Oswald West State Park

Oswald West State Park is a coastal rainforest park about 10 miles south of Cannon Beach, named for Oregon Governor Oswald West, who championed making the state's beaches public. The park covers roughly 2,500 acres of Sitka spruce, western hemlock and red cedar on the slopes of Neahkahnie Mountain and Cape Falcon.

The most popular stop is Short Sand Beach, reached by an easy trail of about 0.8 mile from the Highway 101 parking lots. The beach is a well-known surf spot and has tide pools and a stream running to the sand. Trails also lead to the Cape Falcon headland, with views of the coast, and a segment of the Oregon Coast Trail passes through the park.

The park has restrooms and picnic areas near the parking lots. Check trail and weather conditions before visiting, as winter storms can bring heavy surf and trail damage.