Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area in Oregon, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-05. Check linked official notices before travel.

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area sits just north of Pacific City, Oregon. You can watch the surf hit the sandstone headland from the beach or climb the steep sand dune for a higher view. Both options start at the county lot on Hungry Harbor Road.

Sandstone cliffs and the dune above Pacific City

The big dune is the cape’s most obvious landmark from the beach. Climb only if everyone in your group is comfortable walking uphill in loose sand. From the established viewpoints, watch waves work their way into the cracks of the headland. On the beach below, you may see Pacific City’s fishing dories come and go.

Plan a beach or dune visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Stay back from cliffs and surf

Keep behind the fences. Sandstone can break away without warning, and sinkholes have formed near the lower northwest part of the dune above sea caves. On the beach, watch the surf and check the tide before rounding rocks or approaching tide pools. Rising water can cut off the way back. Read the Oregon coast beach safety advice before you go.

Beach traffic and protected tide pools

Leave space for boats at the county ramp. Just north of it, beach parking is for vehicles launching or retrieving boats. Motor vehicles are generally barred from the quarter mile immediately south, with occasional boat-launch exceptions when the north side is unsafe. The park profile has a map of vehicle rules for other stretches. In the Cape Kiwanda Marine Garden, do not take intertidal marine plants or invertebrates. Narrow exceptions apply to single mussels taken for recreational bait and permitted scientific research. The usual Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife rules still govern fish harvest.

Find the county lot and the dune

Use the county parking areas on either side of Hungry Harbor Road in Pacific City. From the ramp, the state natural area begins about a quarter mile away at the base of the dune. That approach follows the sandy beach.

Nearby parks

• Bob Straub State Park. Stay in Pacific City for beach access and a walk along the Nestucca sand spit.
• Sitka Sedge State Natural Area. Head north to the Sand Lake Estuary for the Beltz Dike Trail, which leads from the parking area toward the beach.

Walk the beach or climb the dune

On a beach-only visit, give yourself time to watch for dories or fly a kite away from the boat ramp. If you climb, expect the first 100 feet or so to be particularly steep. At the top, use the established viewing areas. From either level, pay attention to where your group will turn back before the tide or surf changes.

Restrooms and the sandy approach

The county provides restrooms at Cape Kiwanda Recreation Area. There are sidewalks along the vehicle ramp, but the slope to the beach exceeds accessibility standards. Expect soft sand at the foot of the ramp and on the dune approach.

How the headland took shape

Protection of the headland

The state acquired the area in 1973 through a purchase and a gift from B. A. McPhillips. Wave action continues to wear away its sandstone, changing the cliffs and the rock formations below.

Rocky shore and nesting seabirds

The rocky shore supports intertidal life in the Marine Garden. Seabirds nest on some of the neighboring cliffs and offshore rocks, including Haystack Rock off Pacific City.

Cape Kiwanda park information

Consult the Oregon State Parks profile and maps for notices and call the park office at 503-842-3182.