{"id":18334,"date":"2017-07-26T06:55:48","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T13:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=18334"},"modified":"2023-06-14T12:06:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T19:06:35","slug":"the-oregon-beach-bill-that-forever-changed-these-4-coastal-hikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/the-oregon-beach-bill-that-forever-changed-these-4-coastal-hikes","title":{"rendered":"The Oregon Beach Bill That Forever Changed These 4 Coastal Hikes"},"content":{"rendered":"

50 years ago this summer, one law declared Oregon’s rough, wild coast public.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There was a time when Oregon\u2019s sand dunes, tide pools and rocky shores were at risk of being sold off to private buyers. Beach access may have been meted out at the discretion of developers, and the best views, reserved for those who could afford them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Governor Tom McCall slammed the door shut on this future when he signed the Oregon Beach Bill into law on July 6, 1967. In signing the controversial bill, McCall ensured the general public would forever enjoy unfettered access to all 363 miles of Oregon\u2019s rugged, wild coastline.<\/span><\/p>\n

The groundwork for the Oregon Beach Bill was laid in 1913, when then-Governor Oswald West declared the Oregon Coast to be a public highway. Sensing the incoming tide of growth and development, West called free and open beach access the \u201cgreat birthright of our people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roughly 50 years later, a hotel in Cannon Beach tried to reserve a section of shoreline for guests, challenging West\u2019s decree. While the Oregon Legislature fought over private property rights, public opinion soon galvanized and united around open beach access. McCall signed the Beach Bill into law in 1967 and today, dozens of state parks, scenic viewpoints, sandy beaches and cliffside trailheads welcome thousands of visitors each year along nearly every mile of the Oregon Coastline.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWithout the Beach Bill, you would have very limited options for enjoying the coast,\u201d says Chris Havel, the associate director of Oregon State Parks and Recreation. \u201cWe would lose a connection to something that\u2019s essential to Oregon\u2019s identity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For Havel, that access means more than building sandcastles and enjoying the occasional sunset. \u201cWhether it\u2019s fun with family or a recollection from your everyday life, this is where you come to explain to yourself why it\u2019s worth living in Oregon,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the Oregon Beach Bill celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, we\u2019re excited to share our favorite Oregon Coast hikes. Whether you\u2019re looking for a quick getaway from Portland or a more rough-and-tumble adventure farther south, you\u2019ll find plenty to love about Oregon\u2019s public coast. <\/span><\/p>\n

Floras Lake Beach<\/b><\/h4>\n

More than a century ago, Floras Lake seemed destined to become <\/span>\u201cthe Atlantic City of the Pacific Coast,\u201d<\/span><\/a> according to the Bureau of Land Management. Developers were poised to construct a landmark hotel, and investors saw the potential for homes, shops and other attractions that would draw visitors from throughout the Pacific Northwest.<\/span><\/p>\n

An economic downturn derailed those plans, and the modern reality is much more muted. Rather than ornate homes and lavish hotels, hikers at <\/span>Floras Lake Beach<\/span><\/a> are more likely to encounter windswept sand dunes and a host of natural features that remain blissfully untouched.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 5-mile hike’s numerous highlights include rocky crags and cliffs, a tumbling waterfall and a handful of sea caves\u2014all set against the Oregon Coast\u2019s most rugged section of shoreline. The mostly-flat trail ends at a headland, which may be navigated with caution at low tide. (Note that portions of the land north of Floras Lake Beach are closed between March and September to protect nesting shorebirds.)<\/span><\/p>\n

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