Closures of Oregon Coast State Parks, Including Extension of Nehalem Bay Shutdown

Updated 12/27/24 at 3:35 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Nehalem, Oregon) – UPDATE: AS OF 3 P.M. FRI., CAPE MEARES AND GEISEL ARE BACK OPEN - SHORE ACRES LIGHTS BACK ON TONIGHT. REST OF ORIGINAL ARTICLE BELOW

The campground closure that started in the fall at Nehalem Bay State Park will go on longer than expected. This announcement comes just days before several state parks throughout the state and the Oregon coast are under emergency closures after windstorms knocked down trees. (Nehalem Bay State Park - Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) announced this week that Nehalem Bay State Park's campground closure will extend at least into July of 2025, after OPRD had originally planned for it to reopen in June. Now, to be on the safe side, they have had to push that date out because of construction and improvements on the area. Changes at Oregon's Tillamook Coast: Rockaway Improvements, Nehalem Bay SP Closure, Parking

Park Manager Ben Cox said they are still hoping to make that July 1 date.

Cape Lookout State Park - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

“But we will not know for certain until we get closer to that date,” he said. “As a precaution, we’re closing reservations to avoid needing to cancel them later if the project goes longer.”

If the project does finish sooner, then it will reopen before July. Campground reservations will go live again once they know, OPRD said.

The entire park closed in November for the project, which will include utility upgrades, adding new restrooms and shower facilities, campsite renovations, as well as repaving the park. They will also add features that cool down traffic speeds in the north Oregon coast park.

The park is one of nine GO Bond projects that were enacted by the Oregon State Legislature via general obligation bonds. State government gave the go-head in 2021.

Earlier this month, Cape Lookout State Park near Oceanside announced it would resume campground reservations after work there had been postponed. OPRD closed off camping reservations for next spring after a major renovation project there was planned to begin then. However, recent developments from studies of the area postponed the work until fall. Now, camping for the summer is back – at least for awhile.
Photo OPRD: Cape Meares on Thursday with storm debris

Thursday saw the emergency closures of four state parks on the Oregon coast because of tree damage from that morning's storm. Abruptly closed were Cape Meares State Park near Oceanside, Ecola State Park at Cannon Beach, Geisel Monument near Brookings and Saddle Mountain just inland from Seaside.

Some state parks around Oregon are already closed for the season.

High Winds Take Out At Least Two Oregon Coast Parks, Surf Warnings Extended, Festival Cancelled - Shore Acres Lights closed at least one night; Cape Meares, Ecola damaged

The parks are closed until further notice, at least until after crews clear the entrances of downed trees. There may be other significant damage as well.

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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