Sand Art Competition, Nature Tours, Boat Tours End Summer at Oregon Coast's Lincoln City

Published 08/02/2026 at 8:05 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) - The Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative and Cascade Head Marine Reserve have put together large roster of outdoor events and tours for the end of summer. This part of the central Oregon coast is a whirlwind of summer activity around Lincoln City and the Cascade Head area.

They are rolling out a full schedule of late-summer wowers, with new estuary tours, beach art festivities, boat tours, guided biosphere walks and a sunset paddle – all cramed into August and the “second summer” of September.

Registration details are available at CascadeHead.org and ExploreLincolnCity.org.

SALMON RIVER ESTUARY TOURS
New dates have been added for both the Regular and Deluxe Salmon River Estuary Tours, departing from the Cascade Head area's Knight Park aboard a 22-passenger Coast Guard-certified pontoon boat.

Regular tours run Sunday, August 2 at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $39 for adults and $19 for youth. The 45-minute cruise highlights Indigenous history, local geology, the UNESCO Cascade Head Biosphere Region and the wildlife of the estuary.

The Deluxe Excursion is set for Saturday, August 29 at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $89 for adults and $49 for youth. The one-hour outing includes the full guided tour, a light snack and a hands-on nature printing activity back onshore.

ART ON THE BEACH & SAND ART COMPETITION

A beachside art celebration returns Saturday, August 15, from 9 to 11 a.m. in front of Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Professional artists and volunteers will create a large sand design, followed by a family-friendly sand art competition inspired by the Oregon coast and the Cascade Head Marine Reserve.

BIOSPHERE BEACH AMBASSADOR DAYS
The Biosphere Beach Ambassador program resumes at NW 15th Street beach access, with ambassadors on site one hour before and after low tide. Dates include August 14 and 15, and September 12 and 13, with low tides ranging from −0.64 ft to 0.76 ft. The program is a partnership between the Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative, Cascade Head Marine Reserve, Explore Lincoln City and Lincoln City Parks and Recreation.

CASCADE HEAD BIOSPHERE EXPLORIENCE
Guided “Explorience” walking tours return September 5 and September 19. These 90-minute walks explore 10,000 years of natural and cultural history in Oregon’s only UNESCO Biosphere Region, covering local plants, wildlife, geology, Salmon River conservation work and the history of the Nechesne people.

SUNSET PADDLE ON THE SALMON RIVER ESTUARY
A sunset paddle is planned for Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., launching from Knight Park. Participants may bring their own vessel, paddle, PFD, light and whistle for $29 per person. Rentals are available through Safari Town Surf Shop, with delivery to the event; rental kayaks cost $60 for a single and $70 for a tandem, paid separately.

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