Short Beach Trailhead — Attraction in Tillamook

The trail here is actually steep, uneven stairs. I went on a grey and cloudy day, the stairs go through a little forest area that was kind if gloomy but still beautiful. It looks like there may have been some damage to a couple of spots you could step off the stairs to take in the view, including one of the ways to get to the culvert that's so popular in other reviewers'photos. The stairs let out onto a rocky beach with a number of logs piled or scattered around. The place is aptly named, it's a very very short way to the water, even shorter when the tide is in, but the break looks like it goes pretty far. There are some cool rock formations out in the water in either direction. One side is dominated by cliffs that would be fun to clamor around on, unfortunately it was a wet day and I wasn't trying to break myself. I definitely want to go back when it's nice out to explore the cliffs and look for tide pools. I had the whole beach to myself for quite a while, it was nice to be able to sit on a log and just watch the waves.

I recommend keeping an eye out for dog poop, and dead seagulls. I don't know why there were so many dead birds but I saw at least 7.

I do not recommend this spot for people with...

There is work being done to improve the stairs and trail down to the beach but still very doable and it’s not a long trail. Once on the beach, there are a lot of rocks to walk over but it’s absolutely beautiful - multiple waterfalls, big rock stacks, and at low tide there is magical tide pools to appreciate with soooo many sea stars!! I even saw a critically endangered sunflower sea star here, very exciting. I definitely recommend going around low tide to get the most enjoyment. It’s very fun to search through the pebbles and find agates, I found a tonnnn of small, crystal clear agates. I can easily spend hours here just searching for treasures and admiring...

I am an out-of-shape 60 year old, yet this trail was doable. Wish I had brought my hiking poles. They would have been helpful on the stairs (those that did not have a railing) and again for balance over the rocky shore. After descending the stairs, we crossed the rocks to the first waterfall… well, a drain pipe empties out on to the beach. It’s still beautiful! Then we walked across more rocks, down to the sand. The beach was not crowded. We walked to the end of the beach to a second waterfall. A lovely time...