This is my first time visiting Neskowin Beach on the Oregon coast. I learned about this beach after watching a video about the “ghost forests” of Washington and Oregon. Today, I went out to check out the beach. .
When you go to Neskowin Beach, you’re best off to go when the tide is low. You can view the stumps of the ghost forest (this also greatly depends on the sand level), a 360-view of Proposal Rock, and the cave inside the south side of Proposal Rock.
With private lands dominating the south beach, the preferred access is from the Neskowin Beach Sate Recreation Site. Neskowin Creek slices down the beach and into the Pacific Ocean. You may want to bring waders or other footwear you don’t mind getting wet, or just go barefoot. The creek is about a foot to foot and a half deep, but with rushing current.
Proposal Rock
Barnacles cover the lower rim on Proposal Rock. There is an arch-like feature and a cave on the south side of the rock. The cave goes back about 25 feet, but can be submerged at high tide. Best to avoid the cave when the tide is rising or if there is a sneaker wave warning in effect.
Plan to Revisit
I plan to revisit Neskowin Beach in the near future with some beach footwear. I also hope that the beach sand on the south beach may wash out to expose more ghost forest stumps (the same effect happens with the Peter Iredale shipwreck northward up the coast, where more of the ship’s ribs are exposed).
And now, for the photos:
