Clay Myers State Natural Area at Whalen Island

Whalen Island, on the coast of Oregon, offers access to a medley of natural wonders:

• the special Sand Lake Estuary, with a variety of fish, including salmon and steelhead trout
• 100 acres of grassland and tidal marsh filled with numerous duck species
• 80 acres of wooded uplands home to bald eagles
• lush meadows fit for foraging by deer, otter, and even bear
• over a mile-long stretch of sandy beach

This biologically rich peninsula is located south of Tillamook in the center of the unique Sand Lake Estuary. Only during winter high tides does Whalen Island actually become an island. With opportunities for camping, hiking, boating, beach walks, and birding, Whalen Island has something for everyone.

At one point, much of the peninsula was privately owned and zoned for residential development. The landowners collaborated with Trust for Public Land, Oregon State Parks, and other partners to preserve this special place as Clay Myers State Natural Area, named after a former Oregon secretary of state. Today, Clay Myers State Natural Area is open for everyone to explore.

“Whalen Island is the centerpiece of Sand Lake Estuary and provides critical salmon habitat, spectacular scenery, and beautiful, open beaches for the public to enjoy. [We] celebrate this incredible resource and the local, state, and federal partnership that protected it for the people of Oregon,” says former TPL project manager Sam Hodder.

The preservation of Whalen Island ensures that generations of Oregonians can enjoy these natural treasures in perpetuity.