Neskowin Ghost Forest: Oregon’s Ancient Trees Beneath the Sea

Thousands of years ago, the sandy shores of the Oregon coast near what is now the city of Neskowin were blanketed with a robust forest of Sikta spruce trees. Through the centuries the sea, the sand, and a powerful earthquake caused these 200-foot-tall trees to recede into the water. The ghostly forest was submerged beneath the waves until a powerful storm in the late ‘90s unearthed the well-preserved remnants of the once stately forest.

The Neskowin Ghost Forest is a collection of barnacle-encrusted ancient trees that are best viewed at low tide. The Ghost Forest certainly lives up to its name when the trees are shrouded in early morning fog. From a distance, the ghost forest trees look like a collection of uneven gravestones which belong to deceased sailors who are slowly being claimed by the sea.

The Neskowin Beach Recreation Site near Lincoln City, Oregon is home to several trails that offer up-close and panoramic views of the Neskowin Ghost Forest. Visitors are encouraged to check the tide map to ensure that the water level is low enough to spot crabs skittering around the ghost trees and small tidal pools which double as stunning miniature reflecting pools.

Nestucca Bay is an excellent spot to canoe, kayak, or paddle board if you’re interested in viewing the coast from the water. The bay offers calmer waters that are sheltered from the thundering waves of the open Pacific. Even though the water is generally more placid, strong tidal changes can still make for choppy water. Also, the waters of Nestucca Bay tend to be chilly, so swimming is discouraged.

The Surf and Sand Inn located in Pacific City—which is north of Neskowin Ghost Forest—offers cozy, affordable accommodations. The Surf and Sand Inn is a former U.S. Coast Guard lookout station that has been converted into a comfortable retro lodge with record players in every room. The Inn is an irresistible place to spend a few nights if you’re searching for a charming, relaxing place to rest after an action-packed day of exploring Oregon’s stunning coast.

Oregon’s Coast has long been celebrated for its uncanny appearance. The Neskowin Ghost Forest is one of Oregon’s eeriest and most captivating landscapes. No trip to the Pacific Northwest is complete without a morning or afternoon spent wandering among the foundation of an ancient forest that was buried beneath the Pacific Ocean for thousands of years.

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