After an 1890 flood scrambled the drainage of this sandy coastal plain, a new river was left paralleling the beach for miles north of Floras Lake. This moat isolated the beach so well that smugglers ferried $17 million of marijuana bales ashore in 1977. Their forfeited ranch has since regrown gracefully into the landscape. The beach is still accessible only by boat, but trails explore the riverbank, forested dunes, and a lake. Pets are not allowed.

Start by driving . . .

Don’t hike down . . .

Next walk up . . .

This chapter is an excerpt from 100 Hikes : Oregon Coast