Bob Straub State Park, in Pacific City, Oregon, features excellent year-round horseback riding. The park lies on the Nestucca Spit, a narrow finger of land that separates Nestucca Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The park is open only to hiking, fishing, and horseback riding, and it’s a delightful place to ride.
The Riding
At Bob Straub State Park, you can ride along the beach and beside Nestucca Bay, entirely circling the spit. Or you can create your own loops by following the trails that crisscross the dunes. Some of the dunes trails may be submerged during high water in winter, but you can ride the beach and the shore of Nestucca Bay year-round. The closest horse camp is at Nehalem Bay State Park, about 50 miles north.
The Back Story
This beautiful part of the Oregon coast was nearly paved over in the 1960s. You’ve probably noticed that Highway 101 runs inland from Neskowin to Tillamook, so highway travelers don’t see the ocean for about 30 miles. Back in the 1960s, the Highway Department decided to make the highway more scenic by moving it closer to the beach – routing it right up the middle of the Nestucca Spit.
Oregon’s then-Secretary of State (and later Oregon Governor) Bob Straub was a frequent visitor to the area. He strenuously objected to the highway plan. While serving as Secretary of State, Straub campaigned against moving the highway. He reportedly wrote hundreds of letters and memos, carried a signature petition around with him, and organized marches and other events.
At some point, Straub learned that the Bureau of Land Management had given the State of Oregon the land with the stipulation that it would become a park. He contacted the Secretary of the Interior, who threatened to sue the State for breach of contract. The Highway Department quickly abandoned its plan to route the highway on the Nestucca Spit. Later, when the state park was created, it was named in honor of the man who had fought to keep it a wild and peaceful place.
Today
Bob Straub State Park is unique in that fishing, hiking, and horseback riding are the only permitted activities. No camping, no OHVs, no bikes. It’s a quiet, peaceful place to enjoy the Oregon Coast with your horse. Don’t miss it!
Learn More
You’ll find more information about Bob Straub State Park trails in Riding Northwest Oregon Horse Trails, by Kim McCarrel, (Ponderosa Press, 2017), available at www.nwhorsetrails.com.
