Favorite Area Activities

ON FOOT || ON WHEELS || ON THE WATER || IN THE WATER

 

ON FOOT

• Beach Walks—what else? We have 7 miles of hard-packed sand from the bottom of the Neah-Kah-Nie Headland to the jetty at the mouth of Nehalem Bay. If you go the whole way, it’s a hike. Take water and plan to baby your legs two days later.
   
• Manzanita Golf Course 368-5744. We have the sweetest little 9-hole golf course. You can hear the roar of the ocean as you walk the dips and hills of the course.
   
• Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain Hike. The mountain stands nearly 1700 feet tall. There is a wonderful zig-zag trail moving through several different zones of foliage and trees. From the top, you have a breathtaking view of our Three-Village Community (Nehalem, Manzanita, Wheeler), the river valley, and down the coast more than 50 miles. Not to be missed. If you want to turn this into a longer hike, continue on across the Mountain to Highway 101 at Elk Meadows—another hour on the trail and then you go back by way of 101 to your car. Or you can cross over 101, hike out on Elk Meadows to experience the rugged cliffs of the North Coast “close up.” Never go over a barricade. They are there for your safety.
   
• Short Hike to Short Sands Beach at Smugglers Cove through Oswald West State Park, 6 miles north of Manzanita. This is a great, short hike through magnificent old growth cedar and Sitka spruce to the favorite surfing beach on the North Coast. Be sure to walk through the primitive campsites to find the uprooted trees from recent winter storms. These root bases are 30-50 feet tall. At the beach, watch the surfers. If you want to turn this into a longer hike, continue on to Cape Falcon—a couple of hours on down the trail. Please note...To be safe, you can park in the lot on the east side of Highway 101; then go to the north end of the lot and find the pedestrian walk going underneath the highway—no need to cross over and challenge the highway traffic.
   

ON WHEELS

• Fun cycle on the beach. Rentals available at Manzanita Bikes and Boards 
  368-3337. Conveniently located downtown at 170 Laneda Avenue. Now this is fun. They have ones fitted for adults and for kids—and even a trailer attachment for a little one behind an adult. These are really fun when you have a whole bunch of friends and family out wheeling around together. They are simple to maneuver—so simple you can get quite far away from the rental site before your legs get tired. Then, oops, you have to get all the way back. These fun-cycles use different muscles so your legs will be talking to you for a couple of days afterwards.
   
• Rollerblading. You brought your own rollerblades—or rented them in Seaside. There are nice flat, paved paths in Nehalem Bay State Park. You can spot the small plane airport, take a look at the camp sites with corrals for folks who bring their horses, or checkout the boat ramp.
   
• Skateboarding You brought your own. Nehalem has a small plywood skatepark at NCRD 368-7008. Skateboarding is restricted by ordinance in the commercial area of Manzanita.
   
• Bicycling. Bring your own or rent one from Manzanita Bikes and Boards,
  368-3337. Conveniently located downtown at 170 Laneda Avenue. The paths at Nehalem Bay State Park are great. If you are a serious biker, there are longer trips you can plot—out North Fork Road to McDonald Bridge or on to Highway 53 and back to Highway 101.
   

ON THE WATER

• Kayaking. The mild waters of either the North or South Fork of the Nehalem River and Nehalem Bay. Kayaking for the timid rather than the fearless. Jim at  Wheeler Marina 368-5780, will set you on your way. These plastic, brightly-colored 10-12 foot kayaks are the “rubber ducky” version of kayaking. It is a wonderful way to spend some time right on the water. You will see blue heron on the rivers, seals in the bay-eagles and beaver if you are lucky. Be sure to check tide tables before you put in—so you are traveling with the tide instead of against it.
   
• Coastal Estuary Kayaking Excursions (no experience necessary). During your stay why not explore the bay, river or sloughs of the Nehalem Estuary by water?  Kayak tours are tailored to accommodate all skill levels and all equipment is provided. Just show up to play and paddle! From November to March, thermoses of Hot Apple Cider with a cinnamon stick inside are served up to keep you toasty warm.  Since 2003, the Kayak Tillamook crew has taught and entertained our customers in our dynamic coastal waterways! We are operated by trained and certified professionals who poses extensive experience with the technical and safety aspects of trip planning and playing in local waterways. See Locations and to learn more about booking a private group outing or view our current tour schedule, call us at 503.866.4808 or visit: our website
   
• Boating. Contact Jim at Wheeler Marina 368-5780. Rent an aluminum bottom boat with an outboard motor. The fishers and crabbers love to rent these sturdy boats. If you want to go crabbing, Jim will set you up with baited crab pots and instructions in how-to. Or you can take the boat out and fool around up the rivers, in the sun, out of the wind. Mmmmm-Good. You can take a little picnic lunch or snacks. If you find a sand bar, you can pull over and swim.
   

IN THE WATER

• Boogie boarding and surfing. Skim-boarding and windsurfing. These are BIG sports here—and people bring their own equipment for these activities. Or rent equipment in Manzanita at Manzanita Bikes and Boards 368-3337. Conveniently located downtown at 170 Laneda Avenue.
  
  A word of caution. Unless you are attached to a board, go into the waves only knee-deep to avoid the undertows and rip tides. A sneaker wave can pull a walker or swimmer out beyond the breakers. Stay away from logs near the water or in the water. Around here, we say “Logs can kill.”
   
• Nehalem Bay Pool 368-7121. This is a great rainy-day activity or a must for lap swimmers. Our simple, indoor 1930s pool has been refurbished and is a point of great pride with locals. At considerable effort, we keep it going for our own youngsters and ourselves. There is a separate, shallow pool for tiny ones.