If you’re yearning to head to the PNW for pictures of Oregon’s coast, it’s probably because you’ve seen pictures of this place and thought, “Shit, how do I get there?” Or maybe you’re just seeking a beach day outside of Portland. In either case, Pacific City and Cape Kiwanda welcome you to walk along the morning calm of the beach, climb the sandy hills and look out over the waves. Enjoy a Doryland Pizza on the beach and a great IPA from Pelican Brewery. Go surfing. Find a starfish at low tide. Go find Bigfoot. But whatever you do, don’t miss the sunset from a sandy spot on Cape Kiwanda.

Getting to Cape Kiwanda

• From Portland: 2 hours
• From Salem: 1 hour 15 minutes
• From Eugene: 2 hour 30 minutes

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area is in Pacific City, Oregon. There is a large parking lot off of Hungry Harbor Rd, right next to Pelican Brewing. If the lot is full, and you have 4-wheel drive, you can drive right onto the beach. There are a couple trails from Pacific City Beach that take you to the top. If you’d like to add an extra mile to your hike, you can park at the end of Pacific Ave, and walk north up the beach to Cape Kiwanda.

If you’re looking for something else to do nearby, consider the Cascade Head hike!