In an era when most “secret” spots are overrun the moment they hit Instagram, Tunnel Beach still feels like a genuine discovery. Oceanside, Oregon hides one of the most photogenic and downright magical beaches on the entire Oregon coast. If you’ve ever driven the Three Capes Scenic Route, you’ve probably breezed past the tiny town of Oceanside (Population – 350) without giving it much thought, Big Mistake. Tucked in just west of Tillamook and nine miles off Highway 101, you will find Tunnel Beach. Sometimes the best places are the ones you literally have to walk through a mountain to reach.
The Tunnel that Started It All
The start of the show is literally a tunnel. In the early 1920s, the Rosenberg family (who owned the land at the time) hired workers to blast a 100-foot passageway through the basalt headland that separates Oceanside Beach from a hidden cover to the north. The reason? So their family and guests could easily reach the secluded beach and its spectacular tide pools without scrambling over rocks. Today, that hand-dug runnel is the only legal way to reach what locals simple call “Tunnel Beach” or “Starfish Beach.”
How to Get There
Tunnel Beach is a secluded cover at Oceanside Beach State Recreation site in Tillamook County, Oregon. Just a short drive on Route 131 from the Intersection of Hwy 101 and Route 6 (Netarts Highway) in Tillamook. There is a free public parking lot just short walk to the tunnel entrance in the cliff. The Address for getting here via GPS: 700 Rosenberg Loop, Oceanside Oregon 97134. (Some maps label it as “Oceanside Beach State Recreation site” or “Maxwell Point Tunnel Parking”) Space is limited especially on weekends and sunny days it fills up fast. Alternatively, you can park along the residential streets in Oceanside, such as Rosenberg Loop or Side Streets. Please respect “No Parking” signs and driveways, from here its usually a 5–10-minute walk to the tunnel. No fees, or permits are needed to visit this magical beach!
Pro Tip: Check tide charts! You want to arrive 1-2 hours before low time and leave with plenty of buffer. At high tide the Sound end of the beach and the tunnel entrance can be underwater or dangerous. We use Tide-forecast.com its a great resource for tide charts and the App has so many great features.
What You’ll Find on the Other Side
The moment you begin approaching the tunnel’s end and step out of the tunnel, the beach feels like a scene from a fantasy novel. Towering sea stacks, hidden caves, a waterfall that plunges straight onto the sand (yes, really). You will also find some of the densest, most colorful tide pools on the coast. On a good minus tide you’ll see: Purple and orange sea stars, giant green anemones, and bright pink coralline algae coating the rocks. I have even heard some have seen hermit crabs and the very lucky ones have spotted the occasional octopus.
Beyond the tide pools, look up, Peregrine falcons nest on the cliffs. Look left There is a small sea cave you can walk into at low tide. Look right. In the winter you might spot gray whales spouting just offshore.
Good to Know Before you Go
The Tunnel is dark and drippy; good shoes with grip are recommended (no-flipflops)as the rocks can get slippery. I wear Terrex made by Adidas, they are a great hiking shoe and bonus (Waterproof)!
A Small drybag or ziplock bag will keep things dry if a wave surprises you! A small drybag or backpack is a great idea, as there are no facilities once you’re through the tunnel. If you pack water and snacks a drybag/backpack will save the day. Also be sure pack everything you packed in out, there are no trash cans on the north side of the tunnel.
ProTip: Never Turn your back on the ocean, sneaker waves are real here! I know you will make great decisions but sometimes time flies when we are having fun so carry a whistle just in case you get cut off by the tide and need to signal for help!
Step through that dark tunnel at low tide and let the secret side of the Oregon coast steal your breath! – Switchbackvalley