A sandy, windswept spot for a dramatic Oregon Coast elopement location

Cape Kiwanda is magnificent. A huge expansive beach punctuated by a large sandstone formation, which catches the sand as the wind blows down the coast and has created an enormous sand dune. The Cape Kiwanda Dune is massive– tall, littered with little crevices to explore, and old enough that an ecosystem of plants has established along the slopes.

Cape Kiwanda is near Pacific City, which sits along the Three Capes byway from the Pacific Coast HIghway (the 101). It is a cute little town that serves its frequent tourism very well. Adorable shops, good eateries, and hotels aplenty.

Land Acknowledgement

Though this land is known now as “Oregon,” the various landscapes of this state have been inhabited and stewarded since time immemorial by many indigenous peoples, and continues to be inhabited and stewarded today.

The people from whom the land at Cape Kiwanda was forcibly taken are known now as the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. As we enjoy these lands, we must do our best to honor the past stewardship by remembering and confronting the violent history of removal and colonization, as well as treat the land and cultural history with the respect that it deserves.

Why Choose this park?

With Cannon Beach to the North, the haystack rock at Cape Kiwanda goes undernoticed and tends not to attract quite as many visitors. This part of the coast is definitely still busy, but there’s a bit more room to spread out than at Cannon Beach. And, if you hike to the top of the dune and explore a bit of the nooks, you’ll find it’s easy to get some privacy.

While Cape Kiwanda is an incredibly dreamy and dramatic landscape, I tend to prefer locations that are more interesting ecologically… as such, I’ll pick Cape Kiwanda and the surrounding areas over Cannon Beach 9 times out of 10. Interest is an inherently personal thing, though, so… you know… do with that what you will.

Trails

The Dune Trail: about 1.0 mile from the parking lot near Pelican Brewing.

Walk the Beach: You can walk for miles to the north or south of the Cape. The beach to the north allows cars to drive on the sand, so you’ll need to expect that sort of beach culture.

Nearby Attractions and Trails (potentially possible to add to an elopement itinerary):

Sitka Sedge State Natural Area– a cool coastal forest along an estuary with amazing bird and wildlife
God’s Thumb – a dramatic coastal hill… you sort of have to see it.
Cascade Head – a natural reserve with sweeping views of the rivers and estuaries to the south
Cape Lookout State Park – about a 5.0 miles hike round trip, through some impressive big trees with sweeping views to the south and some glimpse of the Netarts Bay to the North.
Netarts Spit – access this part of the beach from the Cape Lookout campground. I once walked and walked and walked out onto the spit until all the human footprints turned around and I started seeing coyote and heron tracks. Good for a looooong jaunt on the beach and some solitude.
Drift Creek Falls – a 3.2 mile hike through the Siuslaw National Forest that leads to a suspension bridge over a waterfall.

NOTE ON SAFETY: Those fences are there for a reason. The cliffs and rocks are made of sandstone, and as such, are not stable. Sandstone cliffs crumble and fall into the ocean ALL THE TIME. People get hurt and even die in these collapses. And, the more people tread upon the edges of these cliffs, the more they erode and the less stable they become.

Elopement Ceremony Spots

This area doesn’t necessarily have names for the specific spots that I’d recommend for a ceremony… it’s all just a part of “Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.”

But I do have some specific tidepools and cliffs that I like to recommend for an adventure elopement ceremony.

For the crevices in and around the dune, you’ll need to be checking that you’re visiting during a low enough tide to enter (and exit) some of them safely.

Cape Kiwanda Elopement Gallery

Here are some Cape Kiwanda elopement pictures for you to peruse.

(More info after)

Elopement Permit Info

No special use permits necessary to elope at Cape Kiwanda! Parking in town is paid, but maybe you can walk from your hotel!

Best Time of Year to Elope at Cape Kiwanda

I love the spring for coastal elopements, mainly because of the wildflowers that can be found growing on the sand. There’s some lush patches of lupines along the leeward slopes on the north (ish) side of the dune.

Springtime, however, can be hit or miss with weather. It tends to be quite rainy on the Oregon Coast much of the year. Late Summer and into early fall is the most reliably dry part of the year, and even then, you may get some marine layers rolling in.

Oregon Coast Elopement Photographer

As a person who grew up in California… the Oregon Coast wins. In fact, Oregon is such an incredible and diverse state, I never tire of exploring all that it has to offer. Because I have a background in outdoor guiding and nature education, the nature connection piece is super important to me and I think it offers a unique approach to planning adventure elopements (as well as photographing them, obviously).

The amount of options and choices you have to make when you decide to elope in Oregon (or anywhere) can be a bit overwhelming. If, when you decide to start looking for photographers, I’d be honored to be considered to be your photographer.

And if, in the meantime, you have any questions at all, please feel free to get in touch here (no pressure!).