{"ok":true,"data":{"id":3297,"slug":"fort-stevens-beach-warrenton","name":"Fort Stevens Beach","country":"USA","state":"Oregon","city":"Warrenton","coords":{"lat":46.2056,"lng":-123.9632},"beachType":null,"tags":["famous"],"article":{"hero":"The skeletal bow of the Peter Iredale has become Fort Stevens Beach's haunting centerpiece, its rust-streaked hull curving skyward like cathedral arches. You can walk right up to touch the corroded metal during low tide, feeling barnacles rasp beneath your fingertips while waves foam around your boots. The wreck has weathered here since October 1906, when a squall drove the four-masted ship aground, and each winter storm claims another fragment of her iron bones.\n\nBeyond the shipwreck, the beach unfurls in a gray-sand expanse bordered by the Columbia River's mouth to the north. Your kids will disappear behind mountains of driftwood—entire Sitka spruce trunks bleached bone-white and stacked by winter tides into natural forts and tunnels. The sand is firm enough for bicycles, and you'll often see fat-tire riders pedaling past tide pools where purple sea stars cling to basalt.\n\nCome prepared for wind that whips sand against your ankles and temperatures that demand fleece even in July. The beach operates under day-use hours tied to Fort Stevens State Park, where restrooms and parking lots serve the steady stream of families photographing the wreck. But the real reward lies in scrambling over driftwood labyrinths while fog obscures the horizon, turning the coastline into something primordial and vast.","teaser":"You'll spot the Peter Iredale's iron ribs jutting from wet sand long before you reach them—a 1906 barque slowly dissolving into the Oregon coast. The wind carries brine and creosote, while harbor seals bob just beyond the breakers, watching your children clamber over salt-silvered logs the size of shipping containers.","uniqueAngle":"The only Oregon beach where you can touch a historic shipwreck without waiting for low tide or hiring a boat.","accessType":"Drive-up with parking lot","thingsToDo":[{"icon":"camera","title":"Photograph the Iredale","subtitle":"Best light two hours before sunset"},{"icon":"hike","title":"Driftwood Maze Exploring","subtitle":"Kids disappear for hours safely"},{"icon":"sun","title":"Seal Watching","subtitle":"Binoculars reveal harbor seal colonies"},{"icon":"surf","title":"Razor Clam Digging","subtitle":"Spring low tides yield limits"}],"audience":{"surfer":"Fort Stevens delivers beachbreak peaks that shift with every tide, fed by swells wrapping around the Columbia River jetty. The sandbars reform constantly—what worked yesterday disappears overnight—so scout from the driftwood line before paddling out. Northwest swells in autumn produce the cleanest lines, though you'll share lineups with logs tumbling shoreward. Cold-water wax is non-negotiable year-round; January sessions demand 5/4 millimeter rubber and booties. Locals appreciate visitors who help spot driftwood hazards and communicate floating timber approaching the lineup.","couples":"Skip the shipwreck crowds and walk south toward the Battery Russell ruins, where concrete bunkers frame the sunset over Tillamook Head's silhouette. The Astoria Coffeehouse roasts beans daily fifteen minutes north, perfect for thermoses during blustery beach walks. For dinner, drive to Fort George Brewery in Astoria—their Vortex IPA pairs with wood-fired pizza overlooking the river. Lodgings lean toward vintage motor courts rather than boutique romance, but the Cannery Pier Hotel's river-view rooms deliver unexpected luxury, with complimentary wine tastings at five o'clock and binoculars for watching container ships navigate the bar.","backpacker":"Fort Stevens State Park campground charges twenty dollars for tent sites with hot showers—reserve months ahead for summer weekends or chance walk-ups October through April. Day parking costs five dollars, but Oregon beaches belong to the public below high tide, so walk in free from adjacent Clatsop Spit. Astoria's delivery-only Portway Tavern sells fish and chips under nine dollars; pick up at the window and eat on the seawall. The Sunset Empire Transit bus runs from Seaside to Astoria for two dollars, stopping near the park entrance, though service is sparse on Sundays.","local":"Arrive before eight on summer mornings to photograph the Iredale without selfie-stick crowds, when fog still clings to the wreck's spars. The south beach past the old artillery batteries stays empty even on holidays—accessible via the coastal trail from parking area C. During minus tides, wade the tidal channels near the jetty for butter clams that tourists overlook while chasing razors. November through February, storm-watching from your truck beats any destination beach; bring a thermos and watch swells dismantle the driftwood piles you explored in July.","family":null,"party":null,"diver":null,"explorer":null},"faqs":[{"a":"Swimming at Fort Stevens Beach is generally not recommended due to strong currents, unpredictable waves, and cold water temperatures year-round. The beach is part of the treacherous Columbia River Bar area known as the \"Graveyard of the Pacific.\" Wading in shallow water is possible during calm conditions, but always stay alert and never turn your back on the ocean. The beach is better suited for beachcombing, kite flying, and exploring the historic Peter Iredale shipwreck. Lifeguards are not typically on duty.","q":"Is it safe to swim at Fort Stevens Beach?"},{"a":"Fort Stevens Beach is accessible year-round, with each season offering different experiences. Summer (June-September) brings the mildest weather and lowest rainfall, ideal for families and beach activities, though mornings can be foggy. Winter storms (November-February) create dramatic wave conditions perfect for storm watching and beachcombing. Spring and fall offer fewer crowds and good wildlife viewing opportunities. The shipwreck is visible year-round. Temperatures typically range from 45-65°F, so dress in layers regardless of season and expect wind.","q":"What is the best time to visit Fort Stevens Beach?"},{"a":"Fort Stevens Beach is located within Fort Stevens State Park, about 10 miles west of Astoria, Oregon. From Highway 101, follow signs to Fort Stevens State Park and take Peter Iredale Road to the beach parking area. Ample free parking is available near the shipwreck site. A day-use parking fee may apply at the main park entrance. The beach is easily accessible from the parking lot with a short walk. The park is well-signed and accessible by car year-round.","q":"How do you get to Fort Stevens Beach and where do you park?"},{"a":"Fort Stevens State Park offers extensive camping facilities with over 450 campsites, cabins, and yurts available for overnight stays. The park has basic amenities but no restaurants on-site. For dining and supplies, drive to nearby Warrenton (6 miles) or Astoria (10 miles), which offer grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes. Astoria provides numerous hotels, vacation rentals, and B&Bs. The park features a camp store seasonally. It's advisable to bring food and water for your beach visit, as facilities at the beach itself are limited.","q":"Are there food options and lodging near Fort Stevens Beach?"},{"a":"Yes, the remains of the Peter Iredale shipwreck are still visible at Fort Stevens Beach and are the main attraction. This 1906 four-masted steel barque ran aground during a storm and its skeletal remains protrude from the sand year-round. The visible portions vary with sand levels and tides, but the rusted ribs and framework are iconic photo opportunities. You can walk right up to the wreck during low tide. It's one of the most accessible and photogenic shipwrecks on the Oregon Coast and free to visit.","q":"Can you still see the Peter Iredale shipwreck at Fort Stevens Beach?"}]},"seo":{"title":"Fort Stevens Beach: Shipwreck Coast in Warrenton, Oregon","description":"Walk among the rusted ribs of the Peter Iredale shipwreck, where cold Pacific surf meets wide sand flats perfect for kite-flying families and tide pool explorers.","ogImage":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748032306_cb21d70e1f_b.jpg"},"images":[{"id":"534774","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748032306_cb21d70e1f_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748032306_cb21d70e1f.jpg","alt":"Sunset at the Wreck of the Peter Iredale [Explored]"},{"id":"534776","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50663110713_bd84fc7310_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50663110713_bd84fc7310.jpg","alt":"The Wreck of the Iredale"},{"id":"534779","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748275359_35ae935f7a_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748275359_35ae935f7a.jpg","alt":"Wreck of the Peter Iredale"},{"id":"534782","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52747506492_3c406ebb48_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52747506492_3c406ebb48.jpg","alt":"Mast to Bow"},{"id":"534784","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748277474_d8786c6128_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748277474_d8786c6128.jpg","alt":"Wreck of the Peter Iredale"},{"id":"534787","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4078/4910025862_171c7c696a_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4078/4910025862_171c7c696a.jpg","alt":"Fort Stevens Beach, Warrenton"},{"id":"534790","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748005416_18843f430f_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748005416_18843f430f.jpg","alt":"Wreck of the Peter Iredale"},{"id":"534792","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748276434_a95f8a234a_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52748276434_a95f8a234a.jpg","alt":"Wreck of the Peter Iredale"},{"id":"534794","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/8813/29291798846_152b29c976_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/8813/29291798846_152b29c976.jpg","alt":"The Beach at Fort Stevens, Looking North"},{"id":"534795","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51163462036_30d441ae2b_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51163462036_30d441ae2b.jpg","alt":"Best Warrior Region Six Competition"},{"id":"534796","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/8137/29622480783_f919a62fda_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/8137/29622480783_f919a62fda.jpg","alt":"Peter Iredale Shipwreck 3169 A"},{"id":"534797","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52974455056_b184133465_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52974455056_b184133465.jpg","alt":"Fort Stevens State Park"}]}}