Beachcombing on the Oregon Coast

I could spend days combing the beach for treasures. Pretty rocks, not-so-pretty rocks, stray fishing gear, unique pieces of driftwood…I love them all. Since moving to the Oregon Coast I’ve become more particular about what makes its way into my pockets to come home, but the thrill of the hunt is still most of the fun.

Oregon Coast beachcombing offers plenty of opportunity to find something neat; you just gotta keep your eyes peeled!

Timing:

I prefer to beachcomb as the tide is going out for a few reasons:

– Lower tides mean more beach is exposed, leaving more to look at.

– Low tides offer some additional safety as you have a larger buffer of beach to work within. You still gotta watch your back, but it’s nice to have some space between you and the water.

– High tides can carry goodies further up the beach. This means that as the tide goes out, if you’re in the right place at the right time, you just may be the first person to stumble upon something special. Typically about two hours after high tide, you’ll start to find enough fresh beach exposed to go out and start looking.

Printed tide tables are available at most local sporting good stores along the coast, and current tide tables are also printed in the newspaper. My tool of choice, though, is a free app called Tides Near Me. With a quick swipe I can get current tide information for the area I’m currently in!

Gravel showing as the tide goes out at Heceta Head

Location:

Depending on what you’re looking for, different beaches will have different items more likely to wash up on the shore. For example, if you’re hoping to find something like glass floats or whole shells, sandy beaches will be your best bet. Rocky coastlines often break these kinds of items, so your chances will be lessened.

If you’re on the lookout for some special pebbles to tuck in your pockets, like agates or jasper, you’ll want to aim for a beach that has more exposed gravel. More rocks overall mean more rocks to choose from.

Of course, certain beaches are also known for their beachcombing specialties. Some folks aren’t willing to share where they find their goodies, but I’m nice, and none of my favorite sports are exactly secrets, so I’ll tell ya about ’em.

When I’m on the hunt for agates, here’s where I head on the Central Oregon Coast:

Bob Creek:

Located south of Yachats, Bob Creek is a very popular agate hunting outpost on the Oregon Coast. This rocky shoreline provides opportunities to search for agates, explore lively tide pools and picnic on the grassy lawn overlooking the shore.

Strawberry Hill:

Another popular agate hole, located just north of Bob Creek, Strawberry Hill requires a little work to get to. The parking area for Strawberry Hill sits high on bluff overlooking the beach. To get to the goods, you’ll need to hike down the trail which encompasses a fair elevation change. Be sure to watch for slick spots on the  trail and keep an eye on the tides. This can be a tricky hike down to the beach. Some great goodies have been found here, though!

Heceta Head/Devil’s Elbow:

This cobblestone beach has gifted me with quite a few small, yet stunning, agates. As the tide goes out, especially in the winter months, some fruitful gravel can be found as you stroll this relatively small & easily accessible beach. For more about why I love it here, check out this post.

Cam showing off a find from Heceta Head.

Stonefield:

Also between Yachats and Florence, Stonefield Beach is a flat and easy walk out to the beach through a small trail from one of two parking areas. This big ol’ beach gets gravelly from time to time and has also produced a few beautiful pieces of agate for me to add to my windowsill display.

I’ll be honest with you, Luke has also found some beauuuutiful rocks on unlikely beaches. My favorite carnelian covered with druzy quartz was found by him when we got out to explore after a drive near Siltcoos Outlet in Florence. No matter where I go, I keep an eye on the sand. You won’t find anything if you’re not lookin’!

If you’re looking for current reports on gravel beds and conditions on Oregon beaches, check out Facebook groups like Oregon Beach Gravelhounds. Whether you live on the Oregon Coast and want to share your finds, or enjoy seeing finds from others on the coast, these groups are communities of people who love a hunt for Oregon Coast treasure!

The Rules

While this is the West, it ain’t exactly wild and there are some rules in place to make sure the hunt is fair for all and that our natural resources aren’t negatively impacted by beachcombers.

In the State of Oregon, each person is allowed to collect up to 1 gallon of small stones (such as agates), shells and other non-living items for personal use per day, up to no more than 3 gallons per year. Be aware that you also must keep your own 1 gallon container, as the rule does not allow people to combine their finds. This would likely only be a problem if your family collected more than the 1 gallon total, but it’s better safe than sorry when the ranger comes ’round.

Different rules apply to cobble-type stone and sand, allowing a littler more per person per year. For a full set of the rules and regs on what you can and can’t take – and how much – you can read through the general Ocean Shores State Recreation Area rules here.

Cobble at Devil’s Elbow – Heceta Head

Be sure not to take or harm anything living, plants or animals and as a general rule, leave anyplace you beachcomb better than you found it. Every time I go to the beach I leave with at least one piece of trash in my pocket – or a bag full. You should too. The ocean will thank you for it.

Have fun out there,
Nat