Mile 306
Cove Beach south, Tillamook-Clatsop county line
Clatsop County
Longitude: -123.970975254300
- Motor vehicle travel is prohibited from the Clatsop County-Tillamook County line (45° 46.9902', Mile 306), southerly to the south line of Oswald West State Park (45° 44.4000', Mile 301).
- Motor vehicle travel is prohibited between the beach ramp at Gearhart (46° 01.8570', Mile 326), southerly to the Clatsop County-Tillamook County line (45° 46.9902', Mile 306), except as follows: Operation or parking of motor vehicles used for and engaged in towing dory boat trailers or essential dory boat launchings from Sunset Drive (45° 53.2830', Mile 313) in Cannon Beach southerly to Warren Way (45° 52.3566', Mile 312) with access from Warren Way only.

2022
Today was our first CoastWatch beach survey. We found seven skate egg cases on the beach, all dead. Lots and lots of small silver fish; they all had tiny holes in their body. There were two dead birds. We only saw one seagull and there's usually tons.read more
An eagle was obtaining breakfast from Gull Rock. As he approached the rock from above there was a terrible outcry from all the birds as they left the rock. When he landed on the rock it became deathly quiet and a few minutes later he appeared on a tree limb...read more
2021
These observations were made over the last 3 months walking the beach at different times of day but not keeping a record which I will try to start.read more
2019
Numerous violations observed, including campfire in unsafe location and harvesting tidepool organisms in the marine reserve. There has been an uptick in problematic activity on the mile due to more visitors, partly caused by an increase in short-term rentals.read more
36 people and 11 dogs on mile 306 at low tide. 7 surfers, a higher number than usual. Adult bald eagle. Continuing bluff erosion.read more
2018
At 1:30am, our NOAA radio announced a tsunami watch for the Oregon coast, predicting a possible tsunami at 5:10am in our area. We immediately started packing up necessities for an extended stay away from our house (which is 43 ft above sea level thus definitely in the inundation zone.) What we...read more
2017
The afternoon low tide -- and mild weather -- on New Year's Eve brought out 40 people (and 3 dogs) on to Cove Beach, mile 306. They were walking, taking photos, crabbing, playing on the sand, and partying around campfires. An unusual sight for Dec 31st. read more
Everything OK. No new erosion.read more
Continuing bluff erosion, some from waves undercutting, but mostly from subsurface water runoff.read more
No one on the beach due to heavy surf. No notable wildlife sightings. Biggest issue is cliff erosion from both wave action and sub-surface water runoff.read more
2016
Update on the whale which washed up Friday evening: It appears to be a sub-adult humpbacked whale. Its flippers measured +- 7ft so it was approximately 21 ft long. Its tail was missing. When it washed in, the stomach was hugely distended outside the mouth. After the high tide moved...read more
Update on the whale which washed up Friday evening: It appears to be a sub-adult humpbacked whale. Its flippers measured +- 7ft so it was approximately 21 ft long. Its tail was missing. When it washed in, the stomach was hugely distended outside the mouth. After the high tide moved...read more
Exciting news from Mile 306! An overturned boat encrusted with pelagic barnacles came ashore. A Falcon Cove Beach resident photographed its arrival. Since it showed up, scientists and state park staff have examined it. They're quite sure it's from the Japanese tsunami. So far, no invasive mussels, but they're still...read more
Mile 306's main public access washed away w/in the last month. Beach sand retreat has been enormous this winter. (Sand is visible at low tide on Mile 307.) Underlying sandstone is exposed in several spots. Downed trees from the 1700 earthquake are visible. Cliff bluffs are calving, some from direct...read more
A beautiful way to start 2016: having a two-mile long all to ourselves on a mild winter day. Sand and rocks scoured clean from recent storms. Driftline high up on rocks filled with logs and bull kelp, and some plastic. Surprisingly few birds. One jarring note: a small dump of...read more
2015
Orcas feeding off the beach 2 for sure, at least 1 and maybe 2 more, orcas were chasing sea lions just beyond the breakers. Sea lions were porpoising, surfing, and scattering like crazy. Saw the action both yesterday and today. Have never seen - or heard of- orcas off our...read more
Visitors in the neighborhood reported a bird entangled in fishing line with a big hook embedded in its shoulder. They managed to remove most of the line but couldn't remove the hook. Brave souls for sure - they sustained some painful jabs. Forewarned, I took gloves and a towel, wrapped...read more
Just in time for Halloween: red and pink weird-slightly-creepy-looking finger-sized worms. All over the drift line. Alive. Thanks to Fawn Custer for identifying them as PEANUT WORMS. Can't decide if they are emerging en masse from the sand, or whether the rough surf is uncovering them. Have never seen them...read more
Surf rough, tide going out. Sub-adult gulls feeding in the receding waves, "kneading" the wet sand with their feet to bring up mole crabs. Pelicans beginning to gather; 25 on the rocks on mile 307; 3 on the sand on mile 306.No sign of the bald eagles, however, even better,...read more
13 razor clammers.read more
Observed an adult, breeding plumage Brown Pelican standing on the rocks early this AM. After several hrs, called Wildlife Center of the North Coast. Joshua & Bradley arrived from Astoria early PM. The pelican which had not moved from the rocks for hours, was in the surf. It appeared that...read more