I spent the night in Manzanita and awoke to a howling wind. I checked the weather and NOAA predicted extreme gusts everywhere. But, sometimes they are wrong and things change. I left my room around 8a to walk on the beach for 2 hours. I knew the end of the Nehalem Spit was about 5+ miles away and wouldn't reach it - but would save that for another time. The beach is a pretty one. In the north you have a view of Cape Falcon and Neahkahnie Mtn. South it's Tillamook Head. Once you leave the nice homes of Manzanita behind, it is all dunes and beach grass. To vary the walk, on the way back I took a signed trail heading inland to a Horse Camp at Nehalem Bay State Park. No one was camping with their horses, but right next door were lots of campers enjoying the lovely weekend. Very nice campground, though spaces are tight. I walked through to the end and saw they also have a campground for hikers and bikers where you must have to "hike in". I followed the road in the neighborhood for a bit until I found a way back to the beach, then to the motel. I ended up hiking about 6 miles in a little over 2 hours. By the way, the wind was not an issue.
Map:
Nehalem Beach
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| Neahkahnie Mtn and Cape Falcon |
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| coming back to the beach through the grass |
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| horse camp |
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