Sunset Beach State Recreation Site stretches along 18 miles of Pacific coastline between Warrenton and Gearhart, approximately four miles south of the Columbia River mouth and eight miles north of Seaside. This 120-acre park serves as the western terminus of the historic Fort to Sea Trail, a 6.5-mile route recreating the journey Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery completed in January 1806 from Fort Clatsop to the ocean. Captain William Clark wrote in his journal, Ocean in view! O! the joy! upon reaching this stretch of beach. The site sits between large coastal dunes and thickly forested areas of Sitka spruce and shore pine, with expansive ocean views stretching from Cape Disappointment in Washington to the north and Tillamook Head to the south. Oregon acquired the property for beach access and recreation in 1975, developing facilities to support one of the state's premier razor clamming destinations.
Swimming at Sunset Beach proves extremely dangerous year-round due to powerful rip currents, cold Pacific water temperatures averaging 50-55 degrees, sneaker waves, and absence of lifeguard services. The Oregon Coast averages 15 drownings annually, many occurring during calm-appearing conditions when sneaker waves strike without warning. Razor clamming dominates recreational activities during spring and summer low tides, with diggers searching for telltale dimples indicating buried Pacific razor clams reaching lengths of six inches. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife licenses cost 10 dollars for residents and 28 dollars for non-residents, with daily catch limits of 15 clams per person. Beach driving permits access from designated entry points, allowing two-wheel-drive vehicles to navigate the hard-packed sand at low tide and four-wheel-drive vehicles during softer conditions. Approximately 10 miles of driveable beach extend from Peter Iredale Road at Fort Stevens south to Gearhart, though restrictions prohibit vehicles from noon to midnight between May 1 and September 15 near the Peter Iredale shipwreck to protect nesting snowy plovers. Kite flying, beachcombing, and picnicking attract families to the wide sandy expanse.
Access Sunset Beach State Recreation Site via Sunset Beach Lane, turning west off Highway 101 between mileposts 13 and 14, following signs one mile to the ocean. The paved parking lot accommodates 21 vehicles with an information station providing maps and regulations. An ADA-accessible boardwalk extends through coastal dunes to the beach approximately 400 yards from parking. Vault toilets serve the parking area year-round. The Fort to Sea Trail eastern trailhead begins at Fort Clatsop National Memorial six miles east on Highway 101. Oregon State Parks day-use parking permits are not currently required at Sunset Beach as of late 2024, though adjacent Fort Stevens State Park implemented fees October 1, 2025. Beach driving requires street-legal vehicles only, with motorcycles and off-highway vehicles prohibited. Cell phone coverage proves reliable with most carriers. Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria provides emergency services 12 miles northeast at 2111 Exchange Street.
Dining concentrates in Warrenton three miles northeast and Gearhart four miles south. The South Jetty Dining Room in Warrenton prepares pan-seared razor clams harvested from local beaches, Dungeness crab mac and cheese, grilled salmon, and wild mushroom risotto. Ship Out at 104 10th Street in Warrenton serves fish and chips using rockfish and lingcod caught off the Columbia River bar, clam chowder, and fish tacos. Fort George Brewery in Astoria eight miles northeast brews award-winning craft beers including 1811 pre-Prohibition lager and Matryoshka Russian imperial stout, serving burgers, wood-fired pizzas, and Korean-style fried chicken in the former Astoria City Hall building. McMenamins Sand Trap Pub at 1157 North Marion Avenue in Gearhart operates in the historic Kelly House, cooking buttermilk pancakes, wild Alaskan cod fish and chips, and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls alongside Hammerhead pale ale and Terminator stout. Pacific Way Bakery in Gearhart bakes morning croissants, scones, and cinnamon rolls while serving seasonal Northwest lunch and dinner menus. Sunset Beach's combination of Lewis and Clark heritage, exceptional razor clamming, and vehicle access creates northern Oregon's most accessible and historically significant beach destination.
