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Oregon State Parks has a number of tips and ideas to remain safe while exploring the beaches in Lincoln City. For more information regarding Beach rules and Frequently asked Questions, you can visit our Beach Rules & FAQs webpage.

Watch out for sneaker waves
Always keep one eye on the ocean so you won’t be caught off guard if a bigger wave surges up the beach. These “sneaker waves” are unpredictable, powerful and can easily knock adults off their feet.

Hike like a pro
Be careful on rocks and near cliffs. Rocks can be slippery and cliffs can be unstable due to erosion. Stay on marked trails and don’t climb over fences or other barriers. Trails are carefully planned by park rangers and barriers are there to keep you safe.

Watch for falling rocks
Avoid walking along the base of cliffs or eroding bluffs. Chunks of cliff or rocks can fall at any time; areas with overhangs and caves are especially dangerous. Do not dig in cliffs or bluffs.

Maintain a safe campfire
Beach campfires may be started on open sand, away from driftwood or vegetation. Check online for seasonal fire restrictions. Use water to extinguish your fire, not sand. Pour water around the base of the fire pit, not directly on hot coals.

Avoid logs on the beach
Stay away from logs on the beach or in the surf. The logs absorb water like sponges, increasing their weight by up to several tons. The ocean is strong enough to pick up even the heaviest log and roll it over you.

Know the tides
Know when the tide is coming in, especially when exploring tidepools or secluded beaches. Incoming tides can quickly leave you stranded away from shore. Be extra careful during extreme high or low tides and storms. Oregon tide times are posted at tide-forecast.com.

Swim smart: rip currents
Rip currents are fast-moving water channels that can carry even the strongest swimmers away from shore. If you’re ever caught in one, stay calm. A rip current is fast but narrow; swim parallel to the shore to escape it, then swim back to land at an angle. NOAA rip currents

Oregon State Parks has some additional resources for you as well.

• Storm watching on the Oregon coast
• Learn more about Oregon's ocean shore
• The Oregon Marine Board has information about boating in Oregon. 
• The Oregon Health Authority tracks water quality. 
• Oregon tide times are posted at tide-forecast.com.
• Be safe in the outdoors

Dead or Stranded Marine Mammals on beaches

The Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program coordinates emergency responses to sick, injured, distressed, or dead seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, and whales. The 1992 Amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act formalized this program and designated NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources as the lead agency to coordinate related activities. The program focuses on four primary areas:

• Stranding and entanglement networks.
• Unusual mortality event response.
• Biosurveillance and baseline health research.
• John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program.

What is a Stranding?

• A marine mammal that is on the shore and unable to return to the water under its own power.
• A marine mammal that is on the shore and, although able to return to the water, is in need of apparent medical attention.
• A marine mammal in the water that cannot return to its natural habitat without assistance.
• A dead marine mammal on the beach or in the water.

How to Report a Stranding

First, determine if the animal is truly stranded. Many seals and sea lions haul out and rest on land and are not in distress. You can evaluate the animal’s behavior and monitor their condition for 24 hours. Let others who are nearby know to stay at least 100 yards away (about the length of a football field), keep pets 100 yards away, help minimize disturbances if possible, and be aware of hazards or rising tides and monitor from an area that is safe.

Reporting Hotlines

To report a dead, injured, or stranded marine mammal along the West Coast (i.e., off California, Oregon, and Washington):

• West Coast Region Stranding Hotline: 1-866-767-6114
• Regional Stranding Response Contacts

For more information, please visit the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network webpage.