Neskowin Ghost Forest: Oregon Coast’s Disappearing Trees

When I told my kids we were going to the Neskowin Ghost Forest, my usually brave daughter flinched. She wanted nothing to do with a haunted forest. I told her our destination wasn’t actually haunted. Rather, it’s a forest of ancient trees in Neskowin, Oregon that were plunged into the sand hundreds of years ago, only to be uncovered recently when sands shifted. Edie still seemed skeptical.

But when we got to the beach in Neskowin, she was all in. We went during a minus tide (aka an unusually low tide), which meant even more of the Neskowin Beach was revealed—yes, including Oregon’s Ghost Forest.

These ancient tree stumps are only revealed during low tide; they’re covered by sand and water the rest of the time. So if you’re looking for different things to do in Oregon, you have to see the Neskowin Ghost Forest. Very few people—even folks who have lived in Oregon their whole lives—have ever seen these “ghost trees.” Most have never heard of them.

Luckily, you have an inside scoop.

Read on for how to see the Neskowin Ghost Forest and how this incredible landmark came to be.

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How to see the Neskowin Ghost Forest

To see the Neskowin Ghost Forest, you’ll drive to Neskowin, Oregon. This tiny town of only 134 permanent residents is a 2-hour drive from Portland, 13 miles north of Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast.

Remember, the Neskowin Ghost Forest only appears at low tide. So before you plan a trip, look at the tide chart and plan to arrive an hour before low tide. That will give you enough time to park, make your way to the beach, cross the creek and check out these ancient trees.

You’ll find a spot in the public parking lot across from the Neskowin Trading Company, a great spot to grab drinks and snacks. (It also does made-to-order sandwiches and pizzas, plus a deli bar, if you want to get a picnic to eat on Neskowin Beach.) Just don’t park in the spaces designated for the trading company; you might get ticketed or towed.

Then walk the few feet to one of many public beach access points.

What you’ll see on Neskowin Beach

The first thing you’ll notice is the enormous rock, Proposal Rock, at the center of Neskowin Beach. Except since you timed your visit perfectly, the rock—usually surrounded by water—isn’t an island anymore. At low tide, you can walk around Proposal Rock and check out the many creatures that have made their home here.

When we recently came to see the Neskowin Ghost Forest, Edie—remember, she’s the one who didn’t want to go—made a bee-line for Proposal Rock. We circled it, discovering sea stars, anemones, crabs, mussels and more in its tide pools. I even freaked out Edie by picking up a crab… until it made a jump for it and leaped to the ground!

At low tide, you can also climb onto Proposal Rock and hike around it. Just wear sturdy shoes—it’s quite dense—and keep a close eye on the tide. You don’t want to get stranded up there and have to wade through the water when the tide comes back in!

But what you really came to Neskowin, Oregon to see was the Ghost Forest, right? Let’s talk more about that.

Exploring the Ghost Forest in Neskowin, Oregon

You’ll cross a creek that runs next to Proposal Rock to get to the south side of Neskowin Beach. That’s where the ancient tree stumps are… at least, until they disappear at the next high tide!

Throughout this section of Neskowin Beach, dozens of gnarled, ancient tree stumps are revealed when the Pacific Ocean pulls back twice a day. What’s remarkable is that we’re able to see the Ghost Forest at all:

It was just in the 90s that the Neskowin Ghost Forest reappeared, after a particularly bad winter storm that eroded parts of Neskowin Beach. Finally, the rumors and legends of an ancient forest underneath this beach were confirmed.

Scientists believe that the Neskowin Ghost Forest formed in the 1700s when a cataclysmic earthquake rocked this area. An entire forest of Sitka spruces collapsed as the earth’s plates shifted. The stumps were covered by sand, where the 2,000-year-old trees were mostly preserved.

Now we can see what remains of this forest. Some of the stumps have become home to sea life like barnacles. And they’re all fascinating to see.

Seeing this mysterious hidden gem in Oregon

I was amazed at how few people turned up to see the Neskowin Ghost Forest, even on a recent holiday weekend. It just goes to show how few people know about this off-the-beaten-path destination in Oregon.

But now you know how to see the Oregon Ghost Forest, when to come and why this stretch of Neskowin Beach is so cool.

Whether to let your kids believe it’s actually haunted is up to you.