A seven-mile stretch of sandy beach defines Rockaway Beach. But the town can be explored beyond its coastline: an old-growth coastal forest, Twin Rocks, and local history offer other points of interest.
Beach, Forest, and Lake
You can go beachcombing on the shore. Along with the coastal experience, this gives you a specific beach activity to enjoy locally. The Old Growth Cedar Trail offers a different focus: It leads into a nature preserve whose land has never been developed and passes through an old-growth coastal forest to a giant cedar at the end of the trail. The easy hike is about one mile long. Its clearly defined destination makes it a distinctive nature discovery during a stay in Rockaway Beach.
Lake Lytle is also within the city of Rockaway Beach on Oregon’s north coast. The lake covers 65 acres. Manhattan Beach State Recreation Site is a day-use park; its address is 8845 Beach Street, Rockaway Beach, Oregon 97136. This exact address provides a practical reference if you include this specific place in your plans.
Twin Rocks: Views and Geology
Twin Rocks can be appreciated both as a scenic destination and for how they were formed. Minnehaha Street offers the best view of the rocks and the closest vantage point on solid ground. Twin Rocks are less than half a mile away. Millions of years of erosion wore the originally connected structure into its present form. The view of this striking formation is thus paired with a geological history that extends far beyond a single visit. As local access conditions can change, check the latest information before your visit.
Local History and Traditions
The historic natatorium once stood at what is now Rockaway Beach Wayside. Its original swimming pool is still beneath the Wayside parking lot. The town’s history is therefore also embedded beneath the present-day surface. Another local story centers on the Pronto Pup: George and Versa Boyington invented it in Rockaway Beach in the late 1930s. These two stories tell different sides of local life—one about a former bathing resort, the other about the creation of a local food.
The Rockaway Beach Kite Festival is an annual tradition. Children can learn to build kites in special classes. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the latest event dates in advance.
Train Traditions and Excursions
Taking the train to Rockaway Beach has been a family tradition since the 1920s. The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad runs along a section of the former Port of Tillamook Bay rail line and offers regular excursions between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach. Planning a train trip brings together a longstanding family tradition and a specific excursion option. For scheduling, check the operator’s current operating days and availability.
Whether you want to focus on the beach, the hike to the giant cedar, Twin Rocks, or local history, Rockaway Beach offers a range of ways to explore. Information about the festival and railroad can help you choose when to visit; the landscape and history offer further guidance on the interests you want to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Manzanita, Cloverdale, Cape Meares, Netarts, Nehalem, Garibaldi, Tillamook, Neskowin
For the broader travel overview: Tillamook County.
