Few People Know One Of Oregon's Most Popular Beaches Is Hiding A Dark And Terrifying Secret
By Christy Articola|Published October 14, 2022
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
In Newport, Oregon, there are two long jetties that reach out into the ocean – the North Jetty and the South Jetty. Just south of the South Jetty is a popular state park called South Beach State Park. This park is a beautiful place to enjoy the beach and the Pacific Ocean. However, visitors are often inclined to walk out on the South Jetty to get a closer look at the waves and surrounding area. This is very dangerous; due to the power of the waves hitting the jetty, it can also be deadly. Oregon State Parks and Recreation and the City of Newport discourage this. The South Jetty is a very dangerous place in Oregon. Read on to learn more about this dangerous structure.
South Beach State Park begins in south Newport and stretches for several miles down the coast. The park is lovely; it includes several miles of trails and beach and is a great place to walk, run, or ride a bike.
However, the South Jetty, which is on the north end of the park, can be quite dangerous. People walk out on it to fish or simply to explore and take photos of the area from a point out in the water.
What is a jetty, anyway? Jetties are built to protect harbors from the power of the ocean. They extend out into the water so that boats can come and go from the harbor without being pummeled by waves.
They usually consist of giant boulders, and most jetties in the United States were constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers long ago. Today, they are still under the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers. Even though the South Jetty in Newport is adjacent to South Beach State Park, it doesn't belong to Oregon State Parks and Recreation.
Oregon State Parks and Recreation can't build a fence to keep people off the jetty, but the Army Corps of Engineers has posted signs to warn people of the dangers. Still, people walk out on the jetty all the time.
In stormy conditions, or even in what appear to be only slightly rough sea conditions, waves can come out of nowhere. The power of the waves can move some of the boulders. Considering the fact that many of these boulders weigh as much as a ton each, it's clear that the ocean is very powerful.
Human beings can easily be pushed off of the jetty by the waves. In fact, not long ago, a couple who was celebrating their anniversary in the area was pushed off the jetty and were killed.
The South Jetty in Newport is easily accessible from a parking lot, and so it's quite attractive to visitors. The North Jetty is equally dangerous. The Newport Visitor Center has been encouraging people to stay off the jetties for the past decade or so, but still, people head out onto the jetties anyway.
If you want to stay safe, it's a far better idea to enjoy the Oregon coast near Newport from the shore. This beach is beautiful! You really shouldn't go out on the jetties.
All of the jetties on the coast of Oregon are dangerous. It’s wise to stay off of them completely. They may look like a fun place to explore, but you never know when a big wave will come. It’s better for you to stay on land. Please remember this post the next time you visit a beach with a jetty.
