Ocean Acres Horse Camp
Getting There
The drive from Oregon City was pretty easy. I5 to Hwy 6. Hwy 6 was slightly hilly but was an easy haul.
If you are approaching from the south you want to turn left into the gravel driveway just south of the Ocean Acres sign. This is pretty confusing especially since Carol did not give me any instructions over the phone. If you have a longer rig it will be easier to enter the more southern gravel road and to turn right at the barn.
Must Brings
1) Camp Table - There are no picnic tables at the various campsites. We didn't realize how important picnic tables are until we camped here.
2) Tide Tables - Riding at high tide is much more difficult. It is worth waiting to ride at low tide and get a much wider area of wet sand.
3) Questions - Ask Carol your questions when you can. There was no orientation or schedule. I never learned when breakfast was served and missed it!
2) Tide Tables - Riding at high tide is much more difficult. It is worth waiting to ride at low tide and get a much wider area of wet sand.
3) Questions - Ask Carol your questions when you can. There was no orientation or schedule. I never learned when breakfast was served and missed it!
Horse Campsites
Camping parking spots begin at the barn pictured on the right side of the picture below. As you drive in pull across this area and continue down the road to the left. There are clusters of pipe corrals and larger grassy turnouts. The barn has covered stalls with runs. Carol directed us to the main area that was less congested but let us park wherever we were comfortable.
You can dry camp to the west/left side of the picture which is closest to the beach. The most right part of the picture shows a section where there are electric outlets and larger corrals.
It was nice having the option of a barn stall with a run. Sam and I prefer open corrals.
Barn Video Link
Barn Video Link
There was another cluster of corrals to the east of the barn with a nice parking area.
Electricity Hookup Camping Area
Video Link
Sam stayed in a large pen with an electric fence. It was at least 20 x 20 feet with sand footing. You can see a little of his corral in the picture on the bottom left. Below is the view from above the corral cluster from google maps. It was really nice having a large corral for Sam. He took many laying down naps after our adventures on the beach.
Video Link
Sam stayed in a large pen with an electric fence. It was at least 20 x 20 feet with sand footing. You can see a little of his corral in the picture on the bottom left. Below is the view from above the corral cluster from google maps. It was really nice having a large corral for Sam. He took many laying down naps after our adventures on the beach.
To the left of our parking spot was another cluster of electric outlets close to the porta potty.
The horse corrals were in a line a short walk behind the electric outlets.
The bottom right is the view from the horse corral line to where the camper is parked next to the electric outlets.
Dry Camping Parking Area
Video Link
The dry camping area was much closer to the beach and more private. During our visit the guests chose electricity over proximity to the beach and this area was empty.
Video Link
The dry camping area was much closer to the beach and more private. During our visit the guests chose electricity over proximity to the beach and this area was empty.
Riding
It is 0.2 miles roughly on gravel road from where we camped to a sandy trail to the beach. This distance on the gravel road is shown in purple. The blue trail is deep sand and is about 0.4 miles before you hit wet sand. Sam was uncomfortable walking on the gravel road barefoot but was fine as soon as we reached the deeper sand. For the most part we could walk on the grass to the side of the gravel road but I still cringed knowing his feet were sensitive on the harder ground. The deeper sand was a workout to walk through and was the hardest part of getting to the beach.
Below an example of the rocky footing and the grass you could walk on to avoid the gravel. Toward the end of the gravel you can walk on the grass on the right of the road but have to walk on the gravel toward the end of the trail.
Gravel Road Video Link
Gravel Road Video Link
Below the deeper sandy trail to the beach. This viewpoint is walking from the beach back toward camp.
Our favorite time at the beach is sunset and then walking in the dark. We hook led lights to the dogs and they swim and play at night. Sam gets to stay in his corral and enjoy some alfalfa.
There is a pole marked with pink and purple ribbons so you can find your way back to camp.
We had our best ride our second day where we timed our ride to low tide. We rode early and rode north until we ran into some cars on the beach then turned south. Riding south we met some horses that were stabled at Seahorse acres. Grayland Beach State Park was north of our camp and was a little busier with foot traffic. Overall for labor day weekend the beach was pretty quiet.
Sam has not been ridden on the beach a ton and is still very nervous about getting his hooves wet and is worried about the waves. We took it slow. Our goal was a calm walk with a little side-eye on the waves. Eventually, we had a nice long-trot down the beach. Sometimes the worst thing you can do is take a nervous horse and run them on the beach. We did a lot of standing and looking and being present before Sam felt comfortable to trot. He started walking in the water and was happy to go to Jon to get carrots.
Sam on Beach Video
Sam on Beach Video
Rating
Horse camping at the beach with large corrals and electricity is amazing! You can also rent a room in the house. Carol makes breakfast but ask her what time it is. We managed to miss it while riding the low tide. The trail to the beach was a little tough due to the rocky footing and then the deep sand. However, it was short distance and the low tide beach was worth it! For us the only drawback was the lack of trail variety. Two nights at the beach was one night too long. We much prefer mountain and forest riding. From here we headed to Margaret McKinney which was an easy drive and much more our style.