The Difference Between Short Beach and Short Sand Beach at N. Oregon Coast's Oswald West

Published 10/16/25 at 6:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Manzanita, Oregon) – Not everyone knows one, but just about everyone knows the other. Yet sometimes – at least on gloriously “accurate” social media - there's someone, somewhere getting them mixed up. (All photos Oregon Coast Beach Connection: viewpoint at Oswald West State Park)

Short Beach near Oceanside is not the same as Short Sand Beach at Oswald West State Park (and it's Short SAND – singular – not “sands” plural). Indeed, they're about 45 miles apart, although they are both within Tillamook County. That's a good hour away, along little Highway 101.

Short Sand Beach is the large surfing mecca that lies within Oswald West State Park, almost halfway between Manzanita and Cannon Beach. It's acres and acres of state park, and the beach itself is a wide stretch between headlands that's also known as Smuggler’s Cove.

Short Beach is...well...a definitely short little beach. It sits tucked away behind foliage and greenery along the road between Oceanside and Cape Meares. There's barely any beach to it. Indeed, the longest part of it is likely the lengthy stairway.

Short Beach

In between the two there's two major bays, four jetties and the little towns of Tillamook, Barview, Garibaldi, Rockaway Beach, Wheeler, Nehalem and Manzanita. Immediately north of Oswald West there's Arch Cape.

They have similar names – but that's where the similarities end.

Digging Into Short Beach by Oceanside

For such a small spot, there's a lot to this north Oregon coast wonder.

For one, there's an old WWII radar bunker about a block away and across the Three Capes Loop. It can't easily be seen: but it's there behind the trees up on a kind of bluff. Short Beach, Near Oceanside

Wander down those steps (which are still getting repaired as of this writing in Oct of 2025) and you'll notice a giant pipe releasing its own waterfall. That depends on the time of year, actually. It's not always going. Then there's another couple of landings along the way down to stop and check out the view a bit more.

On the beach itself is a funky plop of rock: a small seastack that resembles Neskowin's Proposal Rock. Get down here and there's not much available too far beyond the rock. Another couple of waterfalls spill out between here and Cape Meares, but you can't go much farther than about 60 feet to the north of the rock. That's fine: there's plenty to do and see in this wee stretch. Hotels in Oceanside - Where to eat - Oceanside Maps and Virtual Tours

Short Sand at Oswald West State Park: Hikes and Beach Accesses

You've got to head down almost a half mile of pathway to get to Short Sand Beach, which is generally from the main access in the middle, marked Access #20. This is where you tread beneath a bridge to get down onto the trail. It's just a tiny bit shorter to head down the access #20C, which is the large parking lot at the southern end.

Both take you down thick forested canopies of lush greens, where you simply disappear into the magical scenery. Another trail offshoot closer to the highway takes you to a little viewpoint above it all.

It is sometimes known as "Shorty's" by locals.

One of the highlights is the suspension bridge here, taking you across Short Sand Creek. It's a white-knuckled experience for many, but for many more that's the thrill. You're perfectly safe, however. That pathway leads you down another beach access which can be a bit more stable, if the main entrance is blocked by tons of logs and debris. Short Sand Beach, Manzanita

Short Sand's cove is a striking geologic beast, with striated cliffs at curious tilted angles.

It also tends to be extremely busy when the weather's good.

At the northern edges of Oswald West sits Oswald North Access #20A, which is the Cape Falcon trailhead, taking you on more adventures.

That trail is a moderate hike that takes five miles roundtrip with some 300 feet in elevation gain. Lots of viewpoints and breathtaking sights are found here.

For those who really want to get their hike on, there’s an eight-mile trail that takes you all the way to Arch Cape – which includes a suspension bridge when you get to Arch Cape.

The shortest trail is about a half mile to Short Sand itself, with only a 100-foot elevation gain.

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