Lost Creek State Recreation Site is one of the most relaxed and easy-access rockhounding beaches on the Central Oregon Coast. It sits right off Highway 101, about 7 miles south of Newport, making it simple to reach while still feeling quiet and uncrowded, even on busy summer days.

Lost Creek Beach is known among rockhounds for Oregon Coast agates, jasper, petrified wood, shells, and sea glass scattered along its mixed sand-and-cobble shoreline.

It is one of several beaches near Newport, along with Ona Beach and Beverly Beach, where you can sometimes spot Newport Blue Agates.

The beach extends from Holiday Beach at Thiel Creek south to Ona Beach for roughly two miles, and winter storms can peel back sand to expose gravel patches.

A century ago, this stretch of coast looked very different. During World War I, nearby forests were heavily logged for Sitka spruce used in aircraft construction, and logging railroads once ran along the coast to Yaquina Bay. Though the rails are gone, this period remains part of the area’s history.

If you enjoy rockhounding, Oregon Coast agate hunting, beachcombing, or want a quiet, free day-use beach near Newport, this is a spot worth putting on your list.

Lost Creek Rockhounding

On the beach you can find agate, jasper, petrified wood, sea glass, and shells.

Most agates at Lost Creek are clear to milky, with some light orange, honey, or gray tones. Once in a while, you might spot a light gray or faintly blue agate, since this stretch of coast shares some of the same geology as nearby Newport agate beaches. The deeper blue pieces of Newport Blues are rare and especially prized, wherever they appear.

You also see plenty of jasper in red, brown, and tan shades, mixed into the cobbles. Small, water-worn petrified wood shows up as rounded fragments that still hold faint wood grain when you look closely.

Sea glass is usually green, brown, or clear and can be found in small gravel pockets near the high tide line.

Rock hunting at Lost Creek is best during low tide or after winter storms, when sand is washed away and fresh gravel is exposed. That’s when heavier stones collect in pockets and are easier to see.

Lost Creek offers more than just rockhounding. It’s an easy place to stop along Highway 101 for short walks, ocean views, and relaxed beach time.

Tide and shoreline exploring – At low tide, you can walk long stretches of sand and cobble, watch the waves, and look for driftwood, shells, and small marine life along the waterline. The shoreline provides plenty of open space to explore.

Picnicking and nature viewing –Picnic tables near the parking area sit among low trees and shrubs. It’s a simple spot to eat lunch, watch seabirds, and enjoy the sound of the ocean without a long walk.

Surf fishing – The area is also popular for surfperch fishing, especially from April through July.

There is no camping at Lost Creek State Recreation Site itself, but several options are nearby if you want to base a rockhounding trip around Newport and the Central Oregon Coast.

Beachside State Recreation Site - About 10 miles south of Lost Creek, this smaller campground has around 32 sites (some with electric hookups), restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers, picnic areas, and direct beach access. It’s quiet, right by the ocean, and ideal for camping near the surf.

South Beach State Park – Located roughly 4 miles north of Newport, the park offers over 200 sites, including tent sites, yurts, and RV spots with full hookups. Facilities include restrooms, showers, nature trails, a playground, an amphitheater, and an RV dump station.

Newport has motels, hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals near the bayfront, Nye Beach, or the ocean. Staying here makes it easy to combine Lost Creek rockhounding with trips to Yaquina Head, local tidepools, the harbor, and other Oregon Coast attractions.

Lodging in Newport

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long-term stays in Newport