Gearhart lies among the dunes on the North Coast and has a wide, unspoiled stretch of beach. The coast defines the town, but outdoor activities, art and traces of history offer other perspectives. If you are considering Gearhart as a destination, you can first decide whether the coast, outdoor activities or culture should take center stage.
Coast and Beach Activities
The access to Gearhart Beach near the Gearhart Condominiums allows vehicles to drive onto the beach. Vehicle access extends north to Warrenton and south only as far as the beach access at 10th Street. If you are coming to Gearhart for the opportunity to drive on the beach, check the conditions before your trip.
In Gearhart, beach wheelchairs are available free of charge for public use. Check on current operations before your trip. During the spring and fall migrations, visitors can look out for whales in Gearhart. Another activity is digging for razor clams. The two options offer different experiences: whale watching is about observing during migration seasons, while digging is an active pursuit.
Trails, Sports and Art
A footpath runs all the way around the 18-hole Gearhart Public Golf Course. The course provides a clearly defined landmark for a walk. Handball, pickleball, basketball and tennis are also played at the Gearhart Tennis and Pickleball Courts and Basketball Hoop. Golf is therefore just one of the sports that make Gearhart distinctive.
Throughout the year, the Trail's End Art Association offers classes, workshops and community-accessible groups in a variety of artistic media; participation is low-cost. Those who want to get creative themselves will find different formats there than at the main gallery, which features changing exhibitions each month. Check the current program before your trip.
The Trail's End Park Playground in Centennial Garden is a municipal playground for children. So, alongside the beach, sports and art, there is also a place specifically for children.
Historical Traces
Gearhart Park was the first planned resort community on the Oregon coast. In Gearhart's original plan from 1890, the Ridge Path was designated as a footpath. This plan provides a specific historical reference point for a named footpath in town.
Golf also has an early history in Gearhart: according to tradition, Gearhart Golf Links began around 1888 as a three-hole course for true links golf in the coastal meadows of the northern Oregon Coast. Unlike the 1890 plan, the golf course's origins are presented as tradition. Together, the two accounts show different aspects of the town's history—a documented footpath route and a traditional account of links golf.
Discover more destinations: Cannon Beach, Astoria, Seaside, Warrenton, Arch Cape
Return to the main travel overview: Clatsop.
