Cape Kiwanda’s dune has sinkholes underneath it, and the safety fence moved 50 feet because of them

There’s a hole in the ground at Cape Kiwanda that wasn’t there a few years ago. Actually, there were two, and the state moved its safety fence back 50 feet because of them.

This is still one of the most fun stretches of sand on the Oregon Coast — you can climb it, sandboard down it, and watch surfers paddle out below. You just need to know where the ground stops being trustworthy.

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The dune everyone comes to climb

Cape Kiwanda is the smallest of the Three Capes Scenic Route, but the sand dune behind it is the tallest on the entire Oregon Coast — roughly 240 feet of mudstone and sandstone piled up against the headland.

The climb up is no joke. The first hundred feet or so are the steepest, and your feet sink into loose sand the whole way, so budget more time and more water than the short distance suggests.

Once you’re up top, most people either turn around and sandboard back down or keep walking out toward the fenced viewpoint over the cape’s crumbling sea caves. Bring your own sandboard or sled — there’s no rental shack at the dune itself, so grab one in town before you head out.

Why the fence keeps moving

In January 2023, two sinkholes opened up in the dune’s lower northwest corner. A geology report traced them back to sea caves eroding away underneath the sand, not just surface wear from foot traffic.

Oregon State Parks responded by moving the viewpoint fence back about 50 feet, and the agency has been blunt about what’s beyond it: the cliff edge can and will crumble without warning, and people have died climbing over the barriers to get closer. The view from the safe side is still spectacular — there’s no real reason to test the fence.

None of this closes the dune itself. It just means the real hazard here isn’t the sandboarding, it’s wandering past a barrier that exists because the ground underneath it is disappearing.

What’s happening below the dune

At the base of the cape, Pacific City makes for one of the more entertaining beach scenes on the coast. This is Oregon’s main dory boat launch site, and watching flat-bottomed fishing boats gun it straight through the surf is a genuinely wild thing to witness if the timing lines up.

The same beach draws surfers year-round, sheltered somewhat by the headland’s rock formations. Sneaker waves and rip currents are real risks along this stretch of coast, and there are no lifeguards on duty, so keep half an eye on the ocean even if you came for the sand.

Getting there and what it costs

There’s no entrance fee for Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area itself, but Tillamook County runs the parking lot off Hungry Harbor Road and charges $10 for a day-use pass. From the lot, it’s about a quarter-mile walk down the beach to the base of the dune before the climb even starts.

August mornings tend to burn off the coastal fog faster than spring or early summer, so you’ve got a decent shot at clear views from the top if you get there before the afternoon crowds. Skip low tide if you want to add on a walk around the cape’s tide pools and rock arches while you’re there.

Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.

Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.

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