BEACH, VEHICLES ON
Motor vehicles are not allowed on the beach along Nehalem Bay State Park, which begins at Glenesslin Street. North of that boundary, vehicles are allowed 7 AM - noon from October 1 - April 30.

Vehicles on the beach must be street legal and drivers be licenses. No ORVs.

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BIKING, MOUNTAIN
The north Oregon coast offers mountain biking to thrill beginners and push gnarly riders to their limits.

First timers and young children. Try your fat tires on the bike trail that loops through Nehalem Bay State Park. When you feel comfortable on the paved trail, ride the gravel roads of the horse camp at the south end of the park.

Still learning and family ride. Park at the fish hatchery near milepost 7 on Highway 53. Ride on the highway over the river, then turn right on the first logging road. Stay right on the road going east following the river. Go around the gate to enjoy an easy ride along the scenic North Fork of the Nehalem.

This ride takes you onto private logging land where the owner allows recreational use. Please respect the land. And don't take this ride when signs warn about active logging.

Thigh-burning trainers. Two rides in Oswald West State Park push your legs and lungs to their limits.

1. From Highway 101, start up the road leading to the south Neahkahnie Mountain trailhead. Ride past the trailhead, through the quarry, around the gate, and up to the end of the road. If you feel tired or timid when you reach the gate, you're on the wrong ride.
   
2. Start up the service road next to milepost 39 on Highway 101. Follow the road about two miles, then explore both branches. The west branch leads to a landing overlooking the Pacific, the east branch to views of Angora Peak.
   

Full days riding the outback. Tillamook State Forest has more than half a million acres laced with thousands of miles of logging roads and single track. See entry for Tillamook State Forest.

BIKING, ROAD
The following six rides begin and end at the east parking lot of the Community Center in Nehalem.

5-mile loop. Ride south on Highway 101 just over the bridge, then right onto Tideland Road passing under the bridge; follow Tideland Road to its junction with Highway 53 at Mohler Co-op; right on 53 to 101; right on 101 back to Nehalem.

7.5-mile loop. Ride north on North Fork Road; turn right at MacDonald Bridge and follow MacDonald Road to Highway 53; right on 53 to 101, right on 101 to Nehalem.

13.5-mile loop.Follow directions for the ride above until you reach MacDonald Bridge; stay on North Fork Road past the bridge until it meets Highway 53; turn right on Highway 53 to Highway 101; right on 101 back to Nehalem.

33-mile loop.Follow Highway 101 south to its junction with Miami Foley Road one mile south of Garibaldi; turn left to follow Miami Foley Road to the junction with Highway 53; left to 101; right on 101 back to Nehalem.

19 miles out and back.Ride south on Highway 101 to the junction with Highway 53; left onto Highway 53 until you cross the Nehalem River bridge just past the Mohler store; right onto Foss Road to the railroad tracks; left on Foss Road to the first bridge; turn around and return.

45-mile loop. Ride north on North Fork Road to the junction with Highway 53; turn left (north) onto Highway 53 and follow it 20 miles north to junction with Highway 26; turn left (west) on 26 to junction with 101; turn left (south) on 101 back to the start.

BIRDS, SHORELINE
During walks along the beach, you see birds that entertain and amaze you

Gulls use the wind to hang and swoop over the shoreline, looking for crabs, dead fish or edible refuse.

Sandpipers travel in flocks that wheel and turn as one bird. They feed on worms and other tiny creatures exposed by action of the waves along the shoreline.

Cormorants sit so low in the water that sometimes you see only a head or neck. They dive for fish, using both wings and feet to swim. In flight, they look like large, black ducks flying in a straight line.

Pelicans appear in the late summer and stay through mid-October. Watch for small groups skimming the water single file several hundred yards off shore.

Oystercatchers have long, flat, red bills designed to remove meat from shells. You see them searching rocky shores for supper.

BIRD WATCHING
The forest along the mud flats, and also along the west side of the bay, forms one of the most popular local bird watching areas. Look for shore-birds during high tides when they cluster in dry areas. Many birders also explore between Tideland Road and the river opposite the town of Nehalem.
A popular bird watching day trip from the Nehalem Heartland is the base of Cape Meares where it becomes Tillamook Spit, Cape Meares Wildlife Refuge on the cliffs of Cape Meares State Park, and the Arch Rock Wildlife Refuge off the town of Oceanside. In addition, charter boat companies in Garibaldi take viewers into the open ocean.

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BOAT LAUNCHES see also MARINAS
The area has five public ramps:

Nehalem Bay State Park into the bay. Picnic areas and lots of beach access along the bay. Parking fee.

Highway 101 between Nehalem and Wheeler (milepost 46) into the bay.

Roy Creek Park into the Nehalem River. Dirt ramp or gravel bar, depending on river level. Head of tide water. Boats more than 15 horsepower not allowed upstream from Roy Creek.

Aldervale Junction into the North Fork Nehalem River. No restrooms. Head of tide.

Wheeler Waterfront Park opposite train station.