Things to do nearNehalem Bay

Nehalem Bay sits within Tillamook County on the northern Oregon coast, sheltered from the open Pacific by a long sandy spit that forms the spine of Nehalem Bay State Park. The estuary has long supported Indigenous communities who relied on its salmon runs and shellfish, and the small town of Nehalem nearby retains a quiet, unhurried character shaped by generations of fishing families.

On the water, kayaking is the ideal way to explore the bay's braided channels and marshy edges. Paddlers can follow the Nehalem River upstream into forested corridors or drift south along the spit toward the ocean inlet. The park's campground sits right on the dunes, making it easy to wake early and catch the bay at its most glassy.

Wildlife watching is a constant reward here. Nehalem Bay sits along the Pacific Flyway, drawing dunlin, dowitchers, and teal through the tidal flats in migration season, while harbor seals haul out on sandbars near the river mouth. Anglers come for Chinook and coho salmon in season, and fishing charters operate out of the area for those who want a guided experience on the water.

Few places on the Oregon coast offer this combination of accessible wilderness and genuine calm. Nehalem Bay is worth the visit for anyone who wants the coast at its most honest.