Things to Do in Gearhart, Oregon
Everything worth doing, close by.
Some of the best parts of a Gearhart stay are a short walk from your door: a wide beach, a golf course that's been here since 1892, and a pool for the kids. The rest are an easy drive up or down the coast, and you can be back before the porch light comes on.
Out the Door
You don't have to get in the car to have a good day here. Most of what people come back for is a few steps from the building.
The Beach
Walk out at low tide and the beach just keeps going. It's wide, flat, and quiet enough that guests say it feels like you have a section of it to yourselves. Bring a kite, a thermos, or nothing at all. For longer stretches, there are miles of drivable beach nearby.
Razor clamming is a North Coast tradition, and the wide, flat beaches around Gearhart are a classic place to try it. Grab a shovel or clam gun and head out on a low minus tide. You'll need an Oregon shellfish license, and beaches can close for safety, so check ODFW for licenses and the Oregon Department of Agriculture's shellfish closure updates before you go.
Golf
Gearhart Golf Links sits right across the street. Established in 1892, it's one of the oldest golf courses in the American West: 18 holes of classic links golf laid out among the beach pines. Walk to the first tee in the morning and be back on the beach by afternoon.
Pools, Jacuzzi, and the Sand Trap
Two pools and jacuzzi access keep the kids busy when the wind picks up. McMenamins Sand Trap is on site for lunch after a round or dinner after a long beach day. You don't have to go far for any of it.
Good Days, Gray Days, Kite Days
The North Coast doesn't always cooperate, and that's part of the trip. Here's how a Gearhart day tends to go, whatever the sky is doing.
Kite weather
The open beach and steady coastal wind make Gearhart a natural place to fly a kite. No reservations, no rental fleet. Just walk out and let out the line.
Clear skies
Tee off next door, walk the beach at low tide, or head north for the trails at Fort Stevens.
Rainy afternoons
Swim in the pool, settle in at the Sand Trap, or spend a few hours in Astoria's maritime museum. Rain on the windows is part of the trip, too.
About Ten Minutes Away: Seaside
When you want a little more going on, Seaside is about ten minutes south. Walk the boardwalk, visit the aquarium, and grab saltwater taffy or a bucket of fries for the drive back. It's a fun afternoon, and Gearhart is still there when you're ready for the quiet again.
Down the Road: Cannon Beach
A short drive south brings you to Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. Spend a morning on the beach below the rock, wander the galleries and shops in town, and stay for lunch. Then drive back up the coast to your own quiet stretch of sand.
Up the Coast: Astoria and Fort Stevens
Astoria, Oregon
Head north to Astoria, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific. Walk the riverfront, watch the ships come in, and spend an hour or two at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Victorian houses climb the hills above town, and there's good coffee and seafood along the water.
Fort Stevens State Park
Fort Stevens has miles of trails, old military batteries to explore, and the rusted hull of the Peter Iredale shipwreck on the beach. Bring bikes, pack a lunch, and plan to stay for the sunset. After a full day outside, the drive back to Gearhart is an easy one.