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CoastWatch Mile 168 County Lane Description Central South Siuslaw Jetty Road Boundaries N 43° 59.376', W 124° 8.359' to N 43° 58.464', W 124° 8.472' Google Maps Nearby Roads, Directions to/from, Google photos, Satellite image, Terrain overlay OPRD Map Sutton Creek to Siuslaw R, to Siltcoos R (1) Vehicles • Motor vehicle travel is prohibited from May 1 through September 30 from the Siuslaw River (44° 00.9720', Mile 170), southerly to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area south parking lot (43° 57.5910', Mile 167) and from sunrise to sunset on legal holidays (as defined in ORS Chapter 187) and on Saturdays and Sundays between October 1 and April 30. • Non-street legal vehicle travel is prohibited year around from the Siuslaw River (44° 00.9720', Mile 170), southerly to the south end of the South Jetty Road (43° 57.3846', Mile 166). Weather Current Weather Conditions at nearby stations (may take a minute or two on a dialup connection) Tides The NOAA Tide Predictions site may be found here. Click on the station nearest to your location to see predicted tides in graphical and tabular formats. Photo Middle of Mile 168, looking north   1/23/08 Middle of Mile 168, looking north oldMGguy

23 REPORTS FOR MILE 168: bwholler Jun 16, 2012 10:00 AM   The only other people on the beach were two joggers. Sand at the front of the foredune is mostly softly rounded, with only slight evidence of north summer wind causing sculpting of the sand to the south. Beach grass is a much greener color than at the time of my last report, when it was a more wintery gray color. Evidence of a prior party on the beach at the base of the path from parking lot #3, with burned log remnants of a beach fire, an empty graham cracker box, and an empty Pringles canister, but (happily) no beverage containers.   MORE  bwholler Dec 21, 2011 10:30 AM   Beautiful sunny, but cold, day. No humans in sight. Two crows on the beach and a few gulls overhead. Surf moderate. Heavy frost remains in the shaded patches of the dunes and beach. Wood pieces and kelp scattered on the beach rather than concentrated in the driftline. Notable find was a black plastic cremation urn, no lid, no contents, but with label identifying the crematory in Eugene, OR. I returned the urn to the ocean, thinking that it belonged to the sea.   MORE  bwholler Sep 14, 2011 10:00 AM   Sharp dune contours much softer, more rounded, in keeping with beginning return of some winds from the south in addition to winds continuing still from the north also. Very few birds. Few rocks and shells, isolated small clumps of grassy-type seaweed. Beach with smooth flat contour overall and exceptionally clear of shells, rocks, driftwood, and seaweed. Biggest and best news is the recent placement of new signs easily visible from the beach to identify the trailhead back to each parking lot. This will be most helpful to those who do not regularly visit the south jetty beach and/or those who are on the beach on foggy days. Huge thanks to whatever agency provided these new signs!   MORE  bwholler Mar 31, 2010 10:00 AM   Quiet day at the beach. Lots of wood, plastic, and glass. The large, old tree stump with a notch for a logger's platform has moved slightly northward along the beach and is nearly at the northern end of mile 168 currently. The shipwreck "Bella" is still visible at low tide, although sand is continuing to cover her up again. I've seen raccoon tracks coming from the foredune and meandering along the beach on multiple occasions recently; does s/he enjoy a stroll on the beach as much as the humans do?   MORE  bwholler Mar 13, 2010 11:00 AM   The sharp sand "cliff" at high tide line has disappeared in most places and sand is more evenly distributed from foredune to water. Not many birds today, only a few gulls. Lots of plastic debris, many pieces with pelagic barnacles. Lots of plastic floats in various sizes from basketball size to baseball size, also more flattened shapes. A few fluorescent light tubes and also a few incandescent bulbs, and a crab pot in good condition. Coke can and Nestle "Milo" container with Asian lettering. If today was the Beach Cleanup Day, there would be bags and bags of plastic!   MORE  bwholler Dec 22, 2009 3:00 PM   A calendar picture perfect day on the beach! Blue sky, with beautiful white, grey, and black clouds. Many lines of surf, 6 or 7, with lots of fluffy white foam. Two other people walking, enjoying the day. Small and medium wood pieces on beach, some broken shells, very few rocks. No dead birds seen today. Usual winter steep edge to sand is forming at high tide line in two areas; have to walk above it at high tide as it's too high to scramble up to escape a wave of water.   MORE  bwholler Sep 9, 2009 11:00 AM   Beautiful day, T-shirt, crop pants, and sandals. Central Oregon coast fall weather at its best! Gentle breeze from the southwest, surf relatively calm and smooth, with incoming tide. Unusual concentrations of small mussel shells, approximately 1 to 2 inches in length. Small amounts of shell pieces, wood, crab parts, and small rocks in driftline.   MORE  bwholler Jun 9, 2009 10:30 AM   Only two other people on the beach today, visiting from Washington. Overcast, but only very light wind, comfortable temperature, a good day to be on the beach. Three small airplanes flew by, going south, low over the water and close to shore. Lots of crab shell pieces, legs and bodies, and also an unusually large number of "sand crab" shells in the driftline. Lack of birds today, saw only 2 turkey vultures gliding along the foredune.   MORE  bwholler Feb 26, 2009 12:00 AM   Large amount of foam at waterline and blowing gently along the beach. Sand has been taken away from base of the foredune by winter surf action. Lots of driftwood, tree branches, and small pieces of wood on northern portion of mile 168. Fewer shell pieces and small rocks than usual. Major new development is the replacement of the bathroom buildings in the parking lots with new ones, which look exactly like the old ones but shiny clean and new!   MORE  bwholler Dec 11, 2008 9:30 AM   Only people on the beach today were walking with their dogs. Summer sand deposition is still covering the driftwood logs near the foredune, no good places to sit. Lots of jellies and dead "sand crabs" in the driftline today, more than usual. Otherwise, driftline contains typical broken shells, small wood pieces, and some kelp.   MORE  bwholler Sep 19, 2008 9:00 AM   Sand at foredune in a fall pattern, rounded, not showing signs of strong north or south winds. More sea palm kelp on the beach than usual. Unusually large number of dead common murres, probably mostly juveniles, at high tide line, do not appear fresh but are still identifiable. Nice fall day, mostly overcast but pleasant temperature and no wind.   MORE  bwholler Jun 15, 2008 10:30 AM   Nice day, sunny, windy but not bone-chilling. The shipwrecked "Bella" is still visible although sand has partially covered her again. The dry sand at the base of the foredune is being reshaped to reflect summer winds from the north, and beach grass is green with new growth. Very small, newly dead harbor seal pup being actively scavenged by turkey vultures and a bald eagle.   MORE  bwholler Mar 21, 2008 11:00 AM   Both steepness and sharpness of storm erosion of the foredune has lessened. The shipwrecked "Bella" is still visible although sand has been gradually re-covering it. Very little bird activity today, a small group of sanderlings at the waterline and two northern harriers swooping over the foredune area.   MORE  Goldendog Mar 21, 2008 12:00 AM   I had a nice walk with the dogs. The only other people were other beach regulars with their dogs. Everyone was enjoying the beautiful day. The only debris on the beach was some small rocks and shells, and the normal amount of driftwood. The foredune is still badly eroded, especially at the second parking lot where you have to climb down a small sand cliff to get on the beach. I also visited the beach on the 25th, and walked to the Bella. She is still very visable, and actually has moss growing on her from the 3 months of exposure.   MORE    Beach Erosion    Description: This is looking north on the beach at the second parking lot Date: Feb 21, 2008 12:00 AM The Bella    Description: A photo of the Bella looking south Location: between the third and forth parking lots at south jetty beach Date: Feb 25, 2008 12:00 AM Goldendog Jan 28, 2008 11:00 AM   It was a typical, beautiful January day on south jetty beach.   MORE    Onslow Surf    Description: Onslow playing in the surf next to the Bella Location: half way between the 3rd and 4th parking lots Copyright: (c) 2008 David K Mason oldMGguy Jan 23, 2008 8:00 AM   First visit to Mile 168. Access from the Siuslaw River South Jetty Road, parking lot #3, and a short hike up and over the foredune. Dramatic seasonal sand erosion all along the base of the foredune on this mile, in places to a depth of 8 feet or more. In spite of the easy access, very little human impact was observed, other than the occasional plastic/styrofoam flotsam. Thanks to the winter sand erosion, the bow section of the 121' 3-masted logging schooner "Bella", blown ashore November, 1905, is visible at winter low tides. The hull timbers are in surprisingly good condition for a 103-year old ship wreck! It is located at the north end of Mile 168, fairly close to the foredune.   MORE    Middle of Mile 168, looking north    Description: Middle of Mile 168, looking north Middle of Mile 168, looking south    Description: Middle of Mile 168, looking south bow section of the "Bella"    Description: Bow section of the 3-masted Florence-based lumber schooner shipwrecked November, 1905. Located at the north end of Mile 168. Visible only after winter beach erosion and low tide Location: North end of Mile 168 Date: Jan 23, 2008 12:00 AM Seasonal beach erosion    Description: Seasonal beach erosion at base of foredune. Note glove on log for scale. Location: Northern half of Mile 168 Seasonal upper beach erosion Mile 168    Description: Seasonal upper beach erosion on Mile 168 Location: Mid-section of Mile 168 DLouis Jan 14, 2008 11:00 AM   Dune from #2 to #3 parking lot now washing away becoming a verticle bluff facing ocean, very steep in some places.   MORE  bwholler Dec 16, 2007 10:00 AM   Nice day, some sun, not too much wind. Broken pieces of large shells, small pieces of wood on beach, very few rocks. Some new driftwood high on the beach, and older pieces have been moved around by tides.   MORE  bwholler Sep 20, 2007 9:45 AM   Beach appears in late summer pattern of sand at the foredune showing evidence of wind from the north. Most people on beach are local, one couple visiting from CA. Except for the couple from CA and the preschool children, everyone else had their dog with them (including me!). The dogs facilitate easy communication between the beach walkers, giving a sense of community.   MORE  DLouis Mar 24, 2007 10:00 AM   Being Oregon Beach Clean up Day there were many people with SOLV bags picking up trash. Also a group of Boy Scouts from Eugene were doing the same.   MORE  DLouis Jan 10, 2007 10:00 AM   Approximately 100-foot area of greenish foam and lots of purple Vetch in bloom.   MORE  JGoodwin Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM   It was a beautiful day, clean beach, no problems.   MORE  DLouis Dec 5, 2006 11:00 AM   Large amount of Ball kelp, huge piles, rest scattered along shoreline. Unusually larg waves, breaking far out, many dead birds.   MORE