Taft Beach and Siletz Bay form one of the more easily accessible coastline on the Central Oregon Coast. The beach sits at the south end of Lincoln City, about 3 miles from downtown, where the open Pacific meets the calm waters of Siletz Bay.

Taft Beach stretches for 0.75 miles to Nelscott Beach in the north, and on the low tide, you can walk from Siletz Bay and search the extended beach for the collectable pieces.

If you enjoy agate hunting, beachcombing, crabbing, clamming, or fishing and want a free day‑use beach with food and lodging close by, Taft Beach and Siletz Bay are worth a stop on your Oregon Coast trip.

Taft Beach Rockhounding

Along both the bay shoreline and Taft Beach, agates, jasper, and other silica-rich minerals can be found. Some pieces form in unusual or irregular shapes. Most agates are yellow or honey-colored, but occasional pieces show red or green tones. A few agates have bright red streaks, though these are uncommon.

These colors come from trace elements and natural mineral processes within the stone, as well as from marine life that may attach to the surface. The same geological processes are responsible for many of the agates found along this stretch of the Oregon Coast.

After storms or at low tide, walk from Siletz Bay toward Taft Beach and look along the waterline and shallow rocky areas. The colors are often hidden beneath sand and only appear when sand levels are low. A sand dipper with a long handle is very helpful for gently clearing sand and revealing what lies beneath.

🌊 Be careful near the ocean or bay. Watch for incoming tides. Large driftwood logs can move suddenly. Stay alert, keep a safe distance from the water, and never turn your back on it.

Once you finish rockhounding, there is still plenty to do around Taft Beach and Siletz Bay. Beachcombing or picnicking near the water, there are some things unique to the area.

Taft is well known for crabbing, clamming, and surfperch fishing, and Lincoln City offers crabbing and clamming clinics that will walk you through basic gear, regulations, and simple techniques.

From late summer into early fall, anglers also target Chinook salmon as they move through the bay.

The most unique event, however, is Lincoln City’s Finders Keepers glass float event, held from mid‑October to Memorial Day. Nearly 3,000 hand‑blown glass floats are placed along about 7.5 miles of beach (including Taft), turning every walk into a fun treasure hunt.