Hike The Coast's Largest Lost City

A Trail Filled with Ocean and Wetland Fowl Though an Oregon Atlantis

Jun 24, 2008
Jon Thompson

Bayocean Spit From Cape Meares - Jon Thompson

Take a 5 or 9 mile hike over gravel roads and sand through what was once the largest city on the Oregon coast. You'll likely see more birds than people.

Bert and Margie Webber in their book Maimed By The Sea (Ye Galleon Press, Fairfield, WA 1983) describe that Bayocean Oregon boasted the largest indoor swimming pool in the western U.S., dance pavilion, bands on Wednesday night, and 600 building lots 7 miles northwest of Tillamook.

In 1906 Thomas B. Potter came west from Kansas City on a hunting trip and discovered what he dreamed would be the west coast Atlantic City.

Dream Come True

By 1912 Bayocean had grown to include a post office, bowling alley, machine shop, general store, trap shoot, bakery, and cafes. It seemed Mr. Potter’s dream was unfolding. It was advertised as “Oregon’s newest, biggest and best summer resort.”

Appropriately Francis Mitchell the first purchaser of land in Bayocean was the last resident to leave. The Pacific stripped off most of the town and carried it into the sea, but Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell held onto their dream and their general store until the last.

Dream Gone Bad

Unfortunately, by 1960 the last house remaining on the Bayocean spit fell into the Pacific, following all but eight of its neighboring homes. The waves reclaimed the town so completely that today hikers are hard pressed to find any vestiges of the once thriving community.

Today the last reminders of the town is a sign on the road to the spit and an occasional piece of concrete. There is an easy to moderate fairly level hiking trail out onto the spit where day hikers or overnight campers can mingle with the ghosts of a lost city. The trail is closed to motorized vehicles, but is popular with bikers and hikers.

A Hike on the Bayocean Spit

There is a 50 foot gain in elevation over the length of the trail, and it is classified as moderate in William L. Sullivan’s Hiking Oregon’s History (Navillus Press, Eugene, OR 2000). Hiking to the end of the spit to Kincheloe Point is 9 miles roundtrip. A shorter alternative is to take the well marked trail halfway up the spit for a 5 mile round trip hike.

The spit divides Tillamook Bay from the Pacific Ocean and offers incredible views of both bodies. It is today inhabited by a variety of wetland and sea birds and is a rewarding day hike. Take snacks or a lunch because there are no facilities on the spit. Fire restrictions may apply for campfires on the spit.

How To Get There

From Portland take OR SR 6 51 miles, turn left onto Main Ave/Hwy 101 S (Oregon Coast Highway) right on 3rd street/Netarts Hwy, 1.8 miles, turn right onto Bayocean Rd NW, 5.1 miles to sign “Bayocean Spit”.