Short Sand Beach

Short Sand Beach, also known as "Short Sands" or "Shorty's," has become one of Oregon's most popular surfing and boogie boarding destinations.  Smugglers Cove remains protected from heavy weather, and the breaks are relatively consistent.  And even if you don't surf, the beach is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon.  In fact, the entire park was named for the beach when it was created in 1931, and it wasn't until 1958 that it was renamed after Governor Oswald West.  The popularity of the beach is especially apparent in the peak summer months; try weekdays or winter for more solitude.  To access the beach, take a short walk on the trail from the Oswald West State Park's main parking lot through an old-growth forest of Sitka Spruce alongside Short Sand Creek. 

From Short Sand Beach you can access the moderate hike to the end of Cape Falcon, or even the more robust, 6.6-mile there-and-back hike to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain.  Enjoy!

Short Sand Beach is part of the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve and Marine Protected Area. This means that there are specific prohibitions against fishing and the harvesting of fish, invertebrates, and seaweed. Check here for specific clarifications on regulations, exemptions, and a detailed representation of the area's boundaries.