Short Beach (Oregon) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Short Beach
Short Beach, Tillamook County, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Coordinates	45°28′30″N 123°58′02″W / 45.475°N 123.96722°W / 45.475; -123.96722
Part of	Oregon Coast
Length	1000m
Geology	Beach

Short Beach is a cool 1,000-meter long beach on the northern Oregon Coast in the United States. It's not called 'Short Beach' because it's tiny! People think it got its name from an early person who lived nearby. Short Creek, which is several miles long, also runs into the ocean here.

This beach is a bit north of Oceanside. It is also just south of Cape Meares State Park. Short Beach is mostly hidden from the land. You can only see a small part of it from a road that crosses a dam over Short Creek.

Discovering Short Beach

Short Beach is a special place with many interesting features. It changes with the seasons and offers fun activities.

Finding Cool Rocks and Gems

Short Beach is known for its amazing rocks. It is a seasonal shingle beach. This means it has a lot of smooth, rounded rocks instead of just sand. You can often find shiny agates here. Some people even call it "Agate Beach" by mistake. You might also find jasper, which looks like a type of "coastal jade."

• These cool rocks become easier to find after big storms.
• Winter or spring storms often cause landslides.
• These landslides bring fresh rocks down to the beach.
• The ocean waves then smooth these rocks over time.

Fun Things to Do at the Beach

There are many exciting things to do at Short Beach. It's a great spot for outdoor adventures.

• Gathering Mussels: When the tide is low, you can collect mussels from rocks offshore.
• Fishing: Many people enjoy fishing from the shore.
• Beach Fires: You can have a cozy bonfire right on the sand.
• Surfing: Sometimes, you might see a surfer catching waves.
• Paragliding: People who paraglide sometimes land on the beach. This is now safer to do.

Nature's Changes at Short Beach

The beach and the land around it are always changing due to nature.

• Sea Stacks: Offshore, there are tall rock formations called sea stacks. These rocks are part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. They are home to many birds and sea animals.
• Erosion: In recent years, the land around Short Beach has seen a lot of erosion. This means the rock faces are collapsing. The bluff along the shore has worn away by over five feet in the last ten years.
• Sand Levels: The amount of sand on the beach has been going down. This has happened ever since the first dams were built on the Columbia River and other rivers nearby. The sand continues to drop. This makes locals joke that "Short Beach" means the beach is getting very short on sand!