Sunset Beach State Recreation Site

🏆🏆🏆🏆 Wide sandy beach near Warrenton — views of the Columbia River Bar, “Graveyard of the Pacific,” where over 2,000 vessels have sunk since 1792.

Visitor Information

About Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach State Recreation Site offers access to one of the widest, most open beaches on the northern Oregon coast. Located between Warrenton and Gearhart near the mouth of the Columbia River, the beach stretches for miles in both directions. The flat, hard-packed sand is popular for driving (with a permit) and horseback riding — one of the few Oregon beaches where vehicles are allowed.

Things to Do

Beach driving, horseback riding, kite flying, and razor clam digging (in season, with license) are popular activities. The beach is a popular launch point for beach bonfires. The nearby Wreck of the Peter Iredale — a 1906 shipwreck whose rusted hull still protrudes from the sand — is one of Oregon’s most photographed landmarks at Fort Stevens State Park just to the north.

Getting There

Located off Highway 101 between Warrenton and Gearhart in Clatsop County. Free beach access. For vehicle access, obtain a beach driving permit from the county.

About Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach State Recreation Site in Clatsop County near Seaside provides access to a wide, flat beach — perfect for kite flying, beach driving (in permitted areas), and sunset watching. The north Oregon coast is famous for its long sandy beaches, dramatic weather, and spectacular sunsets over the Pacific.

Things to Do

Watching Pacific sunsets (spectacular!), kite flying, beach walking, surfing, clamming (razor clams — seasonal), and enjoying the wide north Oregon coast beach.

Insider Tips

Wide-open sands: Sunset Beach near Warrenton offers one of the widest, flattest beaches on the northern Oregon coast. Pro tip: The Peter Iredale shipwreck (nearby Fort Stevens) is one of the most photogenic shipwrecks in the US — the iron skeleton frames against sunset. Kite flying: The consistent winds make this stretch ideal for kite flying and windsports.

Best Time to Visit

Sunset (year-round): The name says it all — unobstructed Pacific sunsets. Summer: Best weather. Fall: Kite season and fewer crowds. Winter: Storm watching and wreck photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the Peter Iredale?

The four-masted British bark ran aground at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1906. The crew survived, but the ship could not be freed. Its rusting iron skeleton remains on the beach — one of the most accessible shipwrecks in the world and a Fort Stevens State Park icon.

Wildlife & Nature

Sunset Beach provides access to the wide sandy beaches of Oregon’s north coast — part of the extraordinary public beach system secured by the 1967 Beach Bill. The north coast receives the heaviest wave action during winter storms — 30-foot+ waves are common, and “sneaker waves” (unexpectedly large waves that surge far up the beach) pose genuine danger. Despite the hazards, winter storm watching has become a major tourism draw. The beach supports razor clam populations — these fast-digging bivalves can burrow a foot per minute and are prized by recreational diggers. Snowy plovers nest on undeveloped sections. Bald eagles patrol the shoreline. After storms, beachcombers find Japanese glass fishing floats — prized collectibles that have drifted across the Pacific on ocean currents.

Nearby Attractions

Seaside — Oregon’s oldest coastal resort — has a 1.5-mile promenade, arcades, and the Seaside Aquarium (one of the oldest on the West Coast, opened 1937). Gearhart offers a quiet beach atmosphere and the historic Gearhart Golf Links (1892). Fort Stevens State Park features the rusting wreck of the Peter Iredale shipwreck (1906). Lewis and Clark National Historical Park includes Fort Clatsop — the expedition’s 1805-06 winter quarters. Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock are south.