus of Lincoln City’s 7-mile beach — where the road literally ends at the Pacific Ocean. The beach here is backed by dramatic headlands and sea caves accessible at low tide.
Things to Do
Tide pool exploration in the rocky areas, sea cave exploration at low tide, surfing (this break is popular with locals), beachcombing, and storm watching. The headland trail offers ocean views.
Insider Tips
Lincoln City north: Roads End is where the road literally ends — a cul-de-sac meets the beach at the north end of Lincoln City. Pro tip: The beach connects to a long stretch of sand perfect for kite flying — Lincoln City calls itself the “Kite Capital of the World.” Glass floats: Lincoln City’s Finders Keepers program drops hand-blown glass floats on the beach October-May — find one and keep it.
Best Time to Visit
October-May: Finders Keepers glass float season. Summer: Best weather for kite flying and beach walking. Winter: Storm watching and treasure hunting. Year-round: The D River (world’s shortest river) enters the sea in Lincoln City.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Finders Keepers?
Since 1999, Lincoln City has placed hand-blown glass floats on its beaches from October through May. Find one above the high tide line and it’s yours — each is signed by the artist. Over 3,000 floats are dropped annually. Registration gets you a certificate of authenticity.
Wildlife & Nature
Roads End State Recreation Site — marking the northern end of Lincoln City — provides beach access where the rugged headlands meet wide sandy beaches. The name is literal — the road ends at the Pacific Ocean. The beach’s tide pools support diverse intertidal communities — hermit crabs, shore crabs, sea anemones, and chitons. During extreme low tides (“minus tides” below zero on tide tables), normally submerged habitats are briefly exposed — creating exceptional tidepool exploration opportunities. Gray whales pass close to shore here — the headland provides excellent whale watching without boat trips. Brown pelicans — squadron flyers that plunge-dive for fish — patrol the surf line. Tufted puffins nest on offshore rocks, their distinctive orange bills visible in binoculars from shore.
Nearby Attractions
Lincoln City — the “Kite Capital of the World” — hosts kite festivals and features a 7-mile beach. D River — one of the world’s shortest rivers (120 feet) — connects Devils Lake to the Pacific. Cascade Head Preserve (The Nature Conservancy) protects rare coastal headland prairie. Lincoln City Glass Center offers glassblowing experiences. Chinook Winds Casino provides entertainment. Depoe Bay — 15 minutes south — is the “Whale Watching Capital of Oregon.” Devils Lake offers freshwater recreation.
🔮 Visit Roads End SRS
Lincoln City’s northern tip — tide pools, sunsets, and hidden glass float treasures.
