I fell in love with the desert last summer, but there is a special place in my heart for the coast. A couple of weeks ago I had been pretty sick, but being cooped up and not adventuring makes me psychologically sick, so after my fever fell to under 102 degrees, I headed towards the sunshine and the beach... to Cape Meares.
There is a cute little area with a light house, and the Octopus Tree. Honestly though, these picturesque surroundings were just a stop along the way to Short Beach. A rockhounder's play ground.
Bayshore drive is a hot mess right now. I'm not sure if it's typical after the winter or if it has something to do with the rock quarry at the top of the hill, but to get to Cape Meares, Short Beach, and Oceanside you have to wait in line to be led through by a trooper. I didn't have to wait long...perhaps about 15 minutes? Parking is tight at the pull out spot. You pass the quarry on your left, and fyi, where there is a quarry, there are a ton of rocks that tumble down the sea cliff and land on the beach! The area you are looking for consists of about 4 parking lengths by a semi-hidden sign. From here look for the 150 stairs that lead you to the beach. On the way you will pass through a cute beach hut that wreaks of urine. Yummo. If you're lucky you may meet other rockhounders that show you their days haul. I met a lovely lady with a giant chunk of carnelian.
The beach is strewn with treasures. If you just stay in one spot and dig, you will find sea glass/quartz, jasper, petrified wood, calcite, vugs, chalcedony, and a variety of other goodies. (Above is a small sampling of the loot we took back with us.) The dog and I went back to Short Beach 2 days in a row and spent about 2 hours collecting each time. Be careful crossing the "creek" that is created from a bizarre concrete construction over head. There is actually quite a bit of force although it doesn't appear that way.
Now, if you're over this way you HAVE to check out the Oceanside tunnel. Are those bones or drift wood you're stepping on? Can't tell? Neither could I. The tunnel can be traversed at low tide. It may be possible at other times but would entail a lot of clamoring over boulders. The entrance is paved and well lit, but then as you cross to the middle becomes organic...floor littered with driftwood bones and you're in pitch blackness. But hey, there is a light up ahead, so you untangle your dog's lead in the dark and stumble through finally emerging into daylight on the other side.
I also filled an entire container with Jasper that I collected from around the boulders and on the beach. For the first time ever, I even found intact shells hidden under rocks. I don't know how this area was hidden from me for so long, but I've got a new fav!